syxxstring

I would look for a custom painter in your area. Talk to the local jobbers,ie suppliers, for companies like House of Kolor or PPG. If you can paint a car or motorcycle you can do a guitar. The difference may come down to standards, most car paint jobs have an expectation of some orange peel, look at a factory car finish. Production or repair shops have to match factory finishes so they don't do perfectly flat show car style clear like you'd expect on a guitar. However, custom painters for bikes and cars will offere you options and pricing for perfection. You can always choose to do the buffing and wetsanding to perfection yourself if you have them lay it on thick enough to allow for this. If I were paying someone else I'd look to Kal Koncepts or someone like that. (www.gotpaint.com) You'll find many custom painters do more work out of thier home area than in it.

My thoughts: 1. With all thoose pedals why get a line 6 amp. Get a good small combo and use it as the base tone. If you can get one with a loop so you can put delays and such in there. 2. Experiment, you don't loose anything but time. I like having effects between my overdrives so that I can use them like effects loops. IE. With my Valve Jr's or Mesa's clean chanel. If I use my tube screamer as my base distortion I'll put other stuff in front of it and a boost or distortion in slot one so I can mess with distorting the later effects. That being said I am always moving adding taking away stuff for fun, it challanges me as a player if my board is not the same. 3. Look at your cables. George L's really helped clean up my monster of a pedal board. (at it's biggest 24x48) 4. Build Your Own Clone... nuff said

One shot paints would be my choice desigend for pine stripping and sign work. Your local autobody, sign, or art supply may have them.

killemall8- right idea wrong exact products. Its all a bit confusing with the random K's being thrown about. 1. Kustom Shop paints is not HOK, they are TCP global. Not bad stuff but they are not HOK. Even more confusing because they wrongly sell prereduced HOK paints. 2. Kustom Kolors are HOK they are modeling enamels that get close but no cigar to the HOK Kandy transparency, but way better than spraying euros if your not equiped. Now on to this exact finish, according to the guy who helped the Fender Custom Shop, no K, set it up its all PPG products. Top of the line auto finishes still, but not HOK. Basically black base. Black primer would be best to keep the finish thickness down, most primers can be tinted or available black. Then mix up clear and the desired flake in the proper spray gun, probably one with an agitator to prevent settling. Spray that, I think the Fender Holoflake has multiple layers, at least mine does. Then clear until thick enough to level and do the normal clear coat leveling buffing etc.

House of Kolor makes a much more affordable product in the Kosmic Krome products than the Alsa paints. But you will need a perfectly finished black object and a good gun and good gun control. The new Auto - Air aluminum airbrush paints look promising for aluminum effects but not true polished chrome. After my booth is done I'm going to try it on a black Squier 51.

You either need to buy a paint that is sold as a flat paint, or from a company that has a flat additive.

Its a product called marbelizer, House of Kolor actually marketed the product as Erie Dess at one point. So much for the secrets of Jackson. Basically you spray a base coat, let it dry. Spray marbelizer, put on saran wrap and start spinning from the center. You can also let the saran wrap on there for a long time to get a different effect. Then spray a transparent coat of colors. Clear, buff and polish.

Hey Scott, How soon do you need it? I have a set being used now, but should be done pdq. Pm me.

Im interested. Whats on the guitar right now. helps me know how much work is ahead.

White primer and then clear? Why put all the extra steps in the way. In the kustom painting classes I've taken they always recomend if your doing grapics on a black, silver or white paint job. Just prime it that color and work off that. Saves mil thickness, cost, and time.

I have bought a significant amount of GFS pickups. I like them. The one's I've tried sound great. Not exactly like a Dimarzio, but a Duncan doesn't either. Neither do PRS pickups. My point they sound good, and without a label or high price a good pickup is a good pickup.

Im gonna have to represent here. No ones brough up the Parker flys. Light weight curved all the right ways. Maybe not everyones bag but hands down winner for me. I also play about a dozen different guitars with varied neck shapes. I think this helps me because I'm not always locked into a particular grip.

Presonus firepod in the rehersal room. Firebox for home practice/sketching. Garageband mostly for software. Betamonkey loops for songwritting.

Do it they way Ibanez did the Jem pyramids. Route out a cavity the shape and size you want. Put your finger print at the bottom, either with paper or painting it in. Fill the cavity with a clear plastic or epoxy. I think there is a tutorial to help with the concept.

Definitly a black headstock. Either your own logo or blank. Also die that fretboard black.

IMHO... Nitro is just a pain and not worth the effort, ever. I would just work out every scratch and mark in the Squier clear. My process on the could I've worked on recently has been:(all by hand) 150 Grit - rough every thing up really work out any big scratches or dings. 220 Grit - just working through the 150 making sure there are not missed areas, cleaning up any missed marks 400 Grit - Working out a good smooth surface and good mechanical tooth for my paint. If your rattle caning it. I would then work with a white or light grey primer to base off. Remember the primer color will effect your base. Read the can and follow it. Then I would then let it sit and check it for issues, runs, lumps, spits etc. Read the can and follow it. Then I would do a light coat of cream or 2. Read the can and follow it. Then use your clear. Let it sit for a week or so then cut, buff and polish. Your mileage may vary.

Im digging some stuff called System One right now. Pretty idiot proof and reasonably priced.

The House Of Kolor Kosmic Chrome is easy to spray and bit cheaper. I haven't done a whole body with it, yet, but I did use it some. In an airbrush class the instructor explained that the HOK stuff is cheaper, easier to spray and looks better. He did development work for HOK and Alsa. What I can figure is HOK took more time to bring their product to market to ensure a superior product. No one is inventing the wheel here, grind aluminum but it in a binder.

We do it with nylon Rc car parts all the time. Especially rims. Use rit dye in heated watter add part let sit remove. Pretty easy, like the post above not all plastics will work.

The other part of not being around was a job change that had me traveling 2 out of every 3 weeks for awhile. Started racing rc's. I took some time off building, life happens. The other thing I would say about Coast is don't be afraid to call them. They are the most knowledgeable airbrush store on the planet, and maybe beyond. They will repair and rebuild brushes, answer qeustions etc. Dave the owner and his staff love to help. They are also the place that has a free party for thier customers every year. Free tacos, free bands, vendors and a paint/panel jam. If your into Pinstripping, Jeff Styles and Tom Kelly took the time to show me how to pull a line/hold a brush Thats the equivielant of Steve Vai and Tom Morello stopping by GC to give a coplete noob a lesson. Stop by if your in Anaheim, I drove from Vegas to Anaheim for it.

1. Watch TCP global they sell reduced HOK paints. What this means is they are already chemically activated and have a very short shelf life. You are best off buying unreduced paint and mixing it yourself. Reduced paints under ideal conditions have a 2-3 week shelf life. I learned this from people who work from HOK. 2. Coast Airbrush. They sell and ship HOK worldwide. They will support and help you. They also are the only ones HOK authorizes to repackage thier paints into smaller containers. www.coastairbrush.com I have taken airbrushing seriously for about the past year and its part of why I've been around here less. What I've learned is if you want vibrancy and easy to spray go with House Of Kolor. Auto Air (createx) is a good second choice but they don't offer a total system so you still have to go with a quality clear. Its waterbased and reduces best with the new auto air reducer. Still wear a paint mask, all water based means is the nasty chemicals are in water not solvent. Your clear is a huge part of the battle. If you can't spray clear try and find an airbrusher or body shop to clear it for you with a quality clear. Again, House Of Kolor is designed for custom work. Specifically it will support a thicker paint job beneath it and has more UV protection chemically added to it. It also is clearer. Your Mileage May Vary.

Make cash/trade offers on any remaining items. I will start parting out the Yamah in the next week or 2.

Steinberger on hold!

Im clearing a few things out. Don't need cash just space. Trade offers will be looked at but cash is king. Id consider cool pedals, acoustic gear, and recording gear. Ill try to keep up on PMs but im posting these a few places so be patient. Items without cases can possibly include a case or gig bag. Paypal is welcome with no surcharge. Will probably start auctions monday or so if intrest is low in some items. Foreign shipping is a possibility but will incure costs. First off pics located here: http://homepage.mac.com/syxxstring/PhotoAlbum1.html JS600- OFF TO EBAY Gibson Les Paul JR Double Cut- Consigned at www.cowtownguitars.com Yamaha Drop 6 with lacewood veneer top. Powered by Lace pups, good flood. Extended scale neck. Great player just not used much for my current stuff. It has some cosmetic issues but sounds and plays great. $150 shipped in the us. Firebird project guitar. Bought body off ebay neck from warmoth originally for the guitars they made for Yamaha. Has Banjo tuners to complete the firebird look. The finish sucks, its tsung oil that needs help. Could be a beutiful guitar has a thick flamed maple top. I hate the neck wouldn't mind keeping the body, the neck is very thick and clubby. Currently has Duncan JB pickup. w/out pickup $500 w/pup $550 neck alone $75 tuners $100 lets talk if your interested M-Audio Black Box - Upgraded firmware, excessory pedal/switches. Almost new. $180 shipped in the us. Saga PRS project. Paint is lousy needs some tlc in the setup dept. $75 shipped.

Ebay's good if you price the stuff right and use the right strategies. I always start my items at $1, even if I have a reserve. If I have a reserve a friend bid right below the reserve to push people over it. I use local music stores for stuff I don't want to ship or has higher local value. I always consign. They may buy something from you for $200 that sells for $600. But consingment should only be a 10-20% fee, which for some items compares to ebay fees etc...