Ducati

Let's say you want to paint a design by hand over the finish of a guitar. If the guitar has a nitrocellulose finish, what materials would you choose to paint with?

I am looking to paint a design on top of a guitar without taking off the finish. I may or may not want to add a protective coat over the artwork when it is done.

What materials will have long life and not harm the guitar finish?

Great design pic! I love it.

The Beatle bass! That would be a cool approach to a different guitar body shape. I like the idea... let us know how it goes.

Wow, either price does sound high to me. I don't think I could justify an extra $150 for just the top.

Do it like Rickenbacker. Standard strings on the pegs, octave strings on the slot-head pegs.

That sounds like the way ahead right there...

Thought you guys might like to check out the design project I just completed for a boutique pickup winder... I did the web design & logo design, basically a complete brand identity which will extend to business cards, t-shirts, and advertising. Let me know what you think of the site, good or bad!

WB Custom Guitar Pickups

Will sent me a set of his pickups too, they sound great, perfect vintage tone for me.

Here's a sample graphic:

Irrelevant. I use EMGs proudly, so you might as well build out of Danelectrolite, plastic or belly button fluff.

You're cracking me up! Where can I buy some Danelectrolite, down at the kitchen counter store?

I'm a web designer and artist as well as a guitar lover. I would love to work with up-and-coming guitar makers and hobbyist builders to develop websites to show off (and sell!) what you build.

I can redesign/improve your existing site, or start from scratch establishing a domain and website for you. All the work is custom done to your specifications. I can make whatever you can dream up: new logo, custom layouts, mp3 players, video players, picture galleries, customised blogs, animations. Internet buzz and product image can go a long way towards generating orders and excitement about what you make!

My own website and design portfolio can be found at:

http://DesignByDucati.com

Play around on my site, there are some little tricks built in, and explore the links to some of the websites I've done recently. My rates for small businesses are very reasonable, and web hosting is dirt cheap these days! Get in touch with me and we'll get started brainstorming your project.

ducatiwebdesign@gmail.com

ps - Les Paul lovers be sure to check out http://burstserial.com a site I designed which features pictures of hundreds of vintage Les Pauls.

This is a shot in the dark, cause I can only guess what they were trying to tell you, but that sounds like stabilized wood. A vacuum process is used to suck an epoxy or something into the cells of the wood so it can be worked as if it is a much harder material. Fancy pens and gunstocks are sometimes made of stabilized wood.

I have been offered a 2" thick face from a burl by one of the local woodturners. I told him all I needed would be about 10-15mm to cap a guitar but he said he wants me to make the whole body from the burl to show off the wood. Are there any major drawbacks to using a solid piece of burl for a body?

Luke

Stupid question, but what type of wood? I am guessing you are saying burled maple? If that's what it is, I think PRS has made some guitar tops (carved maple top over mahogany back) out of burled maple recently. So that's a start at least

Could you maybe try some heat from a soldering iron applied to the tuner? Or maybe soaking in some mild solvent that dissolves grime but not metal?

Headstock veneer came out pretty nice!

I like your headstock design!

Also I don't think I have ever seen a backstrap that follows a volute contour like you have done there (I hope I am using these terms correctly ). Nice craftsmanship.