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Topic: Pro I cabinet refinish |
Mike DiAlesandro
From: Kent, Ohio
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 4:52 am
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After years in the Southwest sun , this Sho~Bud Pro I faded from cherry red to a somewhat blotchy look...
Stripped finish with 80 grit, and then sanded it to 220 and carefully sanded inlay.
Next, I clear coated inlay only, masking the rest of the cabinet. After that I masked the inlay and sprayed the cabinet with Vintage Amber from StewMac.
I attempted a tobacco sunburst finish, it was a learning experience, but I am pretty pleased with the results. Now to add the Sho~Bud water decal, then apply the final clear coats...
Thanks for the advice from Forum members that I gained from reading previous posts, it was quite helpful.
Gotta say, sunburst finishes definitely require some artistic talent, which I have very little to none ...
Mike D |
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Joe Krumel
From: Hermitage, Tn.
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 5:06 am
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looks fine to me.When you get the hardware etc. back on,that thing is going to look great... good job!! |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From: Point Arena, California
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 7:57 am Nice!
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Pretty cool looking sunburst
I would be too timid to try that! _________________ "To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Erv Niehaus
From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 8:25 am
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This is an Emmons I redid in a sunburst finish:
Erv
![](https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/2744_img008_1.jpg) |
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Mike DiAlesandro
From: Kent, Ohio
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 9:57 am
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Joe and Eric - Thanks for the kind words, it's been fun. I kinda am up against the weather to try and get this finished before the weather here turns in Northeast Ohio, record highs the past few days.
Erv - Your Emmons looks great! I was hoping to leave more of the amber in the center as you did, but the tobacco brown kinda had a mind of it's own...
Here it is with the water decal, the unpolished endplates were for measurement purposes.
![](https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/9797_IMG_2296_1.jpg) |
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Erv Niehaus
From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 9:59 am
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Mike,
You did good!
Erv |
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Ken Mizell
From: Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 11:27 am
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I think this looks quite nice. Once it is all dressed up it should look great, especially with polished end plates, changer, and key head. A black fret board with red and white card signs will set it off. _________________ Steeless. |
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Skip Edwards
From: LA,CA
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 11:31 am
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I think you did a really nice job. It's different from other bursts, and I like that.
Would you consider a white fretboard? Might really make it pop... |
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Greg Cutshaw
From: Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2020 11:33 am
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Looks awesome, keep posting progress pics! |
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Mike DiAlesandro
From: Kent, Ohio
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Posted 12 Nov 2020 4:07 am
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Thanks Erv, Ken, Skip, and Greg. I am going to have a local furniture repairman spray the clearcoats of lacquer, the weather here has gotten too cold.
Skip - yes I am thinking a white fretboard might be the icing on the cake. I called Dawn Jackson a few times, but she hasn't got back to me. Jackon guitar has/had metal silkscreened boards. The dust catcher that was on there won't look right.
Greg - I believe I have a Telonics amp you previously owned. I received it on a trade from Mark Miller up in Buffalo. Great amp, I really like it.
Stay safe,
Mike D |
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David Decker
From: Canton, Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2020 4:16 am
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Looks great Mike !! |
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Ken Mizell
From: Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
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Bill Terry
From: Bastrop, TX
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Posted 12 Nov 2020 5:00 am
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Nice job Mike!
I built a Partscaster Tele a few years back and decided to try a sunburst. I used products from this company BTW, a great resource for DIY guitar finishes.
https://www.reranch.com/
I agree, a sunburst is an art form. I practiced on some scrap planks to get the fade just right, or more accurately, as close as I could to 'right'. It turned out 'ok'.
I've seen a few vintage Fender factory sunbursts that weren't all that great IMO. Like maybe they hired a new guy and he was still learning. ![Smile](images/smiles/icon_smile.gif) |
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Skip Edwards
From: LA,CA
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Posted 12 Nov 2020 8:04 am
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Mike, also give Jim Palenscar a call at Steel Guitars of North County. He may have some. |
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Billy Knowles
From: Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa
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Posted 13 Nov 2020 6:20 am paint
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Mike, Great pain job _________________ Billy Knowles
STEEL GUITAR EAST
Emmons authorized dealer and approved service technician
my web site: http://www.steelguitareast.com |
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Mike DiAlesandro
From: Kent, Ohio
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Posted 13 Nov 2020 12:29 pm
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Thanks Billy, and David and Bill, I appreciate it.
I ordered a white and a black fretboard from Jim Palenscar. Thanks for the heads up on that Skip, I didn't know that Jim sold fretboards.
Ken, thanks for the link, Tom contacted me. I told him I was hoping to find a metal board, which I was able to do. I will post photos of both color fretboards when I am finished to get some opinions on which looks best.
A few more coats of lacquer, and then 30 days to cure and I should be ready to start putting her back together again... |
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Kevin Mincke
From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2020 6:14 pm
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Beautiful Mike. Nice job bringing th ol girl back! Thanks for posting the progress pics. |
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Mike DiAlesandro
From: Kent, Ohio
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 1:39 pm Fretboard Opinion?
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Well I had some time to do some reassembly, and try out 2 different fretboards courtesy of Jim Palenscar.
The opinion in these parts is that the black and silver board is choice one, but I am interested in other thoughts as well, the white board has a different look, but it's pretty nice looking in it's own right.
White board w/ flash.
White board without flash.
Black board with flash.
Black board without flash.
![](https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/9797_front_blackboard_1.jpg) |
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David Ball
From: North Carolina High Country
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 1:43 pm
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I'll put in a vote for the white board--Both of my old Buds have white boards and I love the way they look...
On your guitar, I think the white board makes the sunburst stand out a bit more, which I like.
Dave |
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Andrew Goulet
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 2:00 pm
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Wow nice job! Looks beautiful. Personally, sunburst is not my favorite finish but you did a great job on it. _________________ Marlen S12 pedal steel
12 string Bill Hatcher lap steel
ZT Club and Lunchbox |
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Colin Swinney
From: Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 2:13 pm
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I agree with David, that white board makes the guitar look even sharper than it does already. Can’t go wrong either way though, well done! |
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Mike DiAlesandro
From: Kent, Ohio
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 3:05 pm
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Thanks guys, little bit of a different perspective...
Gotta say, the photo's seem to point to the white fretboard as the one to go with.
![](https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/9797_angle_top_whiteboard_1.jpg) |
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Greg Milton
From: Benalla, Australia
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 3:49 pm Re: Pro I cabinet refinish
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Mike DiAlesandro wrote: |
Gotta say, sunburst finishes definitely require some artistic talent, which I have very little to none ... ![Laughing](images/smiles/icon_lol.gif) |
I think what you've done looks better than most sunbursts I've seen. The fact that it comes in a little bit unevenly makes it look more rustic, to my eyes anyway.
I vote for the black fretboard - it makes it look more distinguished to me |
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Dave Meis
From: Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 4:12 pm
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I have white boards on my LDG and my Mullen. When I got my Mullen, it had the black board on it, and I liked the LDG so well that I ordered a white board for the Mullen. When it arrived, I used a very small piece of double backed tape at each end to try it out, and I've never had a problem with the tape, so, now I have both! Easy to remove/reinstall! |
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Edward Efira
From: California, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2020 6:09 pm
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A real beauty Mike, I think I like the black board even better! _________________ <small><b>'75 Sho-Bud 4&4, '01 Zumsteel 8&8, 2012 Zum Hybrid 4&6</b></small> |
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