Gmc Swirl

[BlackKnight]

I have been playing around with swirling for a while now and today I finally had the nuts to do the dip. This is my first one and I am about 70% happy with the outcome. I will be getting some more bodies and doing some differant color swirls. This one has a few imperfections which could have come out better. But I am fairly happy as its better than I though it would turn out. What do you guys think?

http://x4.putfile.com/6/16107135219.jpg

[TenderSurrender]

I have been playing around with swirling for a while now and today I finally had the nuts to do the dip. This is my first one and I am about 70% happy with the outcome. I will be getting some more bodies and doing some differant color swirls. This one has a few imperfections which could have come out better. But I am fairly happy as its better than I though it would turn out. What do you guys think?

http://x4.putfile.com/6/16107135219.jpg

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Congrats man... havent seen many swirls on here latley

Looks really nice good job! Show us some more pics when you do the other bodys

~~ Slain Angel ~~

[Southpa]

From what I can see thats a VERY nice job. Can you take some pics where the background isn't so "busy"? The guitar almost looks like its camoflaged. Try a plain white sheet in back.

[mullmuzzler]

Awsome!!! At first glance, I thought that front is more appealing, but... The rear ROCKS!!! Great upper horn color variation!

Congrats 2 U!!!

Can you write down what materials did U use?

Once again, great work!!

I would go with earth-tone colors next time, or maybe, a purple-black-cherry combo...

mullmuzzler | OSSMT

[BlackKnight]

I just used humbrol paints, i shall probobly be doing a tut on this shortly with pics and video of me actually doing it so people can see exactly what i did, I know I would have really like more pics and video when i was trying to learn this technique. I will put up some better pics when it has dried properly so i can do it indoors.

[amdmonster]

damn nice job!!! (I say) Can't wait to see more pics and the video that would be nice. I haven't done any swirling in awhile. I tried some the other week and got nothing but a disaster mess to clean.

[Minty]

Man, thats a seriously nice finish! Congrats

*First post*

[RGGR]

You say your 70% happy with it........can you point out things you don't like about it. From what I can tell, this looks pretty good. Better then some original GMCs.

Can't wait to see more of this.

[BlackKnight]

Well if you look closely at the front picture, at the bottom on the left (kinda where your arm rests on it) there is some paint runs. I know why this has happened and should be able to sort it out on my next swirl but it is just a bit annoying. Its just im a bit of a perfectionist and would like there to be nothing wrong anywhere. I will put up more pics later today, you will be able to see better then.

[goth_fiend]

that is an awesome gmc swirl man! i would be lucky to be able to get one that good looking, but then again i havent done a swirl...yet

[BlackKnight]

Here are some better pics of it without the camo background lol. I put the p'ups and stuff on it to see what it would look like. I am in two minds as to whether I should sand it down and do it again because of the blotchy bit on the armrest.

http://x4.putfile.com/6/16301492583.jpg

[GregP]

I dunno, dude... the blotchy bit gives it character. If it just continued with exactly the same "pattern" as the rest of the swirl, I'd find it a bit boring. Then again, I'm the guy who never got braces because I like my semi-crooked front teeth.

Greg

[jer7440]

I think it looks great. I wouldnt change a thing.

[WeeTee]

Mee likey

Seriously, don't redo it. I think it's nice.. Made me want to do a swirl, if I ever build a guitar.

...a swirl would probably look a bit out of place on a fretless bass, wouldn't it?

[Shamrock]

Mee likey

Seriously, don't redo it. I think it's nice.. Made me want to do a swirl, if I ever build a guitar.

...a swirl would probably look a bit out of place on a fretless bass, wouldn't it?

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If it's your bass and you want to swirl it...go for it. Don't worry what anybody thinks. Opinions are like a**holes...everybody has one and nobody should worry about anyone elses.

Swirl away man.

Edited June 14, 2005 by Shamrock

[gun]

It looks great!!! Cheers!!!!

But how did you find humbrol paint works? I read in tutorial to don't use tester model paint. Some guys told me Humbrol is one of these togheter with Ravell etc.

I was just thinking to use urethane paint for swirl jobs. What do you think of this, will it work?

I have the possibility to buy Humbrol but for the reason above I am undecided.

[WeeTee]

Mee likey

...a swirl would probably look a bit out of place on a fretless bass, wouldn't it?

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If it's your bass and you want to swirl it...go for it. Don't worry what anybody thinks. Opinions are like a**holes...everybody has one and nobody should worry about anyone elses.

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Well.. it is the bass that I'm building right now. I won't swirl it, I'm going for a more peaceful style. I'll probably oil it.

But if I ever build a guitar (and learn to play it), I'll make it a heavy metal shred machine, so I could probably swirl it too I've also thought about color-changing paint...

[BlackKnight]

Yes you are correct, humbrol is the same as the testors/ravell type paint. I tried using the type suggested in the tutorial (Plasti Kote) but It didnt disperse/swirl in the way i wanted it to. I may try it again at some point but at the moment Im very happy with the humbrol make. I would go out spending that much on something your not sure on. I wouldnt go for it. When you consider that a tin of humbrol is about £1.50 for the larger tins, and 2 large tins (different colors) will do about 10 guitars. You would be paying a lot. Like I said i will be making a tutorial on this shortly which wil hopefully cover every angle and will take you through the swirl from start to finish with videos and stuff. But if i were you i would just get some bits of wood and some paint and borax and start practicing. I worked on swirling for a few months(a few evenings a week for about 10 dips per evening) just to get used to it and to get the feel. A lot of which could have been avoided with a more concise tutorial (but it is a good start so read it over and over again lol) . In another post of mine called 'Swirl Blobs' you can see some of the problems i came across even after a month of doing it. Maybe I was just a bit slow on the uptake. But as you can see from the final guitar i think it was worth the practice. Im goign to be doing some more and putting them on ebay to see if I can make a bit of money out of somethign I love doing. When I have done them I will be posting pics of them here aswell.

Good luck with what you decide.

[jer7440]

Man, I'll say it again, I love that swirl. Can't wait to see your tutorial. After I finish my LP I hope to build a shred machine as well and to swirl would be perfect.

[gun]

Yes Blacknight I can buy 6 different colors Humbrol paint for 15€ here. I have practiced with scrap and a standard acrylic oil base enamel. It works well but I cannot achieve the colors I want with those (no fluorescent like the green for example).

I will buy the Humbrol and try. I hope they aren't really thick as he said on tut. Also I seen there's no need of too much borax.

Yeah ... I am impatient to see your tut too. i will stay tuned.

Gian

Does anyone know humbrol codes for the colors needed for a DNA swirl? (black, neon green - pink - yellow -red and red blood). Also something near to.

Edited June 14, 2005 by gun

[rocksolid]

did you dip with the pickguard on or put on a clear pickguard after?

[TenderSurrender]

If you look at the picture you can see where the "clear" pickguard sits ontop of the swirl...

and dude can i congratulate you again! thats a great swirl... i have an unfinished Jem lookalike sitting just to the left of me... i have a feeling its going to come face to face with a bucket of borax soon

~~ Slain Angel ~~

[BlackKnight]

Yeah do it.... you know you want to. The npost it when its done. I must say I am very happy with the responce I have recieved here. It is really pusing me to do a second one now. I have a washburn 7-string that could do with a MC swirl...hmmmm.

And gun, i will post the colour codes of the two paints i used when i get back from work. I actually also did a bit of a trick by giving the guitar a full undercoat of green before i dipped it. The green doesnt alter the properties of the black but really brings out the green as it should do. I dont like going the normal way without trying alternatives

[gun]

Ok thanks Black I wai the codes for the green and black. I seen also Ferrari red and Fluo yellow. I have to serach for a fluo pink. But did you buy that body or you made it? If you bought it, it seems a Jim's body to me

[BlackKnight]

Spot on, I have emailed him to get some more bodies but am still waiting for a reply. He must be fairly busy. The GMC is a mahogany one, wanted a nice rich mellow sound.

Edited June 15, 2005 by BlackKnight