Explorer Project is DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

Came out cool - got it playing and sounding great! Just need to intonate the Floyd and put on the D-Tuna and it'll be ready to rock...

Steve

 

[Telephant]

I think it looks awesome. Is it me or does that neck joint look massive in those pictures? :

 

[Anonymous]

I think it looks awesome. Is it me or does that neck joint look massive in those pictures? :

You mean the body thickness under the neck where it attaches, right? If so, yes, it is massive! Kinda nuts really...

Steve

 

[duesentrieb]

Very cool, Steve.

 

[Gainzilla]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

 

[chumbucket]

I dig the clean look of not using pickup rings although I'm surprised you didn't go with "zebra" bobbins! (pun intended somewhat)

 

[Anonymous]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

The body was professionally painted by Marty Bell as I said...

I did the headstock myself. Grain filler, then primer and white paint. I then had a full vinyl headstock decal made with the logo and applied that. 10 coats of Spray Max 2K clear over that and then wet sanding with 600, 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Finally, rubbing compound and swirl remover to bring back the gloss/shine... You would never be able to tell that it is a decal and I didn't actually paint it...

So, yeah, at least the headstock was just spray cans, although mainly the decal... The only paint you see is the 2K clear over the top of the decal...

Steve

 

[Gainzilla]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

The body was professionally painted by Marty Bell as I said...

I did the headstock myself. Grain filler, then primer and white paint. I then had a full vinyl headstock decal made with the logo and applied that. 10 coats of Spray Max 2K clear over that and then wet sanding with 600, 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Finally, rubbing compound and swirl remover to bring back the gloss/shine... You would never be able to tell that it is a decal and I didn't actually paint it...

So, yeah, at least the headstock was just spray cans, although mainly the decal... The only paint you see is the 2K clear over the top of the decal...

Steve

My bad Bro, I didnt read, I just looked LOL!!! I have a project that Im doing myself but Im going to spray can the thing but believe it or not, the hardest part of it is find the high grades of sandpaper. I cant find anything above 400 grit here in NYC and I find that to be a little strange..

 

[Mailman1971]

Guitar looks great Steve.
The body like a 3/4 size? I like the smaller explorer bodies that Gibson did. Reminds me of the old Hamer Blitz.
Awesome axe!

Dan

 

[Anonymous]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

The body was professionally painted by Marty Bell as I said...

I did the headstock myself. Grain filler, then primer and white paint. I then had a full vinyl headstock decal made with the logo and applied that. 10 coats of Spray Max 2K clear over that and then wet sanding with 600, 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Finally, rubbing compound and swirl remover to bring back the gloss/shine... You would never be able to tell that it is a decal and I didn't actually paint it...

So, yeah, at least the headstock was just spray cans, although mainly the decal... The only paint you see is the 2K clear over the top of the decal...

Steve

My bad Bro, I didnt read, I just looked LOL!!! I have a project that Im doing myself but Im going to spray can the thing but believe it or not, the hardest part of it is find the high grades of sandpaper. I cant find anything above 400 grit here in NYC and I find that to be a little strange..

If you PM me an address, I'll send you some in 600, 800, 1200, 1500, and 2000. I have plenty I'm not using... I'm on the road, but will send when I get back if you want...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Guitar looks great Steve.
The body like a 3/4 size? I like the smaller explorer bodies that Gibson did. Reminds me of the old Hamer Blitz.
Awesome axe!

Dan

Thanks Dan - I don't think it is 3/4 size though - the body on this axe is massive!

Steve

 

[Gainzilla]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

The body was professionally painted by Marty Bell as I said...

I did the headstock myself. Grain filler, then primer and white paint. I then had a full vinyl headstock decal made with the logo and applied that. 10 coats of Spray Max 2K clear over that and then wet sanding with 600, 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Finally, rubbing compound and swirl remover to bring back the gloss/shine... You would never be able to tell that it is a decal and I didn't actually paint it...

So, yeah, at least the headstock was just spray cans, although mainly the decal... The only paint you see is the 2K clear over the top of the decal...

Steve

My bad Bro, I didnt read, I just looked LOL!!! I have a project that Im doing myself but Im going to spray can the thing but believe it or not, the hardest part of it is find the high grades of sandpaper. I cant find anything above 400 grit here in NYC and I find that to be a little strange..

If you PM me an address, I'll send you some in 600, 800, 1200, 1500, and 2000. I have plenty I'm not using... I'm on the road, but will send when I get back if you want...

Steve

Holy crap, that would be awesome!!!

Thank you for that Bro!!

Kage

 

[Anonymous]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

The body was professionally painted by Marty Bell as I said...

I did the headstock myself. Grain filler, then primer and white paint. I then had a full vinyl headstock decal made with the logo and applied that. 10 coats of Spray Max 2K clear over that and then wet sanding with 600, 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Finally, rubbing compound and swirl remover to bring back the gloss/shine... You would never be able to tell that it is a decal and I didn't actually paint it...

So, yeah, at least the headstock was just spray cans, although mainly the decal... The only paint you see is the 2K clear over the top of the decal...

Steve

My bad Bro, I didnt read, I just looked LOL!!! I have a project that Im doing myself but Im going to spray can the thing but believe it or not, the hardest part of it is find the high grades of sandpaper. I cant find anything above 400 grit here in NYC and I find that to be a little strange..

If you PM me an address, I'll send you some in 600, 800, 1200, 1500, and 2000. I have plenty I'm not using... I'm on the road, but will send when I get back if you want...

Steve

Holy crap, that would be awesome!!!

Thank you for that Bro!!

Kage

NO problem man! I have unopened packs of each...

Steve

 

[Stramm8]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

The body was professionally painted by Marty Bell as I said...

I did the headstock myself. Grain filler, then primer and white paint. I then had a full vinyl headstock decal made with the logo and applied that. 10 coats of Spray Max 2K clear over that and then wet sanding with 600, 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Finally, rubbing compound and swirl remover to bring back the gloss/shine... You would never be able to tell that it is a decal and I didn't actually paint it...

So, yeah, at least the headstock was just spray cans, although mainly the decal... The only paint you see is the 2K clear over the top of the decal...

Steve

My bad Bro, I didnt read, I just looked LOL!!! I have a project that Im doing myself but Im going to spray can the thing but believe it or not, the hardest part of it is find the high grades of sandpaper. I cant find anything above 400 grit here in NYC and I find that to be a little strange..

Uh, do they have auto parts stores in NY? They should have some...

 

[Bob Savage]

Looks sweet!

 

[MichaelG]

Looks great Steve. How does it sound/play?

 

[Anonymous]

Looks great Steve. How does it sound/play?

It sounds really killer actually. Plays just like a Charvel Custom Shop Pointy to me, except for the crazy deep neck joint - lucky for me I have long fingers or it would be tough to reach the last few frets comfortably. I have a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and a Dimarzio "Humbucker from Hell" in the neck. I came on this combination with my Charvel Custom Shop "Fat Checkers" guitar and I really dig the tones from this combination of pickups. Was just crankin' this thing through the Henning amp and the guitar sounds gainy and articulate in either neck or bridge. I've kinda re-discovered the Super Distortion - great pickup that I think gets a bit of a bad rap. You can get great Van Halen tones and beyond with the right amp. Nice sustain-y, full neck pickup sound with the HFH, which sounds great for harmonic minor and diminished arpeggios...

Steve

 

[Gainzilla]

Great Job Steve!!! Was this a spray can job?

The body was professionally painted by Marty Bell as I said...

I did the headstock myself. Grain filler, then primer and white paint. I then had a full vinyl headstock decal made with the logo and applied that. 10 coats of Spray Max 2K clear over that and then wet sanding with 600, 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Finally, rubbing compound and swirl remover to bring back the gloss/shine... You would never be able to tell that it is a decal and I didn't actually paint it...

So, yeah, at least the headstock was just spray cans, although mainly the decal... The only paint you see is the 2K clear over the top of the decal...

Steve

My bad Bro, I didnt read, I just looked LOL!!! I have a project that Im doing myself but Im going to spray can the thing but believe it or not, the hardest part of it is find the high grades of sandpaper. I cant find anything above 400 grit here in NYC and I find that to be a little strange..

Uh, do they have auto parts stores in NY? They should have some...

Im sure they do but not alot of NYC residents drive. Ill do a google seach. Didnt even think of that to be honest, I went to Home Depot here and they didnt have it....

 

[threadkiller]

that thing rocks!

 

[Skrln]

Looks great