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Have any of you guys "personalized" your guitars? How so?


d03nut

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Posted

I don't mean a modification for improving the sound or doing any of the "standard cosmetic" changes that are readily available. But more so in terms of adding your very own personal stamp, to show off your personality, to stand out from the crowd, etc.

 

P.S. I'm trying to pull myself together from having experienced recently the indignation & humiliation of getting a "no-hitter" with my ("HCAG civil war") thread, with the above "lo-key" somewhat ON-T offering.

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Posted

d03nut!!!!

Breath of fresh air around here my friend!

My personal stamp is still in the planning phase. I would like to get a custom Greven pickguard with a custom mother of pearl inlay of my own design. There is a guy over at the UMGF that has a small harp inlaid on his pickguard which he named...Harp. Very cool IMO.

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Posted

Freeman: You're really makin' me feel bad. The only "personalized" adornments I've contributed to my guitars are dings, scratches and a finishless patch on the top of my '69 Hummingbird roughly in the shape of New Zealand (north island only) which I created by resting my arm on that spot when I play (I have especially corrosive sweat:( )

 

By the way your work is beautiful:thu:

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Posted

Originally posted by Freeman Keller

Headstock inlay

16-Headstock.jpg
Rosette

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wow... yours is the benchmark of "custom". I'm very jealous.

 

Didn't you have a thread or link a while back on how you built this. I would love to check that out again.

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Posted

Here are links to where I've posted the thread on both the 000 and the classical. There is also one on tool if anyone gets interested in trying it themself (I recommend it). I'm currently working on a little F5 mandolin and I've got a box of wood under the work bench that will be a deep bodied 000 12 string. I'm planning on doing a bunch of pearl headstock inlay on the mando and the 12 string will get type 41 pearl purfling. Both will get the K (or an FK) pearl inlay.

 

Building the 000

 

Building the classical

 

Tools and shop

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Posted

Thanks!

 

 

got any pics of the mandolin yet? I'm thinking that might be a good project for me to jump into (an "A" style as opposed to an "F" style though). Are you finding it any easier/harder skill wise to assemble?

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Posted

Hey there Whale, what's up?

 

Actually, there seems to be no shortage of "air" 'round here lately, and not all "fresh". Meanwhile, I've gone back to my "lurking ways" for the most part. I'm always just a click away though.........

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Posted

 

Originally posted by thatsbunk

got any pics of the mandolin yet? I'm thinking that might be a good project for me to jump into (an "A" style as opposed to an "F" style though). Are you finding it any easier/harder skill wise to assemble?

 

 

I've taken a few progress pics but haven't moved them to Photobucket - I think I'll wait until it is done and do the whole thing at the kit forum.

 

I got the wood parts from Tim McKnight - it is basically a hand picked StewMac kit (incredible figure in the maple), but was missing all the bits and pieces. I bought all that from Roger Siminoff - his book is to mandolins what Cumpiano's is to guitar building. He would be a good source for a kit

 

http://www.siminoff.net/

 

I'm going to buy the pearl from Andy DePaul - he has several sets of mando headstock flowers. To answer your question about building it compared to a guitar, it is certainly different. The rim (sides are similar) - you build a form, put the sides in it, glue on the kirfing strips. The top and bottom are carved instead of just being flat pieces of spruce or rosewood - and there is a very involved tone taping that goes on - even the braces are tone tapped. All the scrolly stuff is giving my little dremel a real work out - but it is fun to learn how. An A style would be a whole lot easier. And I've got to learn how to do the staining and sunburst - probably means buying an air brush and detail gun. The only thing worse that GAS is TAS (tool acquisition syndrome).

 

Pics will come later if it works out. If not we'll roast marshmellows over the fire.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by Freeman Keller



And I've got to learn how to do the staining and sunburst - probably means buying an air brush and detail gun. The only thing worse that GAS is TAS (tool acquisition syndrome).


Pics will come later if it works out. If not we'll roast marshmellows over the fire.

 

 

And, learning how to control that airbrush will take some time. I've been using one for years now but in the beginning it was a whole new intro to muscle coordination - especially the double action airbrush. For the small stuff I might suggest to you using the Paasche 3-in-1. You set the pattern (variable orifice) at the tip nozzle while the air is controlled by the throttle at the top of the brush with the index finger. Once the paint nozzle is set it remains there until further adjusting is done. The double-acting models require pressing the air throttle button while backward movement of it controls the amount of paint delivery. That is doggone difficult when following compound curves. The Paasche 3-in-1 allows settings of paint and air delivery to be fixed because it has an adjustable paint orifice nozzle and air delivery button stop screw. For the larger areas a small automotive touch-up gun is perfect. I am still moving my household so my stuff is all boxed up. I do believe I have an extra Paasche 3-in-1 brush in my stuff I could send you to experiment with. PM me if interested.

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Posted

No. I don't personalize any of my guitars. Never actually considered the idea. They do conform to 2 distinct categories though: Have and Had.

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Posted

I had my Electra Maple Pro "personalized" by Bill Nelson of Be Bop Deluxe fame back in 1996.

 

It's still a workhorse of an axe!

 

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Posted

Sweb, thank you very much. I work with a guy who does custom paint on harleys and he said he would work with me too. It is amazing that the original 'burst finishes were largely done by hand. I have so much to learn and with each project I am humbled by all the masters around me.

 

I may contact you when I get to the finish stage (in a couple of months).

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Posted

 

Originally posted by hrhodes3

stripe is misaligned . Beginners mistake keep trying

 

 

How do you know the camera angle is straight?

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Posted

 

Originally posted by Freeman Keller

Sweb, thank you very much. I work with a guy who does custom paint on harleys and he said he would work with me too. It is amazing that the original 'burst finishes were largely done by hand. I have so much to learn and with each project I am humbled by all the masters around me.


I may contact you when I get to the finish stage (in a couple of months).

 

 

That's what I used to do. Custom painting was a hobby that kind of grew out the illustration work I did. The mess and fumes finally dictated a complete career change. Now I can't stand the smell of lacquer thinner.

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Posted

Originally posted by Rada

Norman did it for me
:D

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Rada - Just what am I looking at/for in these photos?

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Posted

 

Originally posted by d03nut

I don't mean a modification for improving the sound or doing any of the "standard cosmetic" changes that are readily available. But more so in terms of adding your very own personal stamp, to show off your personality, to stand out from the crowd, etc.


P.S. I'm trying to pull myself together from having experienced recently the indignation & humiliation of getting a "no-hitter" with my ("HCAG civil war") thread, with the above "lo-key" somewhat ON-T offering.

 

 

sort of. my guitar straps. not personal personal. but at least a personal choice.

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Posted

I would like to get some decals for my fretboard that say REDNECK, like Gretchen Wilson. Anybody know where I can get some decals?

Jim

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Posted

Haven't put any personal touches on a guitar yet (intentionally), but have scraped about 3/4 of the finish off of my mandolin with 0000 steel wool and made a compensated bone saddle to sit atop the ebony bridge. Brought the volume up a bunch.

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Posted

I've thought about pasting some stickers on my project Strat, sort of like Susan Tedeschi did to her Tele (but with a different theme!) but never followed through. After seeing Freeman's customization, everything else pales in comparison.

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