Thursday, May 16, 2013

My Striped Ernie Ball Music Man Replica


For about 30 seconds I thought about buying a $2000 EVH Ernie Ball Music Man and painting it. After coming to my senses I found this kit guitar on ebay. Basswood with a maple top, just like the real EBMM. The headstock was not correct... it was sort of a hybrid EBMM/Wolfgang headstock with the correct EBMM shape, but the 3/3 machine setup was like a Wolfgang.


I filled the 3 incorrect holes with dowel and plastic wood, and redrilled holes in the correct EBMM locations
 




Painting the headstock





Adding the decal



Painting the body


Painting the black stripes


After 20 coats of clear gloss, wet sanding, and buffing



Assembly







For a kit guitar, this one certainly sounds great! That magical tone from the combination of the basswood and the maple top really comes through. And the pickups aren't bad either. They aren't quite as hot as the real EBMM/Wolfgang pickups, so I may replace them at some point.