Ibanez RG customisation/refinishing projet (picstory)

Underworld · 01-17-2011, 08:57 AM

Hi folks!

I decided to start my own customisation projet! So I bought an Ibanez RG3EX1 (I was looking for a fixed bridge instrument). Here's the picstory. Please note I had acces to my father's tool and to my father (he's a skilled woodworker).

Sweet isn't it? As soon as I got the axe, I removed every part (electronics, hardware, body and neck). The hard work started with the neck. I sanded down the finish from the back and headstock, and removed enought wood from the back to bring it to Prestige specs (17mm at 2nd fret, 19mm at 12th fret), but with a rounder shape (less flat? Prestige necks feel kinda too flat). Then the back of the neck was finished with Gunstock wax, and sanded with 1000 grit sandpaper for ultimate slickness!

Yeah I had to fill up the neck screw holes as they were very, very shitty! And what about a little scallop?

Nice hen? Unfortunately, I managed to scratch some frets in the process...

The work on the body was quite more difficult. The damn binding on the body was shit, so I ended up sanding the sides of the body so down that it completely removed the binding. So now my body is smaller, and lighter

BTW basswood is ....ing ugly.

You see me coming with that filled neck pickup hole? Ok now NEED MOAR WOODS!!! Bubinga time!

Heavy law books will help the wood stay straight!

2 weeks of drying in a damn dry place in between newspaper sheets, then time to choose the pieces, and glue them on the body and headstock.

(oh yeah, Graphteck nut)

Time to cut the bubinga veneer top (had a hard time):

Underworld · 01-17-2011, 08:59 AM

The body, sides and cavity cut :

I needed a control cavity cover, so I decided to make one (pictures shows the bubinga cativy cover glued (3 pieces), sanded and tung oiled)

Now I only need to apply 3 more coats of tung oil all over the body, and add the hardware (courtesy of White_Cluster), and a NICE gold covered DiMarzio Tone Zone! Gold Sperzel looking tuners, gold screws, gold pickup ring, gold jackplate, gold knob, gold gotoh bridge, gold dunlop straplocks DiMarzio 500k volume, switchcraft jack and vintage clothcovered wiring. Some minor parts have still to arrive yet.

I will post picture when the oiling process will be over, and finally when the guitar will be put back together. LEAVE COMMENTS!

nojyeloot · 01-17-2011, 09:39 AM

That's going to be beautiful man.

White Cluster · 01-17-2011, 09:42 AM

Looking awesome David.
Why the TZ and not something a little more aggresive?

Underworld · 01-17-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Cluster

Looking awesome David.
Why the TZ and not something a little more aggresive?

I always loved the fat tone of the Tone Zone, and the way its mids push the front end of an amp. Plus I had the possibility to get it with a gold cover. If it does not sound as good as I want, I may go the Warpig way.

MikeH · 01-17-2011, 10:27 AM

Delicious. Already making me salivate.

scherzo1928 · 01-17-2011, 10:50 AM

Great job man. Looks beautiful!
Great choice with the tonezone btw.

jwatso89 · 01-17-2011, 03:15 PM

I love me some bubinga

thatll be one sexy axe once its assembled

Sebastian · 01-17-2011, 04:25 PM

That will be really cool

conorreich · 01-17-2011, 04:36 PM

Wow

Glad someone put it to good use

shanejohnson02 · 01-17-2011, 04:59 PM

I think production Ibanez axes spoiled any love I might have had for bubinga. But this looks pretty good....very blackmachine-esque, if I may say so.

Bobo · 01-17-2011, 06:09 PM

Can't wait to see the finished product

How exactly do you sand down the neck? I'd love for my RG321 to feel like my old RG520's...I might actually play it then lol.

Underworld · 01-17-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobo

Can't wait to see the finished product

How exactly do you sand down the neck? I'd love for my RG321 to feel like my old RG520's...I might actually play it then lol.

I'm not sure I really understand your question, but here's my method :

First, I used big grain sandpaper like 80-100 grit and remove all the finish from the back of the neck. Make sure to tape the sides and top of the fretboard with masking tape to protect it. Also remove the neck from the body (you will protect the body). Make sure the neck stays in place and does not move.

Then, I used the same grit of sandpaper to remove wood from the back of the neck. I always sand with a nice, big piece of sandpaper, from the heel to the headstock, and during the process I feel the neck with my hand to make sure everything is nice and round, and that there is no noticable "hole" or bumps on the neck. I also use a long, metal ruler to check if the neck still has a straight profile. Make sure to not only sand the center of the back of the neck, or you'll get a flat neck with hard edges. Use a new piece of sandpaper every now and then (when needed!)

When you are fully satisfied with the shape of your neck, proceed to fine sanding. First, 200 grit, then 400, 600 and finally 1000 grit. In between each grit make sure you clean the wood nicely with a clean cloth. I also use wood alcohol for maximum cleaning.

Apply finish. Play. Enjoy.

Bobo · 01-17-2011, 06:42 PM

Cool. I've never done any type of woodworking, so it was a very ignorant question I know hehe. I have a friend who should be able to do this, so I'll direct him to this thread

Thanks!

Underworld · 01-17-2011, 09:56 PM

The first thing I made related to woodworking was... sanding down a neck! Just work slowly and you'll get good results. You can always buy a 50$ shit localy to practice too.

It is better to do it by yourself as only you knows what you like best in terms of neck shape.

Underworld · 01-31-2011, 11:26 PM

FINAL RESULT :

NGD something a little special!

Underworld · 05-23-2011, 10:26 PM

This guitar is now for sale

Ibanez RG heavily modified!

Hyliannightmare · 05-24-2011, 12:48 AM

that will look so much better

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01-17-2011, 08:57 AM	#1
Underworld SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,023 Thanked: 31 Feedback Score: 17 reviews	Ibanez RG customisation/refinishing projet (picstory) Hi folks! I decided to start my own customisation projet! So I bought an Ibanez RG3EX1 (I was looking for a fixed bridge instrument). Here's the picstory. Please note I had acces to my father's tool and to my father (he's a skilled woodworker). Sweet isn't it? As soon as I got the axe, I removed every part (electronics, hardware, body and neck). The hard work started with the neck. I sanded down the finish from the back and headstock, and removed enought wood from the back to bring it to Prestige specs (17mm at 2nd fret, 19mm at 12th fret), but with a rounder shape (less flat? Prestige necks feel kinda too flat). Then the back of the neck was finished with Gunstock wax, and sanded with 1000 grit sandpaper for ultimate slickness! Yeah I had to fill up the neck screw holes as they were very, very shitty! And what about a little scallop? Nice hen? Unfortunately, I managed to scratch some frets in the process... The work on the body was quite more difficult. The damn binding on the body was shit, so I ended up sanding the sides of the body so down that it completely removed the binding. So now my body is smaller, and lighter BTW basswood is ....ing ugly. You see me coming with that filled neck pickup hole? Ok now NEED MOAR WOODS!!! Bubinga time! Heavy law books will help the wood stay straight! 2 weeks of drying in a damn dry place in between newspaper sheets, then time to choose the pieces, and glue them on the body and headstock. (oh yeah, Graphteck nut) Time to cut the bubinga veneer top (had a hard time):

01-17-2011, 08:59 AM	#2
Underworld SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,023 Thanked: 31 Feedback Score: 17 reviews	The body, sides and cavity cut : I needed a control cavity cover, so I decided to make one (pictures shows the bubinga cativy cover glued (3 pieces), sanded and tung oiled) Now I only need to apply 3 more coats of tung oil all over the body, and add the hardware (courtesy of White_Cluster), and a NICE gold covered DiMarzio Tone Zone! Gold Sperzel looking tuners, gold screws, gold pickup ring, gold jackplate, gold knob, gold gotoh bridge, gold dunlop straplocks DiMarzio 500k volume, switchcraft jack and vintage clothcovered wiring. Some minor parts have still to arrive yet. I will post picture when the oiling process will be over, and finally when the guitar will be put back together. LEAVE COMMENTS! Solodini likes this.

01-17-2011, 09:39 AM	#3
nojyeloot SS.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 3,023 Thanked: 89 Feedback Score: 10 reviews	That's going to be beautiful man. My Soundcloud Page \| Bear Witness \| The Famine "If anyone speaks badly of you, live so that no one believes it."

01-17-2011, 09:42 AM	#4
White Cluster Gives Life Meaning Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ct Posts: 1,448 Thanked: 20 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Looking awesome David. Why the TZ and not something a little more aggresive? I use Elixirs because they're easier to clean the blood off. --chiba from TGP

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01-17-2011, 10:27 AM	#6
MikeH Djent is okay. Join Date: May 2006 Location: Milford, OH Posts: 7,406 Thanked: 234 Feedback Score: 17 reviews	Delicious. Already making me salivate.

01-17-2011, 10:50 AM	#7
scherzo1928 has wood for you Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mexico City Posts: 4,691 Thanked: 33 $scherzo1928 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $scherzo1928 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $scherzo1928 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $scherzo1928 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $scherzo1928 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $scherzo1928 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $scherzo1928 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Great job man. Looks beautiful! Great choice with the tonezone btw.

01-17-2011, 03:15 PM	#8
jwatso89 ss.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: sarnia, ontario Posts: 179 Thanked: 4 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I love me some bubinga thatll be one sexy axe once its assembled

01-17-2011, 04:25 PM	#9
Sebastian Poland CEO / RHLC © Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cracow, Poland Posts: 8,360 Thanked: 100 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	That will be really cool

01-17-2011, 04:36 PM	#10
conorreich Momento Mori Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: new orleans louisiana Posts: 478 Thanked: 9 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Wow Glad someone put it to good use

01-17-2011, 04:59 PM	#11
shanejohnson02 Hammer of the Gods Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Texarkana, TX Posts: 514 Thanked: 11 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I think production Ibanez axes spoiled any love I might have had for bubinga. But this looks pretty good....very blackmachine-esque, if I may say so.

01-17-2011, 06:09 PM	#12
Bobo SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: TN Posts: 1,743 Thanked: 20 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Can't wait to see the finished product How exactly do you sand down the neck? I'd love for my RG321 to feel like my old RG520's...I might actually play it then lol. "Two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity ; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

01-17-2011, 06:42 PM	#14
Bobo SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: TN Posts: 1,743 Thanked: 20 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Cool. I've never done any type of woodworking, so it was a very ignorant question I know hehe. I have a friend who should be able to do this, so I'll direct him to this thread Thanks! "Two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity ; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

01-17-2011, 09:56 PM	#15
Underworld SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,023 Thanked: 31 Feedback Score: 17 reviews	The first thing I made related to woodworking was... sanding down a neck! Just work slowly and you'll get good results. You can always buy a 50$ shit localy to practice too. It is better to do it by yourself as only you knows what you like best in terms of neck shape.

01-31-2011, 11:26 PM	#16
Underworld SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,023 Thanked: 31 Feedback Score: 17 reviews	FINAL RESULT : NGD something a little special!

05-23-2011, 10:26 PM	#17
Underworld SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,023 Thanked: 31 Feedback Score: 17 reviews	This guitar is now for sale Ibanez RG heavily modified!

05-24-2011, 12:48 AM	#18
Hyliannightmare Banned Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Orlando Posts: 255 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	that will look so much better

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