Rim assembly
1920s Majestic
Serial number 10 !!
11" archtop
Holly construction with laminates

Dale made this neck from Figured Gabon Ebony, and wide profiled as a 6 string guitar banjo would be.
When Gabon has alot of sapwood in it it tends to have pink and dark brown, and some almost blondish spots in it.
Dale had some planks of this and I thought at first it was rosewood but the smell said otherwise and then I identified it.

Nice bound peghead, I will inlay to match the theme of the board
 

Im showing it next to a Bacon tenor neck for scale

Stripping the single clearcoat of  protective finish he had applied

Starting the fresh sealing coats
 

That is the old epoxy from Dale's install of the fret wire, easily removed with steel wool as I go forth

I will stop now that it is sealed, and decide on what inlay to go on the peghead whilst we discuss the other particulars of where we are heading

I have decided to use an oval Abalone setting, with the topside standing proud instead of flat

I'll set it last, after the diamonds

I added the diamonds, a small flat oval ... and shot a coat of sealer then decided on using 3 more diamonds

By the time the tuners get set, this will be plenty and goes with the theme of the fingerboard
 

I will strip the old finish, and go back with something to match the neck
Polish the hardware, assemble on a clear head, i want to see the hardware on this one and see how it sounds with the brightest setup first.

Sweat stains on the bottom trim, that will hide with then new finish

Tension hoop

Tone ring

Inside rim, all matching, pretty cool early Majestic rim assembly
I am tinting with some reddish brown and tobacco brown to emulate the Gabon ebony of the neck

I removed all the tint from the marquetry and did a light tobacco color wash over it to make it less white

I will go light on finish, 0000 steel wool to stain and hand polish, it will look broke in when Mark gets it.

Super thin Color wash of reddish brown that is only enough to tint the beige laminates a pinker shade and then the final clear coats

I will use no rods, just solid contact with 2 lag screws and 3/8 washer/ 3/8 nuts
 

Neck set is nicely above the arch and I have a high aspect neck angle setup, Im looking to make this thing HONK .
 

 

Using the old Majestic tube as a spacer for the rim and to give it more of its original look

It will fit over the nutted lag screw, and I will place felt over this nut to keep that end from making any rattles in the future

I will solder in a 5/16 nut in this end, to attach the tailpiece thru the rim

Nut soldered in

Fitted with the felt on the other nut, its nice and snug and looks cool and orig

Now to add tuners and a BIG downforce tailpiece

MORE TO COME