Franky Build Questions....

[erupturchops]

Hoping I can get some input from some experienced Franky guitar builders. I'm building a guitar that's inspired by the black and white VH 1 guitar.

One question I have is the taping. When I wrap the tape around the guitar body, the ends of the tape do not match up when I get all the way around. Now too me its seems that since the guitar body is shaped the way it is, they will never match up. The pictures I've seen of the VH 1 guitar, the black stripes look (at least to me) like they are matching up. Can someone help me with this, even though this does sound like a dumb question to ask.

Also how long do you wait for the paint to dry before switching color. I'm using the Dupli-Color acrylic lacquer spray paints as well as their clear spray.

Any help would great and very much appreciated. Thanks guys!

[rgorke]

I would suggest you head over to the halen.com forums.

http://halen.com/evh/index.php?name=PNp ... forum&f=46" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You will get good answers here but those guys are much more into the Franky replica builds. If you want some tone to go with your build, you're in the right place.

[erupturchops]

I would suggest you head over to the halen.com forums.

http://halen.com/evh/index.php?name=PNp ... forum&f=46" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You will get good answers here but those guys are much more into the Franky replica builds. If you want some tone to go with your build, you're in the right place.

Thanks for responding rgorke, I appreciate it.

I did however go there already and ask but seem to not have anyone respond yet. I had more luck over here in past believe it or not...

[ErickC]

I would suggest you head over to the halen.com forums.

http://halen.com/evh/index.php?name=PNp ... forum&f=46" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You will get good answers here but those guys are much more into the Franky replica builds. If you want some tone to go with your build, you're in the right place.

Thanks for responding rgorke, I appreciate it.

I did however go there already and ask but seem to not have anyone respond yet. I had more luck over here in past believe it or not...

im a member of that forum, what's your user name over there?

the truth is most of the builders focus on the red + b&w franky, so there arent that many killer builds for the VHI version.

But there is this handy guideline on how to apply the stripes, you'd need to eyeball it looking at pictures of the real deal to be more accurate but should help



this one is of the tape sizes used


this build thread has plenty of useful pics
http://halen.com/evh/index.php?name=PNp ... c&t=694416" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hope this helps

[julkke]

Wow nice graphic, thanks! I saved that for future...

[erupturchops]

I would suggest you head over to the halen.com forums.

http://halen.com/evh/index.php?name=PNp ... forum&f=46" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You will get good answers here but those guys are much more into the Franky replica builds. If you want some tone to go with your build, you're in the right place.

Thanks for responding rgorke, I appreciate it.

I did however go there already and ask but seem to not have anyone respond yet. I had more luck over here in past believe it or not...

im a member of that forum, what's your user name over there?

the truth is most of the builders focus on the red + b&w franky, so there arent that many killer builds for the VHI version.

But there is this handy guideline on how to apply the stripes, you'd need to eyeball it looking at pictures of the real deal to be more accurate but should help



this one is of the tape sizes used


this build thread has plenty of useful pics
http://halen.com/evh/index.php?name=PNp ... c&t=694416" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hope this helps

wow man...the first image is a great one for what I needed...thanks alot!

[vanhalen5150]

If you look closely at the 2 small pieces on the belly cut you'll notice they are the same piece of tape cut lengthwise. The small skinny piece fits perfectly on top of the bigger one above it.

May as well talk about stripes for a while,as little going on in the amp department.

[vanhalen5150]

Wait a few days to do the white over the black. The Duplicor dries fast, but takes a long time to cure properly. When you cant smell it up close its cured. Its dry to touch in a few hours, but takes months to cure. Yeah...MONTHS! Done it...

Do NOT use the Duplicolr clear coat, its stays soft and will never harden. Its made for flexible car parts like plastic bumpers.

Biggest mistake? Not sealing the body. Sand down the grain first, use grain filler or a polyacrylic floor stuff. The type used for hardwood floors. Works well, Ive used it.

Fine grain sandpaper, Turtlewax swirl remover to buff all the tape edges. Its pretty easy with the right techniques. Clearcoat? Meh...I wouldnt but some like that glossy look. to each his own.

Glad to see the EVH forum has been subdivided....said nobody ever.....

[emmjaydubya]

Here's another thread on the Franky stripes with a taping diagram...

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=38566

[Strat78]

Yeah, I think the 32uf Rifas sound best for the screens, but those NOS Plessey's look so damn cool, oops, wrong forum. I did that stripe diagram years ago over at Halen.com, before I came to my senses. Well, given you are doing a VHI "inspired" paint job, it does not matter how you do it up, plus let me guess, your putting a floyd on it too. However, If you do go ahead and subject the world to yet another stripy (unplayable in public) Franky knock off, go with KNE's Franky body cut, Callaham bridge (though it appears that Ed's was a cheap Tokai bridge), musikraft neck (paddle headstock so you can shape it yourself correctly). Then again, just skip the Franky copy and do a less obvious tribute to VH classic gear like a WII practice bomb effects rack. It's trully a shame that the Azusa 0022 body fell into hands of a sleazy crook, if only KNE could have had a shot at replicating it then we all would have had access to the nearly exact Franky body shape.

[rgorke]

Yeah, I think the 32uf Rifas sound best for the screens, but those NOS Plessey's look so damn cool, oops, wrong forum. I did that stripe diagram years ago over at Halen.com, before I came to my senses. Well, given you are doing a VHI "inspired" paint job, it does not matter how you do it up, plus let me guess, your putting a floyd on it too. However, If you do go ahead and subject the world to yet another stripy (unplayable in public) Franky knock off, go with KNE's Franky body cut, Callaham bridge (though it appears that Ed's was a cheap Tokai bridge), musikraft neck (paddle headstock so you can shape it yourself correctly). Then again, just skip the Franky copy and do a less obvious tribute to VH classic gear like a WII practice bomb effects rack. It's trully a shame that the Azusa 0022 body fell into hands of a sleazy crook, if only KNE could have had a shot at replicating it then we all would have had access to the nearly exact Franky body shape.

Ed didn't have RIFA's did he? I thought they were, F&T?

I think the price of Tokai bridges just tripled.

Agreed, that most activity of the forum is in the Red, B&W, but one needs to have a B&W before it can be red, no?

There is also this graphic...

[vanhalen5150]

Rifas I got. Energy to reshape a headstock...nope, I just don't have the will anymore.

[erupturchops]

Biggest mistake? Not sealing the body. Sand down the grain first, use grain filler or a polyacrylic floor stuff. The type used for hardwood floors. Works well, Ive used it.

whats the advantages of the grain filler? I've heard both sides to that..some use it...some don't...

Do NOT use the Duplicolr clear coat, its stays soft and will never harden. Its made for flexible car parts like plastic bumpers.

I've used that clear coat with a couple dummy guitar bodies I'm practicing on. The one I wet sanded came out smooth and fairly descent (at least to me) but then again I've been rushing this whole project. Been wet sanding by the end of the week . I haven't tried buffing it yet so we'll see how that works out.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR HELPING ME HERE!

[vanhalen5150]

Stick your finger nail into the clear coat. What happens? Maybe they have changed the formula.

The advantage of grain filler is that if your using a rough grain wood like ash, your paint job wont look like Keith Richards face.

[erupturchops]

Stick your finger nail into the clear coat. What happens? Maybe they have changed the formula.

The advantage of grain filler is that if your using a rough grain wood like ash, your paint job wont look like Keith Richards face.

I'm actually using korina wood...any help there?