Kline restore progress, and your opinion needed

[nightwatch]

Some of you will remember, about a year or so ago, I won this body on the 'bay. It was pretty beat. Its taken awhile to gather up all the parts, but I'm finally starting to work on it. I had the finish repaired by a person here in town, so here are the before and after pics. The first two are "before" pics. You can see the wavy, fisheye finish in it, especially around the edge on the bottom of the body. This is why is wasn't originally used and Dennis had to rush a second one. It was a special order for a customer. I also did a "before" pic with flash. You can see the dings, etc.

I tried to get the light on the after pics (3,4, and 5), with and without flash, so you can see what a great job he did. You can see it in natural light and flash. I also put the rubber in the Floyd route which a forum member kindly sold to me a long time ago.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN1675.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN1712.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN2170.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN2173.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN2176.jpg

Ok, now, here's the pics with the OFR I recently acquired. So, now, which pickup do you like?

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN2186.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN2190.jpg

The black one is a vintage SD JBJ, and reverse zebra is an old Schaller.

I at first thought I liked the zebra, but I'm now beginning to think it detracts from the graphic. I'm leaning towards the black one.

Its taking shape. I do have a "correct" neck for it. Hopefully it will be ready to go in another couple of weeks and I can show the finished product.

[halo71]

Wow that is nice! I don't think I've ever seen that one before.

[pel666]

What a great refin on the clear!!!

Normally I always use Zebras, cause I like the looks but in this case I would go with the black one...it does more justice to the paint IMHO :thumbsup

[KramerUK]

Totally agree that the zebra detracts from the grphic, and a vintage JBJ is just the ticket on there IMO.

So its one of only 2 in existence, and that's only if the 2nd one made for the customer is still out there, pretty cool thing to have Gale :thumbsup

Looking forward to the finished guitar

[ferengi-bri]

Go with the vintage JBJ in black!

[nightwatch]

Looks like black pickup it will be. There's a pic of the other one on VK somewhere. From what Dennis told me, this was a one off, the finish screwed up and he had to do another one. This one was obviously laying around the factory for a long time, the holes for the floyd posts haven't been drilled. He's done so many bodies over the years, he does forget the details of each one. He'll just say, oh yeah, I remember that one! :bananahea

[Midnight_Highway]

Extremeley badass! :thumbsup

George

[amerturk]

I wish I could see it. I'm at work and the pics won't come up. :(

[simpler1]

Gale- incredible restore! Can't wait to see it all done. You may have to hook me up with the person that did the refin, my 450 has some checking and I would like to get it fixed one of these days.

Black pup Imo too!

Tim- get yourself an iPhone!

[NightRider]

that looks great gale:thumbsup :drool :drool :drool :drool

[DethConsumer]

I love it! It's coming together very well!:)

[Blue Baretta]

Who did the re-finish for you? That is a great job.

John

[KramerUK]

Have to agree the re-fin looks top quality, if the guy does it commerically then it could be great if he's willing to have his details posted, could help save many a Kramer.

[ullathorne]

I at first thought I liked the zebra, but I'm now beginning to think it detracts from the graphic.

+1
Go black :thumbsup Great work by the way gale. :toast

[nightwatch]

If some of you are interested in having Steve work on some of your bodies, I will talk to Bill at German Village Music here in Columbus. If you send the body to him, Steve would pick it up on his weekly rounds. I'm going over there this week, I'll talk to Bill about it. Steve does wonderful work, I'm so lucky to have a guy who does work like that living here.:bananahea

[amerturk]

Gale, your dedication in restoring these wonderful guitars is very noteworthy. I'm amazed at some of your saves and this is a great one! It's kinda of a special feeling having a "one of" as I recently found out.

You have one hell of a collection!


BTW: The black pup rules!

[Blue Baretta]

If some of you are interested in having Steve work on some of your bodies, I will talk to Bill at German Village Music here in Columbus. If you send the body to him, Steve would pick it up on his weekly rounds. I'm going over there this week, I'll talk to Bill about it. Steve does wonderful work, I'm so lucky to have a guy who does work like that living here.:bananahea

I would be very interested. I have a holoflash swan that has clear coat cracks in it and a nasty airbrushed image on the back. I would love to have it look good again.

John

[xbolt]

Nice save Gale :toast

I'd try to see what the zeb looks like reversed...or just a rev zeb...I'd be curious just to see :scratchhe

Either way the black looks fine :thumbsup

[Ultimutt]

Nice!:thumbsup

Lookin' forward to the end result.


:toast

[kb7010]

I'd try to see what the zeb looks like reversed...or just a rev zeb...I'd be curious just to see :scratchhe


That is what I was going to suggest.. lol

but as all have said.. the black does look good in there... :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

that axe reminds me of my Mom.. ala "Big Eye"..!!!! :D

one other thing.. where did you get the rubber piece from/at..?? I need some just for the rec. trem part.. ie: where the back of Floyd Rose sits in the rec. trem part...!!!!!

[amerturk]

I wonder if this design had anything to do with Alan Parsons?

[nightwatch]

Thanks for your kind words guys. Tim, I always thought it was more Pink Floydish. Well, its Kline, so you know it will always be a little odd. Who knows what he was thinking. I still love your new one Tim!

Rex, I believe I got the rubber lining for the route from Jeff - Tourpix. Its the original stuff they use. If he doesn't have any left, let me know, I think I have some left over.:bananahea

[NightRider]

Nice save Gale :toast

I'd try to see what the zeb looks like reversed...or just a rev zeb...I'd be curious just to see :scratchhe

Either way the black looks fine :thumbsup

that is a rev. zebra

[JGB]

Gale that's an awesome save. I like the zebra but either way you can't go wrong.

[simpler1]

that is a rev. zebra

Rick- I think they meant like this:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6505/dscn2190copyjy9.jpg

Actually looks pretty good. Kind of balances the black and white in the paint.

[BloodRose]

This is Awesome! Kewl graffic! And a fantastic touch up!
Id say all black on the pup, but I do like the last shot with the white away from the graffic

[jumbowolfe]

Very nice restore, he didn't happen to say how he fixed the chips? Did he break off all of the chipped poly and then drop fill the voids?

MIke

[nightwatch]

Mike, I've never met him, so I don't know. I've wondered how he does it myself. I'll have to ask Bill to let me know when he's going to drop by so I can meet him and ask him. I have talked to him on the phone once.:bananahea

[PacerMedic]

Very nice save, Indeed Gale! I cast my lot for the JB-J. You'll get a better draw for the eye (pun!), and that great sound!:toast

[skydive69]

ok, i know this is an old post, but dennis did not do the clear coats on the kramers. they were sent out after dennis returned them to kramer to another company ( ie: the thick clear coats on the kramer bodies) dennis only finished off the graphics with a light clear coat just to protect what he painted. jst a tidbit of info for ya.

[kb7010]

ok, i know this is an old post, but dennis did not do the clear coats on the kramers. they were sent out after dennis returned them to kramer to another company ( ie: the thick clear coats on the kramer bodies) dennis only finished off the graphics with a light clear coat just to protect what he painted. jst a tidbit of info for ya.


Thanks.. that is great info to know..!!!! :thumbsup

[80sYamahaFreak]

Wow, that's a cool graphic! As for the pickup, I think the Zebra looks better myself, but that's me. Go with what you think looks and sounds best. The Zebra looks better IMO, but the JBJ is probably a better pickup.

[nightrider7804@yahoo.com]

Nice work, do you know how much steve charges to fix cracks in clear coat. I live in in columbus, thanks

[nightwatch]

Skydive, I had heard that somewhere. He painted and took them back to the factory and got more. I would imagine the finish was messed up at the factory.

Nightrider7804, he charges around $100 or so, depending on the condition of the body. He's very reasonable.
:bananahea

[TommysGs]

Nice recovery Gale.
I would like to know the process.
I have a lightning Swan that needs a facelift.

I agree with the black pickup.
The zebra clashes.

I could use it in a Baretta if you wish to sell.

[moku]

gale, as you see, many of us are amazed (and would like to know) at how the hell steve restored the body!! if you do get a chance, pls let us know. i have a baretta has has an eye-sore ding that i'd like to do a facelift. :thumbsup
ps.s.: the graffics deserves all the attention so the black pup would be better imho.

[KramerTamer]

Hey Gale, looks hot. Guess I missed this post when it started. I like the black as well. Plus I just like JBJ's.........

[nightwatch]

I will ask and try and find out how he does it and fixes the finishes. I'm curious too. I did another thread after this, a month or so later, showing the whole thing finished. Its just a wonderful sounding guitar, even unplugged, the low strings sound almost piano like. The body is pretty light, the neck is perfect, it was in great condition. I'm just really enjoying it.:bananahea