777

Solar guitars had just released a trio of 7-string guitars. This black one here is perhaps the least vibrant of them all. The sparkle finish is barely visible. That single knob feature is a winner in my books (AB2.7BSG).

Flame top version (AB2.7FPBG). Both guitars feature a pair of in-house Modern Alnico pickups. 

This is the most attractive among the three featuring a sparkling flip-flop finish; you know, the type that switches colour depending on your viewing angle (AB2.7BSG). All three guitars feature a bolt-on neck-body attachment.

Pics: SOLAR

Ibanez: GS121 (3)

The first thing that was done to the GS121 was a body top treatment, specifically, it's a re-finish. The original top was satin black which had a few scratches in some areas that scratch removers could not handle. That's right folks, you simply can't use liquid  scratch removers (plenty available at petrol kiosks) on satin surfaces. Not quite apparent but the new finish is a flip-flop blue / green / purple. I only did two layers this time & allowed drying to take place overnight. I also placed it in direct sunlight to help the curing process & applied polish cream. If this step is omitted, chances are, the finished top would be sticky & would stick to your bag surface. My make-shift spray 'booth', as you can see above, are merely used boxes conveniently salvaged from the recycling bin downstairs. 

The default fixed bridge (left) had dead saddles; they were mouldy & the action adjustment screws were rusty & impossible to turn. I ordered a replacement unit but the screw holes were all misaligned & were smaller (right). The default bridge was given a good clean up & the saddles from the replacement units were transferred over. Apparently, the replacement unit was meant for Standard Ibanez models, not the GIO ones.

I took the opportunity to re-finish the headstock as well, to match the body. The original decal was easily removed as it was a screened transfer. The surface was sanded & sprayed over, again, only two layers were done. The replacement decal you see here is the adhesive type. I prefer this over the water transfer version as it is more resistant to lacquer & devoid of that Fender-ish ghostly outline. After proper drying, the headstock was given a layer of lacquer finish to seal the decal onto the surface. As you've noticed, I removed the nut to facilitate this process. It was easily re-glued once everything was done. I hope the pics above give you an idea of what a flip flop finish is; notice the colour shift from purple (top) to green (bottom).

Beez did the final touches for me; a pair of Artec pickups together with a 3-way pickup selector. The default pots were left alone as they were still in excellent condition. 

That's it folks, a make over coverage of an unglam guitar. We cannot rule out the fact that something great can happen to something uncelebrated if the right things are done to it. I'm showing you that you don't need a luthier level know-how (myself especially) to actually execute a simple tinkering. Be prepared to accept the fact that some spares might not conform to your needs because replacement units are often not produced by the original manufacturer & measurements could be off. Wishing you all a great weekend & a successful mod adventure if you're at it.

Previous episode: CLICK

Flip-flop S (2)

The flip flop finish of my Ibanez S521 was the end product of spraying Krylon paint. Yes, it's a budget, home DIY adventure which turned out OK. Here's how it went:

1. Guitar body was detached from the neck & all hardware & electronics removed
2. The top surface was sanded off. Essentially, it removed the lacquer coat while keeping the original finish in tact. I had no intention to remove the finish entirely because it would mean dealing with a bare wood surface which requires a pore filler coat. Sanding off the lacquer means giving the subsequent coat of paint a better 'grip' onto the surface.
3. A black base coat was applied as recommended by Krylon. This would give a prominent glitter effect.
4. 3 layers of flip flop paint was applied with sufficient drying time in between to prevent smudges / cloudy build ups.
5. 2 lacquer coats were applied to finish things off.

A bit on the drying process - the 2nd & 3rd coats of Krylon received a sun-dry treatment. This was after discovering the first layer manifesting that sticky feel despite leaving it to dry indoors, overnight. The heat helped a lot. The image above shows my absolute novice approach in exposing the guitar body to the hot afternoon sun. That's right, it was left to rest on the railing at the staircase landing where the sun shines in. On some days, I see residents leaving their laundry here to dry as well. 

If you are an absolute amateur like me in dealing with (partial) guitar re-finishing, fret not, things would turn out OK with the right amount of diligence along the way. I did everything using spray cans, no costly air brushes involved. Also, paint types are generic but suitable for wooden surfaces. Do shop around before purchasing but do not skimp on paint because the cheaper ones won't do you good in terms of visual appeal & quality finish. 

Flip-flop S

This used to be unplayable (Ibanez S521). When I was dealing with it, the action at the 12th fret was 4mm (both Es)! It was reduced to 3mm at the said fret & the area past the 14th fret was unplayable across the board (no pun intended). The owner had no clue how to rectify this anomaly. I would imagine sending it for a professional repair & the diagnosis of the situation plus a repair quotation would deem it unworthy.  Once again, it's a case of an Ibanez in need of neck-fret attention which could not be addressed just by raising the action. Yes - the body was refinished in flip-flop green.

At a certain angle, it looks blue. This is an attempt to capture that blue but it's not quite obvious through digital manifestation. 

In the true spirit of being unprofessional, the rear's original finish was kept in tact. 😅

To be continued...