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Chrome Guitar... How Do You Do It?


Scooby

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Those chrome paints look fine for a short while, good luck with a chrome paint from duplicolor, I wouldn't expect high end results from them.

Alex is correct, that is simply a chrome vinyl sheet applied to the top, pictures hide a lot as well, I'm willing to bet it doesn't look great in person, it will also scratch very quickly.

I'm working with a newer product and a new technique for a chrome finish, once it's sorted, if results are good I'll show how it's done, but working over wood I still don't have a huge amount of faith in it.

For more info on chrome finishes check out this thread:

http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=11008

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AlGee, it's worth if all you are looking for is a shine, you won't get much of a reflection, (like a mirror) from the can stuff, like LGM said, the paints are OK for a time, but they get marked when you bump the guitar around and will get scratch up, not like the actual plating, but that will have it's troubles in itself, still can't believe how a chrome bath can adhere good to wood. Here is a link to ALSA chrome paints, check the prices and do the math, a $4 can Vs this ones and tell me how good the can is going to ba against it.

Seem like ALSA has done a guitar, I think it looks like a PRS since it don't have the holes for the stop piece of a TOM,

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/chromefx/chromefx_show4.htm

too bad they ain't got any more pics of it!

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It's really amazing how much pictures can hide too though, I would really love to see that guitar in person (and after 6 months)

Alsa is making some awesome new paints though, I've been reading more on the chrome paint to see if I sprayed it incorrectly or anything and the main thing I've found is that everyone says it is VERY difficult to spray, even some of the best guys in the world I know say that. I'm still playing with it though :D

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Yeah, take a look at this pic.

He says it's got 10 coats of clear on it, but it sure doesn't look like that to me. You can also see that it's not perfectly mirror-smooth, and the edge of the mylar is clearly visible.

The guy also has two Duncan Distortion bridge humbuckers in there. Dunno what the Distortion would sound like in the neck position... probably VERY LOUD.

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Darren from the pics I can't tell if they are both bridge Hbs, I had the SH6 paired, one for bridge and one for neck and they sounded pretty good, I trade them because I like active better, but the sound was good, and the way seymour duncan tells you to pair the pups is by setting the bridge 1st and then adjust the neck height to match the volume of the bridge, this is advised for all type of pups, and the actives are no exeption.

Back to the finish, I think that you are right, by looking at the guitar sideways there is not much clear there!

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I doubt there is any clear on there, if there is it will flake and peel, there's certainly not 10 coats (unless they were extremely thin coats)

Anyway, I had a question sent to me in PM, I'm going to post the question and response here and in the chrome finishes thread, I think it was some good questions and my experiences.

Jeremy,

have you seen the video on the ALSA chrome paint applicator, it looks like they are shooting a lot of paint, this thing is not sprayed like regular paints, there is a lot of material waste and the applicator machine cost like $7000. I love the way it comes out but like you I'm skeptic on the durability of it.  On their web site they have some pics that are hints of manufacturers that are using their product and I was surprised when I sae the new Gillete razor there because when I saw it I thoght about ALSAs paints. Then they have a mockup of the Terminators head, I would love to be able to get one of this, but, I'm only dreaming because I don't think it will be cost effective.

Alsa has 2 different chroming systems. Mirra Chrome and Chrome FX. I've never tried the chrome FX as I'm not about to buy a $7000 application system for a product that I know will still look crappy on wood guitars after a few months.

The Mirra Chrome system is very hit and miss, I've spoken with quite a few people who have used it and they don't like it. It's actually much easier to spray a curved surface though, so the terminator head and razors would be easier. This is because it is easier to control overspray on a curved surface, it is also easier to fool the eye into missing blemishes on a curved surface as the light reflections are curving and bending around already. Flat surfaces are very difficult to do. The curved surface also fools you into thinking it's a perfect reflection becuase you expect the distortion in a curved reflection, when you look at a flat surface all distortions are evident because you are expecting a mirror finish.

The cost of this stuff is retarded, I've already spent over $1000 on the product trying to get results I would put on a customer guitar, haven't gotten there yet, but sooner or later it will happen :D

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here are the links for the terminator and the gillete razor just go to the page and browse the pics. Like Jeremy says the price for this is incredible and a chrome finish over wood I don't think it will last, but it's good info, and the more we know here the less likely to fall for some inescrupulous (hope I spelled that right) ebayers or sales dudes out there! SO next time they come tell you that they are selling a guitar because of this special finish you will have the knowledge to say go to H.

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The bike in the second link there shows the difference very well between the chrome paint and the real chrome. All the tanks are the paint, next to the chrome handlebars, rocker covers, carberator etc you can see how dull it actually looks, still a very cool metal looking finish, but not really very chromey IMO

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/ghostchro...es/IMG_4425.jpg

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Guest AlexVDL

That's because it's ghost chrome, and not mirrachrome or chromefx.

I think the ghost chrome is intended to be dull, for an aluminum effect.

Anyways, I hope you find a good alternative for chroming guitars, because I'm very interested :D

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