Jaguar Refinish Update. 

This has been my first attempt at a “burst” style finish, what’s more, I’ve hand rubbed it. After making use of the many tutorials on youtube regarding the process, I took what idea’s I liked from some of them, and combined them to create my own method. Really simply I started with a base coat of stain that I was happy with, but would also be happy to darken up if need be in the blending process. The basswood was no where near as awful as I had read about to work with and didn’t blotch up, I’m taking this as an exception to the rule and wouldn’t always expect the same result! After the base stain was down, it was time to work on the burst. I decided to use the same stain colour but with a much higher concentration, basically straight out of the tin. This does pose a few risks, as it’s just going to sit where it goes and if you goof up, all the harder to rectify. Luckily, I’d told myself that however long it takes, is just fine so I slowly began working the stain in from the edges by creating a dark line and then working in, sort of like cross hatching. 

You can probably make out in pictures 1 & 2 that the “cross hatching” was pretty pronounced and where the stain could have done with some thinning out before application. Thankfully, as I had given myself enough room to work with tone wise I was happy enough to blend it in and create a slightly deeper colour all over while blending. Picture 3 shows pretty much the final result of this process. Oh, and by the third picture I had also moved to a darker stain for the sides of the body, to blend into the edges just a little more naturally. It worked a treat. 

The fourth picture is completely off colour wise (in fact ALL OF THEM ARE), it is no where near that amber in colour, I just caught some dodgy light when I took the picture. It’s still nice and ashy. That particular picture was just after the first coat of Danish Oil went on. Since then I’ve added more coats and it’s starting to build nicely, and I am giving it at least 12 hours between coats. We’re having some really fantastic weather for this process here in Brisbane, really sunny days, not too hot, and fairly low humidity. I got lucky I guess. 

While I’m waiting for this all to dry between coats, I’m about to begin pulling frets from a MIJ Jaguar Special Neck. Black headstock, Rosewood fretboard, it’s going to look amazing on this body. Unfortunately, as its a ‘94-’95 neck, there really are some frets well past their use by date, and it looks like the neck sat with a capo on it for a long time as, some string groves have actually been worn into them. Pics will come soon. For now, off to see what else I have lying around to work on :) 

Stay Rad.