Electra x935cs... fill Bigsby holes

Bought this sweet Electra.



Sounds great and feels great, has MMK53's in her. She's an Uncle Mat, very nice quality. A little neck heavy though which I don't like but not pointing to the floor like an SG. I've almost got her all cleaned up, ordered knobs to bring her back to original, but I have four little problems...



Someone had a Bigsby on her. Got four little holes now.

So I must do away with said holes. I can fill them, but how about finishing them? Sunburst ain't easy. The holes are too small for my other plans (which is good, I'm glad they're small holes)... Let me know what you think gentlemen.

Like restoring a painting.

If you've never done it take it to a pro.

The Chad wrote:...Someone had a Bigsby on her. Got four little holes now...

Arrgghh, what a dumb ass thing to do! I don't think even our pal Trevor over at the Mats forum could fix this. Major resto work there, unless you can live with coloured drop fill dots or sumpthin'.

That's a nice guitar Chad!

Hoax

hoax wrote:That's a nice guitar Chad!

Hoax

Thanks Hoax! I like it a lot. Sounds as you'd expect a mahogany and thick maple cap, set neck, Les Paul-esque guitar to sound. But with push pull pots for coil tap and phase. Has a bayonet set neck with carved heel like so it looks and feels like a neck through (much like the Spectrum FX and others). It has it's own character and shape which I really dig. Plus it was a steal!

I'd like erase the holes myself, so I'll do some internet digging on how to make flame maple holes go away...

The Chad wrote:...I'd like erase the holes myself, so I'll do some internet digging on how to make flame maple holes go away...

Do let us know, won't you? You'll have to have the touch and eye of an artist methinks.

Ooh, now that's rude. Such a lovely guitar and delicate finish!
When you talk about the other plans what exactly did you have in mind?
I'm just thinking aloud: Fill the holes with dowels and maybe veneer? Would you be able to get colormatch results with feltpens? For dropfillings I read and saw a video where they used superglue and later scraped of the redundancy with a razorblade. I'm not at all experienced in these matters and one way or the other it looks like it will be a difficult and painstaking task. Hope you'll get some bright ideas and yes, as Barry says: Do let us know Chad.

wow, dropfilling can be a nightmare as ive recently found out, the existing clearcoat/varnish will most likely dissolve on contact with the new, then theres a whole load of blending to endure.......trust me here...take it to a pro!

Nah

Do it yourself with indelible markers and superglue.

Use matches or cocktail sticks to fill the holes. On a flamed guitar it is very important to maintain the translucency of the finish. Do not be tempted to try solid paint as the stripes work in opposite directions.

Hard to explain, but if you try a solid paint which looks OK looking down from the playing position, it will be totally wrong when viewed from the bottom up.

Trust me - I've been there.

Hoax

To do it properly, use tinted lacquer's.

Westbone wrote:To do it properly, use tinted lacquer's.

Therein lies the pain! Tinted and translucent. Wheee!

I'm feeling all of what you're saying, it is a dilemma. I've looked at it six ways from Sunday. I still don't really know what that saying means...

Until I consult with a good wood finishing man or luthier, I'll keep her holey! Fortunately it doesn't show much at all. They're small holes.

She may get her first outing this Saturday at a gig we're doing. Been using her for rehearsals and aside from feedback, she works a treat.

It's going to be hot here on Saturday. Maybe the little holes will help her ventilate and stay cool.

Keep it holy.

Just seal it in the meantime, with a dab of clear(lacquer)

Hi D Hi

I was thinking what Damian said. He's right. It'll at least stop any chipping.