NGD: KV4 (black)

[Anders]

So I was driving along the west coast of Sweden this week (sort of a mini vacation), and I'd been eyeing a classified ad of a KV4 for a while. So when we stopped in Gothenburg I decided to give the guy a call and see if he still had it, and if he was willing to lower his asking price a bit, since the guitar looked really beat in the photos.

He was a good guy and drove to meet me, bringing the guitar. It was really sad looking, missing a few bits and pieces, and in need of a desperate cleaning. The worst part is that there's a crack through the low E tuning hole, but it's still holding together. I decided to take a chance and buy it anyway. Sure, headstock damage is a real killer of value, but it can still be fixed, should it decide to break.

I've just cleaned it up enough to photograph it and make a post here. I haven't touched the fretboard yet, so I still have some work in front of me.

Since it's missing volume knobs, string lock blocks etc, I'm thinking that I should switch to black hardware. I've got a complete black set on a really beat old WRMG that I could use for this. I'm not a big fan of chrome hardware anyway. What do you guys think?

[decadence5423]

Once it's cleaned up I'm sure you will be very happy. It's amazing what a fretboard cleaning and a body wax can do. You should switch to black, I don't think chrome does very well on dark guitars. Black KV2s usually have black hardware and it looks great. I think these have chrome because it's cheaper.

Also you might want to do something about the crack before you string it up and put tension on it. Just sayin

[Rich#6]

Those are awesome guitars. great necks. had one sold it bought it back and sold it again like an idiot.

[RacerX]

You really like KVs, huh Anders?

[Anders]

Once it's cleaned up I'm sure you will be very happy. It's amazing what a fretboard cleaning and a body wax can do. You should switch to black, I don't think chrome does very well on dark guitars. Black KV2s usually have black hardware and it looks great. I think these have chrome because it's cheaper.

Also you might want to do something about the crack before you string it up and put tension on it. Just sayin

I agree with everything you just said!

And about that crack... I'm starting to wonder if it's not a previously repaired damage. I think it's weird that it's still holding together, because it can't be simply in the finish. But I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I remove the tuners. Then I ought to see if there's any glue in there. Cleaned the fretboard today, and I think I should polish the frets to be thorough. A fret level probably wouldn't hurt the guitar either, but that's not something I feel comfortable to try doing myself to this guitar, and I don't feel like paying for that right now either. So it will just have to wait.

[Anders]

Rich - Yeah, I'm sure it'll be awesome once I get it the way I want it!

Ron - I really like Jackson, period.

[Anders]

I've spent the better part of the day with the guitar, ebonizing the fretboard with Fiebing's Leather Dye and installing the black hardware.

Man... it's a completely different guitar now. It looks awesome!!! The black hardware really did wonders, as did the ebonizing! I'll post a pic of it tomorrow. It's not done yet though, I'm gonna get an OFR for, and also a new toggle switch. Other than that, it's coming together nicely!

[toejam]

Nice one, Anders! Looking forward to pics.

[Anders]

Nice one, Anders! Looking forward to pics.

Thanks Joe!

Here's a photo I just took. I've been waiting all day for the weather to improve, but it didn't, so I had to take a photo indoors with flash.

I'll replace the toggle switch with a black one!

[SimonEriksson]

Wow, nice! It looks way better with the black hardware!

[toejam]

Yep, it sure does look nicer with the black hardware!

[Anders]

Thanks guys!

Yes, it made a lot of difference!

It's always hard to capture how good it looks in a photo, so I'll try to get a couple of better pics when the guitar is finished.

I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to go for a brand new OFR... I'd like to, but I think it's hard to justify paying as much money for the bridge as the entire guitar cost me.

Perhaps I'll get lucky and find a used one in good condition. Otherwise I might have to get a new one anyway. At least that way I'm guaranteed to get a solid unit...

[Anders]

Got the Gotoh trem yesterday, and I just put it on for photo purposes!



Here's a shot of the headstock:

[xenophobe]

Wow, that looks so much better all black and with the ebonized board! :o

[Anders]

Thanks man!

And you know what's funny? The Fiebing's dye actually made the MOTO inlays come to life. Usually, you probably wouldn't want the dye to affect inlays, but in this case it made them look a whole lot better. Micro cracks in the inlays soaked up some of the dye, giving them a blue-/black-ish tint that goes so well with the rest of the guitar.