In this corner weighing in at....

[HeeBGB]

4lbs 6oz we have a new project. Haven't decided on color yet. I really wanted to do Ice Blue Metallic but it seems a shame to cover up all that grain. In the end though the blue will probably win. Picked it up last Sunday at the Philly guitar show. Made by Clearfork Designs.

[sliberty]

Ice blue metallic with a black guard is a great looking combination.

[ampmike]

I vote for the blue metallic as well,beautifully PCM you have there.If I built a guitar I would have two monkeys on my back.Have fun!mikey[/quote]

[Phil_S]

You can always do the back in a complementary translucent if you want to keep some view of the grain. The candid truth is that it is a great looking body but the grain is fairly ordinary. I wouldn't hesitate to cover it. It would be another thing if it was flame, burl, curly, or other exotic, but it's not. I'm envious of your project -- I'd really like to build a guitar one day, but like ampmike says, I don't need two monkeys on my back. One is almost more than I can handle. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed guitar!

[dreric]

Nice! looks like ash. If so, my experience has been that by the time you get the pores filled a solid color is the best choice. I've had better results with traditional pore fillers. The LM epoxy stuff sounds great but is a nightmare to work with.

[Zippy]

Here's G&L's take on clear green over swamp ash:

http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/US ... -green.asp

[Structo]

Yes, that is Ash.

Swamp ash is noticeably lighter than Northern Ash.

Both types have large pores in the grain and will require lots of sanding and grainfilling.

The best grainfiller I have used is Bartley's.

But there are other alternatives, such as super glue.

[overtone]

super glue? tell us more please about that one.

I have no time either, but the insane in the brain little devil in me bought some bodies in May. Three are swamp ash and I started pore filling last night. Doing a little each night is great after the day's work.

I would go with Blue Ice too if I could get it here. No luck yet.

[Reeltarded]

Silica based filler on ash. Wood based pore fillers show up later.

I would hit it with an auto spatula and bondo then a solid color.

[rdjones]

Keep the grain and the blue with a 'trans' blue like Ibanez and Dean use on quite a few guitars.

rd

[Bob S]

You guys are bastards.
I weened myself off guitar building.
I've got 432 days under my belt today.
And you wave this in front of me.
And it had to be a Tele.
Aaargh!
Blue would be my choice too.
Gotta love lightweight guitars.
Eye twitch going on here.

[HeeBGB]

You guys are bastards.

Don't tell me you JUST figured this out?

[Bob S]

Nope - and I fit right in.

[Reeltarded]

They call me difficult as well.

haha

[skyboltone]

Here's what they look like five years later after you conclude yer just too askeert to mess with it. It's too nice for a hack like me. Solid Spruce. Milled 1957 with the paperwork to prove it.

[IMG:800:600]http://i43.tinypic.com/2hwfmz9.jpg[/img]
[IMG1200]http://i43.tinypic.com/ix6ukz.jpg[/img]

I'll PAY somebody with a track record with lacquer to finish it so I can bolt the stuff on. Got some Lawrence pups and a bunch of righteous mechanicals to put on it too. No filling required with Spruce.

Dan