Members jedisb Posted March 25, 2015 Members Share Posted March 25, 2015 I've had a Squier 51 sitting at my house for almost 3 years now and have finally decided to do something with it. I got it from a pawn shop for $80. The body was a custom made Walnut body, but the guy that made it positioned the bridge pickup and tailpiece routes way too far from the neck pocket. I ended up finding the guy and he had the original (black) body, which he gave to me. This is what the walnut body looked like: I know what I want to do with it but am not sure how to go about one aspect of it. This is a quick mock-up I made on one of the online virtual guitar builder sites: Plans are: Fender Copper Tone Metallic finish from ReRanch Black 51 pickguard from WD Music Black Locking Tuners from GFS Black Lipstick Neck pickup from GFS Black Dream 180 bridge pickup from GFS Black Hardtail Bridge from GFS Black Graphtec TUSQ nut Black Knurled Knobs from GFS The only problem I'm having is the control plate. GFS sells a black chrome Precision bass control plate that is slightly smaller that the 51 plate but I was wanting an exact fit. Fender/Squier doesn't make one in black. My only two options, as far as I can tell, are to paint the existing control plate or have a black chrome one custom made. Does anyone know how easy either of these options might be? I don't think painting over chrome plating is going to look very good or stay on very well. But I don't know if there is any place that can make a custom plate in black chrome - either locally or someplace I can work with online. Any suggestions on making either of these options work, which would be best, cost of a custom plate, etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wankdeplank Posted March 25, 2015 Members Share Posted March 25, 2015 Seems a shame to lose that walnut body but perhaps it's irreparable. Lucky you were able to track the guy down and find the original body. Looks like you have some big plans - best wishes and keep us in the loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted March 25, 2015 Members Share Posted March 25, 2015 My only two options, as far as I can tell, are to paint the existing control plate or have a black chrome one custom made. Does anyone know how easy either of these options might be? I don't think painting over chrome plating is going to look very good or stay on very well. But I don't know if there is any place that can make a custom plate in black chrome - either locally or someplace I can work with online. Any suggestions on making either of these options work, which would be best, cost of a custom plate, etc.? Take your control plate layout to a sheet metal shop that has a laser cutter. Ideally you should draw it with a drafting program and give them either a .dwg or .dxf file - if you can't do this give them the dimension (or a plate to duplicate) and they can generate the file. Ask them to cut it out of 18 gauge (0.048) or 16 gauge (0.060) sheet metal with their laser. Have them either tumble or hand buff the cutout. Then have it either anodized black (best but expensive) or powder coated (better than painting). Powder coating is an electrostatically applied finish that is then baked on - it is pretty hard when done. Last choice would be to paint it but you probably won't be as happy with it. You actually might want to have them make a dozen or so which you can sell on evil bay to recoup the setup costs.... I'm going to guess the cost will be somewhere less than hundred bucks (I used to work in a fab shop....) I've never tried powder coating directly over a chrome finish but that might work - talk to your finisher. If so you could probably slip it in with other stuff that is getting coated black - that should be very reasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Preacher Posted March 25, 2015 Members Share Posted March 25, 2015 ^^^ Great post, Freeman, that there is some useful info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted March 25, 2015 Members Share Posted March 25, 2015 ^^^ Great post, Freeman, that there is some useful info. The lattice grills in my tricone were made exactly that way except that they were chromed instead of anodized. I made several sets of them at that time and sold them to others building similar guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jedisb Posted March 26, 2015 Author Members Share Posted March 26, 2015 ^^^ Great post, Freeman, that there is some useful info. It really is a great post and is exactly the info I was looking for. The company I work for has a relationship with a manufacturing and machine shop. Think I'll reach out to them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted March 26, 2015 Members Share Posted March 26, 2015 It really is a great post and is exactly the info I was looking for. The company I work for has a relationship with a manufacturing and machine shop. Think I'll reach out to them I'd like to hear how it works out. The nice thing about having it done on a laser is that they can cut the switch slot and "drill" all the holes perfectly - they will not be able to counter sink the mounting holes but that can easily be done before the finish is applied. If there is any chance that they would let you watch the laser at work it is a totally cool machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted March 26, 2015 Members Share Posted March 26, 2015 I have a couple of '51s. I had "plans" for both of them, but so far all I did was put a Guitar Fetish bridge in black on my blonde model - easier to string, but the top of the allen screws are considerable sharper than the stock bridge. I had the same interest to change the rest of the body hardware to black. I did call a local shop about powder coating. I can't remember for sure if I discussed "over chrome" or not, but I think I did. I was a bit surprised by the cost, I can't remember the quote, but they basically said they'd throw it in a batch with other items. The knobs I could possibly buy in black cheaper, but it might work out better to just have all the parts done at one. My recollection is that Guitar Fetish also used to sell the control plates in different finishes, as well as different designed pickguard. But their pick guard designed didn't do much for me compared to the stock designed. On my sunburst model, I wanted to modify the pick guard a bit, basically removing the pg from under the strings and to the left bout to make it look a bit more like a pg on a '52 Tele. That and I had a Duncan Alnico Tele p'up for the neck and a Duncan Pearly Gates Plus for the bridge. Just need to get around to it some day. The blonde I wanted to leave stock because I kinda like those Squier p'ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jedisb Posted March 27, 2015 Author Members Share Posted March 27, 2015 I'd like to hear how it works out. The nice thing about having it done on a laser is that they can cut the switch slot and "drill" all the holes perfectly - they will not be able to counter sink the mounting holes but that can easily be done before the finish is applied. If there is any chance that they would let you watch the laser at work it is a totally cool machine. I asked via email and they didn't really answer on making one from scratch. But they did say that they thought they "could lightly media blast the chrome prior to plating to force the powder to adhere" on the one I have. They are supposed to get back with me after making sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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