CAL-K1
Page 2
Body finish
The first consideration to be made before assembly is choosing the preferred finish of the guitar body.
The basswood body of the CAL-K1 is sealed and prepared for various types of lacquer coating. A wide
variety of finishes can be procured from DIY, timber and automotive outlets in aerosol cans making
finishing straightforward without requiring specialist skills.
Firstly, check the fit of the body to neck joint. The CAL-K1 is machined from very high grade tone-
woods to avoid any misalignments but all woods have a natural propensity to change shape very
slightly over time. If the fit is too tight, gentle adjustment using a sharp chisel or sandpaper may be
required. Please remember that the coating of lacquer will make the neck fit a little more tightly into the
pocket.
Before coating the body, ensure all surfaces are clean and free of dirt and dust. Conduct all coating
processes in a well-aired, dust-free environment. Slow and patient progress is the key to a good quality
body finish and it is advised to test the colour and technique on a spare piece of wood first.
A hole is drilled in the neck pocket so that it can be suspended by a hook for spraying and drying or
alternatively, a spare length of wood can be screwed in place of the neck in the pocket as a handle.
Spray the edges of the body first and allow to “touch-dry”. Once the edges are dry, move on to the back
and then the front of the body. Gradual and smooth passes will ensure an even coat. If there are any
imperfections, allow to fully dry and then sand out with fine grade (e.g. 800+ grit) before re-spraying.
Apply 3 or more coats for full coverage.
Finally, after allowing 2 to 3 days drying to fully cure the finish, then buff or polish the body as required
to give the desired level of gloss. Take care not to buff too vigorously as this may remove the finish.
Neck finish
The neck of the CAL-K1 is supplied sealed with a light coat of matte lacquer and is ready to use.
If preferred, the neck can be finished with a colour or gloss lacquer. If so, do the following.
The rosewood fingerboard does not need coating with lacquer, so it is important to mask off the
exposed rosewood and frets prior to spraying. Ensure all parts to be sprayed are free from dirt and dust
and that the environment is dust-free and well-aired. Use of a dust-mask is essential when spraying.
Choose a good quality, clear or lightly tinted wood lacquer aerosol for the neck and begin with the front
and sides of the headstock. Start with a gradual, even pass to apply a thin coat, allow drying (to the
touch) and repeating 2 or 3 times, taking care not to apply too much, which may cause runs. If this
happens, sand down the area and re-apply evenly.
When the headstock is dry, turn the neck over and lay it on its fingerboard. Repeat the above process
for the rest of the exposed maple.
Allow 2 to 3 days for the lacquer to fully harden and then, if desired, polish the lacquered surfaces to a
suitable shine.
