So, here we go. I just KNOW there are going to be people that absolutely HATE what I did and say stuff like, "How could you do that to your guitar" etc..., but I just wasn't happy with the way it was before. So, tell me this, "Did I go too far"? I personally love it, but wanted to share with you and get your thoughts on it. I was afraid to post the pics due to fears of international rioting, looting and general mass hysteria...
I don't see anything wrong with it. it's your guitar, right ? who knows, you just may start a trend.
brent
Burn him! He's a witch!!!
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Yeah, it's my guitar, but did you notice the finish on the guitar's body? It's now flat, like a hotrod setzer model...
That looks cool as hell. I love the original finish, but that looks great too, wenzel. What is that below the normal knobs?
That, my friend, is a vari-tone switch. Similar to the ones found on BB King gibson models. I decided to try it and loved it. If you also notice that I had to add an extra knob since the varitone I bought was a deluxe version with a push pull pot to allow for 5 additional tones. I love it! Thanks for the compliments SKC!!! Glad I didn't get hanged for it yet! 
The operative work is "yet".
lol, I purposely put that key word in there! 
Wenzel, How'd you do that to the finish? Steel wool?
I love the finish. It turned out nice.
All them extra knobs give me the heeby jeebys.
But all that matters is what YOU like.
I read recently how Chris Thile of Nickel Creek emptied his entire savings to buy a genuine "Loar" era Gibson F mandolin. He commented about how he was going to scallop the upper frets (like a modern mandolin) for better playability. He didnt care what anybody else thought.
I can dig it. Did you do the whole thing or just the top. Either way it looks like you did a very nice job. Its pretty hard to achieve a uniform finish like that. So how did you do it?
I also have to give you a 1up because after that I'm surprised you can even walk...you must have balls this big(hands seperated about the size of a basketball).
I used these new sand paper things from Home Depot that look like the antiskid stuff you'd put in the drawer to keep your tools from moving around. The material was purple. I first did a dry sanding of the guitar and then went over it with some mcguires scratch X and then went back over the body with the same 400 grit sand paper anti-skid material thing with some WD-40 as the lubricant. The finish really turned out good IMO. Even though it's still the same old poly that was on there it now looks more like the vintage Gretsch's I fell in love with and less like a plasticine one. lol After that I put all of the hardware back on. I used some aquarium tubing cut into 4" strips to hold the pots in the body so I could fish them out easier in the end when I was ready to reassemble it. It took about 4 hours total with breaks in between. The sandpaper stuff is made by 3M. I like it better than regualr sandpaper because it's more flexible and conformed to the top a lot better...
I did just the body. Top back and sides. I didn't want to mess with the mojo of the ultra smooth neck. The headstock could have easily been done too, but I didn't feel like taking off the tuners and the custom made nameplate I had done.
Hey, I don't mind it. Looks very military.
I think I'd take the black ring off from behind the Vari-tone, though. Maybe put 5 tiny brads in the body to mark the positions.
Nicely done Chris.
Thanks proteus. Well, originally I wanted a brass plate of some sort to do it with like the real BB king model, but I couldn't find one. Overall, the black blends with the other black appointments, like the headstock and binding, but I see what you're saying. I still like it as is though... Thanks for your comments Pro!
Mark, really? I thought you would have hated it. I know a lot of guys on here love the new super shiny look, but it just isn't me. I did the same thing to my old Samick ES-335 copy in 2000, but it didn't turn out as well since I used an electric sander and I sanded through to bare wood around the binding. I learned my lesson on that cheapo guitar and decided to go balls to the wall with this one. It was either do or die and after I first started I almost regretted it. In the end though I am extremely pleased with the end results...
Personalized! I always dig that. Whats with the screws on the neck p.u.?They look like a strats pole pieces?
McFly, those are standard pole pieces to a TV Jones magnatron pickup and yes they look sort of like a strat. Sound sort of similar too I guess, but more like a dynasonic pickup that's humbucking... Thanks!
Wenzel said: I thought you would have hated it.It's not something I'd be likely to do to my guitars but it's not like blasphemy or anything.
BTW, you still have your Jet?
No, I sold it to another GDP member who is loving it... I am ultimately a hollowbody guy!
Looks fantastic. I've always left my stuff untouched, but I'm starting to rethink that. These are some very cool ideas. Incidentally, every time I see that Silvertone head in your pictures I get goosebumps. I foolishly threw mine away about 5 years ago after keeping it in the basement for about 35 years. Wish I had one.
Thanks! I absolutely love the silvertone! It has the most mojo of any amp I have ever owned. Sure, it doesn't sound like a twin reverb or a vox, but it sounds awesome IMO. I feel sad for your lost 1484 in the trash somewhere...
Wenzel said: I sold it to another GDP member who is loving it.Now THAT is blasphemy! Remind me to burn you at the stake next time you're in town.
Maybe you shoulda got a Duo with Dynas. Loving mine. Who bought your Duo?
I forget who bought it?
Mark, I am calling Al Sharpton as we speak to have him boycott you!!! lol
Wenzel said: Mark, I am calling Al Sharpton as we speak to have him boycott you!!Now you have me really scared.
