Makeover process pics

madformac · Apr 9, 2014

I have a feeling this one is going to be a legendary makeover.

Stunning guitar :salude

reswot · Apr 10, 2014

Thanks. It was difficult to send out, as it was a really good guitar (my favorite) before. I know it will be better, though, when I get it back.

TulsaDiamndDave · Apr 10, 2014

reswot said:
Thanks. It was difficult to send out, as it was a really good guitar (my favorite) before. I know it will be better, though, when I get it back.

THAT . . . would be difficult to do. That demonstrates a tremendous amount of trust.

reswot · Apr 10, 2014

I had to really think about it. It was a guitar that I really liked and I was going to have it all torn apart and put back together. Another thing I had to consider was the cost. I could have bought another (used) R9 for what this makeover costs.

I knew from experience, though, that simply refinishing with better lacquer would make me appreciate the guitar more. Getting a more realistic neck shape, a better top carve, a proper truss rod, and being able to specifiy the exact color were enough to make it worthwhile.

In all honesty, I liked the fretboard I had and don't go gaga over Brazilian, anyway, so that wasn't a big deal to me. I'm sure I'll like the new fretboard very much, though.

DocJ · Apr 10, 2014

reswot said:
I had to really think about it. It was a guitar that I really liked and I was going to have it all torn apart and put back together. Another thing I had to consider was the cost. I could have bought another (used) R9 for what this makeover costs.

I knew from experience, though, that simply refinishing with better lacquer would make me appreciate the guitar more. Getting a more realistic neck shape, a better top carve, a proper truss rod, and being able to specifiy the exact color were enough to make it worthwhile.

In all honesty, I liked the fretboard I had and don't go gaga over Brazilian, anyway, so that wasn't a big deal to me. I'm sure I'll like the new fretboard very much, though.

True dat. I have had the same experience - except I really wanted the new fretboard, too.

:salude

reswot · Apr 25, 2014

Here's a new pic with the neck glued on and the rest of the body stripped. I'm not sure if the top carve has been redone, yet. It may have, as some of the mineral streaks look slightly different.

Kim tells me that they'll be profiling boards next week and that we should start seeing it progress pretty quickly once that happens.

59Vampire · Apr 25, 2014

Can't wait to see the final prject

Born Late '58 · Apr 26, 2014

I have had my RDS home again for about two weeks, and I'm still "learning" how to get re-acquainted with the guitar--so many changes subtle and not so subtle.

It was a 50th '59 heritage, and I had the whole package done. What can I say? The feel, the look, all very cool--but the tone! It's pretty amazing what a difference it's made. As to whether or not the amount of money I spent was "worth it," I don't know how to quantify that exactly. What I can say is this: I've played a lot of guitars, and quite a few vintage pieces that were very high dollar examples, and this guitar is now the second best sounding and playing electric guitar I've ever played--the only one I can definitively say was "better" (we're talking guitars I personally have actually played) was a tuxedo tele that had been owned by John 5--and that was a $30k guitar that had everyone's jaw on the floor during that particular jam session--and there were some serious collector cats in the room that night--that tele was so live it was a freaky thing. Not much else to say there, I guess.

I hope everyone who gets a makeover has the same tonal result as I have heard with mine. To me, it's stellar. :jim

Black58 · Apr 26, 2014

I know that they are okay, but neck-less bodies scare the shit outta me! :wah

Aloha_Mark · Apr 27, 2014

What happens to the security chip embedded in the lower part of the neck? Is it still functional after the neck is steamed away from the body?

reswot · Apr 27, 2014

I'm not worried about the security chip -- and had never thought about it. I'm sure that the warranty would be quite voided, now, anyway!

I was having a hard time coming up with a description of the finish that I want (e.g., "A dark-cherry, kind-of Brockburst, but fading to where the red just starts to turn brownish and with the patina of an old finish"). I finally found a pic of what I'm looking for, though, on (of all places) the HM site. This is kind of what I'm going for:

D'Mule · Apr 27, 2014

I love that color.

I've thought about a similar refin color for my R4, but with more fade around the bottom edges ala Pearly Gates sunburst.

Aloha_Mark · Apr 27, 2014

reswot said:
I'm not worried about the security chip -- and had never thought about it. I'm sure that the warranty would be quite voided, now, anyway!

You may know it in the dark, but the pawn shop or dealer where it is "fenced" may not. Either the original chip or a replacement would ensure that the guitar can be positively ID'ed, even if the S/N were removed. When the neck or fingerboard if off is an ideal opportunity to take care of security.

There are various feelings about recovery. Some owners just want to forget the guitar and collect the insurance money. Others still care about the loss of a rare and personally meaningful instrument. Without owning a HM guitar, I don't know how tight the bonding process becomes, but the rfid chip costs less than ten bucks. The fact that Gibson and Fender are including these in custom shop instruments makes the guitars valuable, as collector items. With the growth of fakes, any piece of evidence to support the contention that your guitar started its life as a Gibson would seem welcome. I don't know how the manufacturers validate a S/N + ID, but if they charged 5 bucks for authentication requests, that would dissuade hackers. Kim would be a trustworthy source for recording this relationship before work began.

reswot · Apr 27, 2014

I would be willing to be that the steam doesn't affect it. These RFID chips can be implanted into living creatures! I've had flash drives and the like that have gone through the wash with no ill effects -- one even lasted through a flood at my home.

However, it's not a big deal to me. I doubt the local pawn shop has a scanner to read the damned thing, anyway, and the local police -- if a stolen guitar were ever recovered aren't going to go all CSI about a reissued guitar. Photographic evidence is probably just fine.

Anyway, a good replica is probably worth more than my "genuine" madeover Gibson will be.

reswot · May 25, 2014

It's been a while since any progress was made; Kim had to wait for the boards to be profiled. That's done, now, so here's the new board.

...and here it is after being fretted.

It still needs to be bound, scraped (the binding), and glued on. Kim tells me that it should be ready for paint, soon. I'll keep updating as I get new pics and information.

reswot · May 28, 2014

A couple of more pics... The new Brazilian board has been bound, now, and is ready for gluing to the guitar.

cryptozoo · May 28, 2014

Those look like Strat bodies in the background. Does HM do Fender makeovers as well?

reswot said:
Starting to look like a guitar, again....

Neck being glued back in. The new truss rod has already been installed and the filler strip planed down.

kingsxman · May 28, 2014

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TM1 · May 29, 2014

Nice looking board! Shouldn't be long before it's in Paint!!
I just got my 3-pickup Custom back in late March!

reswot · May 29, 2014

TM1 said:
Nice looking board! Shouldn't be long before it's in Paint!!
I just got my 3-pickup Custom back in late March!

I saw your Custom when you posted it. A Custom is next on my list of guitars to buy.

Makeover process pics

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