My question is: do I paint it bright white, tinted, or jet black? I am going to have to reconstruct the neck, so it will never be the real deal. Then again, I'll have a rare vintage replica for a fraction of cost (even RI). I am not committed to any color scheme yet. I can get gold or silver parts. (I could also paint it Mustang orange or Les Paul gold). Black Phoenix is a nice though because it will rise out of the ashes of the fallen bird. But I already bought a Falcon scratch plate.
Black with white trim would be easier than trying to obtain and replicate orange spRakleZ over binding. I don't know if I could get it perfect. That said, I think I could fake it. I don't like gold parts, but that's missing the point. The WF is the epitome of gaudy American mid-century design. If white with sparkle orange, I can try to get some vinyl cut into the GRETSCH logo, which I have in an EPS file. If black, I get a simple white decal like I have done dozens of times.
Of course, the missing neck is the elephant in the livingroom. And there's zero documentation because Gretsch players don't get into this kind of repair work like Fender people do--same with Rickenbackers. People HAVE TO with Gibson because the heads fall off at will. I bought an unbound through-neck blank, so I would have to forego, rout around the frets, or re-fret it. To do it properly, I would have to cut it down the middle and slip a thin strip of carbon fiber into it! But fuck that. I can promise you I will lose interest before that will ever happen.
