Mica to Lacquer Emmons - Project Phase 1

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 10 Jul 2017 4:14 am

So I measured out the green mica that came off the guitar at .060. The veneer is .024. I have a double layer of veneer on the guitar. So when you add it all up with the finish it will land within .002, not bad at all...

I only mention this as some of you have asked about doing a mica to veneer conversion. I wanted to post my finding in case it is of some use to you.

Happy Monday

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 10 Jul 2017 3:27 pm

Jimmie Crawford had an Emmons in that same green formica as well. He once told me that compared to any of his other Emmons Originals, the "Green Leatherette Mica" (I think I remember him calling it that) was a dog, tone-wise.

Mike, your resto on the blue, wood-neck looks awesome. I'm sure this horn will too when you are done.

Chris "Tiny" O.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 10 Jul 2017 4:40 pm

Tiny Olson wrote:Jimmie Crawford had an Emmons in that same green formica as well. He once told me that compared to any of his other Emmons Originals, the "Green Leatherette Mica" (I think I remember him calling it that) was a dog, tone-wise.

Mike, your resto on the blue, wood-neck looks awesome. I'm sure this horn will too when you are done.

Chris "Tiny" O.

This guy was too bad to even try and hear. I have high hopes for her. I am doing the last coat of veneer now and found out today I have to go to LA till Friday:(

Looks like this one will be a red burst to dark on the sides...

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 15 Jul 2017 6:05 pm

Last piece of veneer in clamps. Next will be trim it out and get ready to router the slot for the Emmons trim pieces.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 16 Jul 2017 1:09 pm

Body is ready for finish. Now comes the parts cleanup phase...

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 16 Jul 2017 5:37 pm

Looking good.

Terry Barnett · Post by **Terry Barnett** » 17 Jul 2017 5:55 am

Mike...I see you keep a good sized hammer handy, in case the in animate objects get a little out of hand.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 17 Jul 2017 5:58 am

Terry Barnett wrote:Mike...I see you keep a good sized hammer handy, in case the in animate objects get a little out of hand.

Ha! With this many years of nasty nicotine on this thing sometimes it's take a hammer to get it apart. Just imagine what lungs look like!

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 17 Jul 2017 6:35 am

Terry Barnett wrote:Mike...I see you keep a good sized hammer handy, in case the in animate objects get a little out of hand.

You call that a hammer?

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 17 Jul 2017 6:42 am

Bill Ford wrote:
Terry Barnett wrote:Mike...I see you keep a good sized hammer handy, in case the in animate objects get a little out of hand.
You call that a hammer?

It's my starter kit hammer LOL

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Jul 2017 6:53 am

Here is an Emmons I rebuilt and refinished a few years back, it might give you some ideas:

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 17 Jul 2017 7:06 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:Here is an Emmons I rebuilt and refinished a few years back, it might give you some ideas:

Looks really nice Erv...

I'll be doing a different color on mine, kind of a deep red burst to darker towards the ends. I also have the old style Klusons and chrome 705s for pickups. I am planning on chrome frets like the blue lacquer guitar I just finished. I also ditched the metal badge for a sweet decal under my finish. So our guitars although the same era, are different. Plus this one is a cut-tail with metal necks. Both of my P/Ps are fat backs too (1973)

I'll be keeping a running total of pictures as I move through this here:

http://www.p2pamps.com/mica-emmons

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 17 Jul 2017 2:26 pm

Ok Emmons lovers, I need some thoughts.

Top of these metal necks. Polish or sand like the originals? This is a fully custom guitar so what is your pleasure? BTW, I am doing chrome frets like the Blue one.
This will also have the "Red Belly" flocking not to be confused with a real Red Belly. I just like it so why not...

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 17 Jul 2017 2:35 pm

Original on the neck top.Natural to red to black/real dark red on the color.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 17 Jul 2017 2:36 pm

Bill Ford wrote:Original on the neck top.Natural to red to black/real dark red on the color.

Color is already decided,,,,

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 17 Jul 2017 2:57 pm

Jeweled neck top is the better option in my mind. The glare reflected off a polished neck would be blinding under stage lights. Also wiping off the inevitable fingerprints could be a tiresome task.

The " jewelling" is easily done with a palm sander. Takes all of 10 minutes.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 17 Jul 2017 3:01 pm

Tony Glassman wrote:Jeweled neck top is the better option in my mind. The glare reflected off a polished neck would be blinding under stage lights. Also wiping off the inevitable fingerprints could be a tiresome task.

The " jewelling" is easily done with a palm sander. Takes all of 10 minutes.

Yeah, I'm seriously leaning that way too. I did polish out the blue guitar as it was a small piece with the wood necks and all

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 19 Jul 2017 4:46 am

All the metal is headed to Bud's Polishing today to get all pretty'd up for the dance...

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 19 Jul 2017 12:57 pm

That is some Beautiful Quarter Sawed Veneer. Be one beautiful guitar when finished.

That was the color of the late 1960' early 70'. Lived in a house with Refrigerator, Stove and Dish Washer that color. Even the living room walls was about that color.

Caught Her (My wife) at the Cookie Man's house 2am. Divorced her.

Now have a Black refrigerator, Black dish washer and a Black GFI Steel, Black Amp and Steel seat. Life is Good.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 19 Jul 2017 2:22 pm

Bobby D. Jones wrote:
Now have a Black refrigerator, Black dish washer and a Black GFI Steel, Black Amp and Steel seat. Life is Good.

Black refrigerators are the coldest, and black dishwashers clean the best.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 19 Jul 2017 2:49 pm

Herb Steiner wrote:
Bobby D. Jones wrote:
Now have a Black refrigerator, Black dish washer and a Black GFI Steel, Black Amp and Steel seat. Life is Good.
Black refrigerators are the coldest, and black dishwashers clean the best.

I have a black shop dog, does that count?

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 22 Jul 2017 12:14 pm

Changers are now disassembled, cleaned, and polished. Ready for another 44 years of service.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 26 Jul 2017 9:19 am

Making a little headway with the finish. Rubbed a little naphtha on the front apron and man that thing is popping! It will be faded to a dark red then black towards the edges... Sure better than that dang green!

Terry Barnett · Post by **Terry Barnett** » 26 Jul 2017 4:24 pm

Mike...I'm one those guys that hates everything equally, but I'm not hating this that much. Can't wait to see how much I hate the finished product.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 26 Jul 2017 4:27 pm

Terry Barnett wrote:Mike...I'm one those guys that hates everything equally, but I'm not hating this that much. Can't wait to see how much I hate the finished product.

Life is way to short to hate LOL...

Cheers!