Updating And Moding A Gunslinger, Or How Can I Make $100 Guitar B

[XBIGJIMX]

So when i was a young pup Mtv blasted me with images of rockstars and cool looking guitars. Admit it for flashy guitars you can't beat the West coast in the 80's. So one of the guitars of my child hood I remember was good ol C.C. Devill from poison. Say what you will I always liked the guy and thought he had some great guitars. So in my late night Ebay searching i came across this diamond in the rough. I Brand new B.C. Rich gunslinger with a crack in the body. So with a quick bid and a oh hell I can fix that and $100 later it was mine. Now.... what to do with it well it starts with this.

Untitled by XBIGJIMX, on Flickr

Untitled by XBIGJIMX, on Flickr

Now here is the crack which is our main problem

Untitled by XBIGJIMX, on Flickr

Now what am i going to do with this, well my main reason is i want to try some stuff i have never done before and either knock it out of the park or...screw it up so bad i learn something from it so with that the list

1. New kick ass paint job

2. Big block brass upgrade to the Floyd

3. Paint the floyd (I have seen alot of discussion on if this can be done, well were gonna find out)

4. Brass neck insert mod for the bolt on.

5. New updated inlay work

6. direct mount the pick ups cause I break pick up rings like its going out of style.

I did do a mock up because the paint will need a go by.

Here is the original insperation from mr. CC

ccharingguitar by XBIGJIMX, on Flickr

Now I have always been a fan of Keith Haring and so this definatly caught my eye. Now that i am older I realize this was not actually Keith Haring but that neither here or there. But it gives me a launch point.

So which leads to my start point

my version

MOCKUP by XBIGJIMX, on Flickr

let see how this goes.

[demonx]

I always really liked the Nagal Gunslingers, they look super cool and very 80's glam.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=nagel+gunslinger&client=firefox-a&hs=BEe&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=n157UZyQNuiHiQer2oDoBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=982

[Prostheta]

You know what? Frankenstrat it. Everything is already there apart from the headstock shape. Trem, angled pickup, Strat shape. Break out the tape and go spray crazy!

[XBIGJIMX]

I got the frankenstrat/5150 on deck after this

the To do list of paint jobs I have waiting in shop

the 5150

A walking Dead themed Lynch ESP

A sky camo

a flame job V

and Refinish on my 84 explorer

I am in paint hell hahahaha

[XBIGJIMX]

Well it only took me half a year to get started but thats how it goes.

Found my self with some free time off work, I had a stroke while at work so I am off for awhile so this is filling my time.

After hitting the body and the headstock with a scotch brite pad so the paint would stick. I fixed the dent by the volume control with some bondo and sanded flat then off to the paint room

First coat was black.



Now being the dumb bastard I am I forgot to mix the original paint before reducing so it went on like crap and was thin as hell so I had a few runs. So after some 400 grit to fix the area



So next step was to get the black out line to stay to trap all the other colors to. So it is off to the vinyl plotter.





Now after the printing I pulled out all the unused bits.


After you apply the mask to transfer it to the body


Then peel back the mask and its time for the next coat and color

[killemall8]

How do you break pickup rings???

[ScottR]

I'm a little confused......you positive weeded those images. Is your intent to spray a color over everything and then peel your graphics to leave back images on a colored background? If so it's all good except that black doesn't cover well with colors. I presume you have a lighter coat planned first?

SR

[XBIGJIMX]

I'm a little confused......you positive weeded those images. Is your intent to spray a color over everything and then peel your graphics to leave back images on a colored background? If so it's all good except that black doesn't cover well with colors. I presume you have a lighter coat planned first?

SR

Yes , I am leaving the mask over the black so i have bigger lines to trap the color to. With my lack of art skill I found it easier to build it backwards if you will.

And yes the white coat is going on next

How do you break pickup rings???

God I wish I knew . I break everything but I'll play a show and sure enough half the ring is missing .I'll have to get a pic

[XBIGJIMX]

Well the black dried so next step was to throw down a light coat of white. Now this is not the final white this is more to give the colors a even playing surface and to make them pop.
Now my biggest fight with the painting is the dame dust and dog hair in the air but its amazing what 400 grit sandpaper can even out

Next step is the main back color of the guitar and the first front color. So i masked off the entire front and xacto out the purple parts. Now this it theroy behind the putting on the black first. By putting on the "outline mask" over the black and leaving it there I have these lines to trap the colors to so at the end when i pull them up all the lines are perfect with the color. Plus it makes it easy to cut the color masks.


Now I do not have any purple so I dumped some red , blue and some white to get the right shade and instant purple



Hit it with the spray gun and let dry about 2 hours



Now i peeled of the mask and put a fresh one on to rinse and repeat with the next color.


At this point i will move to the air brush more to save on paint and cleaning the gun then ease of use.
I also masked off the sides and back to keep the purple.

[XBIGJIMX]

Added a new respirator last night cause the old one was just not cutting it. BTW if any of you are painting with out a respirator seriously stop, go get one and then continue.

The next color throwdown Red


Now this would put down with an air brush and then fast dryed it with a heatgun. then covered lightly with mask and moved on.

The yellow



The yellow took 2 coats

Now to pull the mask, its not necessary to pull the mask but you start to fight yourself at some point so its easier to pull it. Now I would recommend letting the paint cure alittle before remasking to avoid the color pulling off


4 colors down if you count white

[willliam_q]

I really like it. Painting it looks like it could be a project in itself!

I don't think I'd have the patience for painting that, I just stick to solid colours cause I'm lazy! Someday I may just stretch to doing a burst lol.

[XBIGJIMX]

I really like it. Painting it looks like it could be a project in itself!

I don't think I'd have the patience for painting that, I just stick to solid colours cause I'm lazy! Someday I may just stretch to doing a burst lol.

If it wasn't for the fact i am doing most of the work while sitting in front of the TV I proably would of gone with a solid color

[XBIGJIMX]

Good morning everyone what does the morning bring? Well, it brings a new tool, the brush. I know what your thinking "brush what the hell you dont use a brush on guitars" but for the small quick detail of the headstock the brush is faster and easier than masking and spraying. Plus after clear and wet sand you'll never know. There are tricks to get the paint to flow ( ask any pinstriper)

I dont think i mentioned this abotu what kind of paint and gear I am using. For paint I use auto paint Mason to be exact. I found a local Auto body paint shop in town and ever ator paint store has the screw up cart. THis is the place where the orders not picked up or miss mixed end up. THis is where I but all my color. your talking $5-10 a quart which is much better than $60. and face it your not painting cars so be flexable. As far as colors, remember the basic crayola box that will get you threw anything. Even les get a Blue, Red and Yellow and a white and black. You can make anything except metallic colors from this. On this project I mixed the green, orange, purple and the lighter blue. Just remember the color wheel and black for darker white for lighter.

Now when I spray with auto paint ( or any paint for that matter) you have to reduce the paint or thin it out. The paint store should give you a mixing cup and filters. I mix 1:1 with reducer. ( reducer is fancy talk for better quality thinner). THen pour through the filter. I can't stress this enough use the filter trust me there are clumps and bits in there.

For Spray guns I use the cheap harbor freight guns. THey work fine if you keep them clean and like I said were not painting cars. Also I like them for if the clear does not clean out and drys in the gun , well it was $20 go get a new one:)


now on to the latest
the tools



Working through the old man glass




Green



Blue

[XBIGJIMX]

Ok pinks down getting ready for the final color shot. No I noticed a mistake I dot pull all the mask out for the yellow on the spring guy so I'll have to redo that.



Whats going on with the back you ask well I put a great qoute from the artist on the back which is getting the hightlight done on the next spray



All the brush work done and dryed


WELL HOLY **** THE THEROY WORKED!!! Pulling off the mask to put on the black lines



Now to put the white logo on which was a hell of alot harder to put on and line up with the black drop shadow than you can imagine

[XBIGJIMX]

Well threw the missing yellow down and reapplied the white to make it more solid and the orange. They went down with out a hitch. I did the drop shadow on the back type, which I did not like after doing it. So most likely I will just respray it and cover it up no harm no foul.

SO now comes the fun part peeling off the line mask.....

4 episodes of duck dynasty later they are peeled and for the most part came off well. Some of the black lifted which I expected since I did not put on an intercoat clear inbetween colors and i probley should of scuffed the original finish more. Not that big of a deal just have to go back and do some touch ups.

but all in all it turned out pretty good for never trying this concept before. Next step repair than clear, and the hardware

If you look around the clock there was some lift


the body with lines



I did not peel some of the mask casue I saw some over spray and it will be easier to fix with the mask on

[Sancho Marino]

Should look pretty damn cool after the touchups man, nice work so far!

[XBIGJIMX]

After a little break to let the paint cure & get some smaller brushes. It was time to do the touch ups for the peel up spots and and other imperfections.

I started with the head stock. Went though most of the colors. I did make some bad strokes but I just let it dry and painted over it. no big deal. So the headstock is ready for clear

BEFORE:


AFTER touch ups: Might still adjust the blue
Also I started prep for painting the Floyd. Pulled it apart so i could scuff them so the new paint sticks. Now for those who dont know. Floyd fine tuners are not designed to be removed. But they can with a little talking to

[XBIGJIMX]

Ok were back and its finally warm enough to spray out side , or at least open some doors and windows. God knows 2 part clear needs some ventilation.

I hit it with 5 or 6 coats so far. I will let it cure and then wet sand to see if in needs any more.

[sdshirtman]

With all the natural woof finishes around here its nice to see something like this. Nice job.

[XBIGJIMX]

The ending!!!


Wet sanding




THen some time on the buffing wheel



Then assembly!




Updated logo

[Prostheta]

Crikey. That place is really working out for you, plus that buffing wheel has just proven itself. This week is obviously a good week for you eh?

[XBIGJIMX]

Crikey. That place is really working out for you, plus that buffing wheel has just proven itself. This week is obviously a good week for you eh?

It totally is I have been getting to put in about 6-8 hours a day in the shop so i have been getting tons done. I started a 4 Guitar build yesterday

[Sancho Marino]

That's awesome man! So 80's I love it!