1971 Emmons Resto - "James Blonde"

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 2 Sep 2018 3:25 pm

Yet another Push Pull Emmons project underway in desperate need of a rotisserie restoration. I call him "James Blonde" as it will be a natural finished guitar with birds eye maple and 1964 trim package. I will add a tint of yellow for that vintage look. The flocking will be grey or silver, still thinking about that. This is a 1971 wide pedal guitar with all original parts. If you think stripping Formica off a push pull is a easy job you're in for a big surprise. Gonna throw my last set of chrome 705s in him too when its time.

This one will be a little slow coming as I am finishing up a very nice black PP (Midnight) for Christopher Bauer and another sweetheart PP D10 (Rosie) for Roy Mcghee... Then I get to work on mine

Stay tunes...
Resto pics here:
www.p2pamps.com/jamesblonde

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 2 Sep 2018 3:35 pm

Mike, I always enjoy watching you bring these guitars back to life. Will this be a veneer finish?

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 2 Sep 2018 5:25 pm

Hi Mike,
Bet it will look great like all your past projects.
I see it's plain maple now so assume you'll be doing a veneer of some very nice Birds Eye Maple?
I know a lot of PP guys like the mica, but I always loved the look of real special wood.
Some of those old Emmons PSG with the natural or color burst finishes were great looking steels.
I'll be looking forward to following your posts on it.
Best wishes on this project,
Andy

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 3 Sep 2018 3:26 am

Guys, Yes the finish will be urethane over veneer. I don't shoot much lacquer anymore as its just too fragile. Lacquer is very hard and chips and cracks real easy.

I am not an expert when it comes to Emmons history but I can tell you each and every original lacquer Emmons I have restored were all veneer over straight grained maple.

Mica is 0.60 thick that I have pulled from several guitars. The veneer is 0.24 so it requires two applications for a total of 0.48. Once the finish is on the guitar it will be very close to 0.60 if not exact. This is a necessity so the end plates fit back on the guitar properly with the correct gaps etc. I have done several guitars like this and no, it does not effect the tone is the least bit, air least to my ear and that of others who have listened closely.

I will say I don't often do these conversions as it is an enormous amount of hours and work. I have been wanting to do a blonde PP so this is it.

Cheers

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 3 Sep 2018 5:49 am

Hi Mike,
I've always used lacquer so I'm interested in this urethane finish for all the reasons you mentioned about the negative aspects of lacquer.
My questions about the application of urethane is as follows;
Looking on the internet most all information is about brushing it on.
Do you brush it or spray? If you spray, what is the best thinner and how long are the drying times between coats?
Do you sand between coats and buff it out at the end?
Thanks in advance for anything you can tell us.
Best wishes,
Andy

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 3 Sep 2018 5:57 am

Andy DePaule wrote:Hi Mike,
I've always used lacquer so I'm interested in this urethane finish for all the reasons you mentioned about the negative aspects of lacquer.
My questions about the application of urethane is as follows;
Looking on the internet most all information is about brushing it on.
Do you brush it or spray? If you spray, what is the best thinner and how long are the drying times between coats?
Do you sand between coats and buff it out at the end?
Thanks in advance for anything you can tell us.
Best wishes,
Andy

Oh no, no brushing. It is basically automotive clear coat. Deltron makes a good product as does PPG. It requires reducer and catalyst as well and best sprayed in a controlled environment. Respirator is a 100% must. All and all if you don't do a ton of finishing send it out to a shop with a good painter and booth. Buffing required in the end too like your lacquer jobs. And yes, color sanding is needed between all coats. Its a process for sure.

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 3 Sep 2018 7:11 am

Thanks Mike,
That is very helpful as I couldn't find much information on the web.
Also had wondered about the difference in thickness between veneer and mica and how you'd deal with that. You explained it very well. I didn't know that Emmons had also done the wood bodies that way too, but it makes sense.
Looking forward to seeing the finished steel.

Best wishes,
Andy

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 3 Sep 2018 12:48 pm

Parts all cleaned and polished now. On to the body and drop off the big stuff to Bud's polishing for amazing polishing...

Will Houston · Post by **Will Houston** » 3 Sep 2018 12:58 pm

Love following your projects, thanks for posting.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 1 Nov 2018 2:50 pm

In the process of getting some wood on her

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 1 Nov 2018 4:57 pm

Hey Mike do you apply a balance or backing veneer? Or is it not necessary?

Beautiful work!

Best

JW

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 1 Nov 2018 5:38 pm

john widgren wrote:Hey Mike do you apply a balance or backing veneer? Or is it not necessary?

Beautiful work!

Best

JW

Yes, there is a backing veneer. The mica is .60 thick. The veneer is .24 so two coats of veneer for .48 + finish brings you to .60, a perfect fit. It is a ton of work and patience.

Dale Foreman · Post by **Dale Foreman** » 1 Nov 2018 5:47 pm

I'll take it! ðŸ˜ðŸ¤£ðŸ˜‚

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 4 Nov 2018 8:27 pm

Some progress

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 4 Nov 2018 8:53 pm

WoW Mike,
Think it's going to look terrific. Bet it will be better than when it was built.
Beautiful Birdseye!
Enjoying seeing this in progress.

Best wishes,
Andy

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 5 Nov 2018 5:57 am

Andy DePaule wrote:WoW Mike,
Think it's going to look terrific. Bet it will be better than when it was built.
Beautiful Birdseye!
Enjoying seeing this in progress.
Best wishes,
Andy

Thanks Andy. This will be a terrific push pull when she's all finished. I have spend a lot of hours on this one and have big expectations...

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 9 Nov 2018 4:23 pm

Wow Mike. That Birdseye maple is fantastic. James Blonde is going to be one spectacular steel guitar. Canâ€™t wait to see the finished product !

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 10 Nov 2018 5:00 am

T. C. Furlong wrote:Wow Mike. That Birdseye maple is fantastic. James Blonde is going to be one spectacular steel guitar. Canâ€™t wait to see the finished product !

Hey thanks TC!

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 10 Nov 2018 5:10 am

Mike Scaggs wrote:
T. C. Furlong wrote:Wow Mike. That Birdseye maple is fantastic. James Blonde is going to be one spectacular steel guitar. Canâ€™t wait to see the finished product !
Hey thanks TC! I have a couple of amps to build plus the cold weather is setting in so this project has slowed up a bit. I hope to start the finish soon however.

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 10 Nov 2018 6:30 am

You're a perfectionist!!

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 10 Nov 2018 10:25 am

Wonderful work on this great steel. It will be better than new.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 10 Nov 2018 10:35 am

Going to be special Push pull for sure!!

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 10 Nov 2018 2:37 pm

That trim is looking great Mike!

Bud Angelotti · Post by **Bud Angelotti** » 12 Nov 2018 5:41 am

Super sonic Stradivarius !

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 10 Feb 2019 3:55 am

After some pretty long delays I'm finally getting back to this 71 PP wide pedal/wide spacing D10. The end game will be a vintage amber tint. Note the 1964 trim package that will set this PP apart from the rest. Sure is a lot of work but very rewarding in the end. Stay tuned

The Steel Guitar Forum

1971 Emmons Resto - "James Blonde"

1971 Emmons Resto - "James Blonde"

Bet it will look great

A question about the application of urethane?

Re: A question about the application of urethane?

Thanks Mike

Blonde, James Blonde

Re: Blonde, James Blonde

Emmons

WoW Mike

Re: WoW Mike