bluespresence

There was a thread a while back on crackle finish and a few of you expressed interest in it. I have a project guitar that has my gears going and I'd like to "crackle" it. Is there any interest in the crackle finish here and any interest in a tutorial? I can take pic's and write one up as I do it if you guys want one.

I've been fixing them and modifying them for too many years (20+) but never built one from the ground up until this year. Fixing them gives me the skills I need and satisfaction of a good repair, modifying them lets me build on someone else's great ideas and incorporate my own and building them lets me do it all. This is a cool gig!

AHHHHHHHHH! That was way too hard! They all are great but I had to pick....................... The Lex-meister's. I hope it's not this hard every month They are all great. I like certain things about each one but the top on your's Lex kept bringing me back. Great work from everyone!!! I'm hoping to get in for the January vote. My weekend will be consumed with finishing my entry.

Great stuff Ace!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!! PS: I like that better than the "white hat" from dad!

I gotta go with the hands. Like Southpa said about sanding and watching the grain "move". I like the wetsanding the best though. Getting the finish smooooooth and rubbing the paws across it and feeling the smoothness does something good in my brain. I never said I was normal

Welcome!!

Thanks for the offer Bear. I read your last post on this and bookmarked the supplier for waterslide paper, but I have a few sheets of transparency film to burn up yet before I switch.

Brian, you got it made! It reached 38 here today and that's a heat wave this time of the year. Normal high is 11 for today! Still no stinkin' snow though!! My snowmobile just might be for sale by the end of the month.

What was wrong with the S inlay?? Just Kidding!!!! Great Job Saber - looks 110% beautiful!!!!

I like the way the site is laid out so far - simple like me. None of the pic's loaded up for me though. Lookin' good, Bro!! BTW here's a pic of my logo: http://home.centurytel.net/bluespresence/i...es/104_0441.JPG

BTW Wes, I was laughing at myself in that response. I find it helps me recover from my bouts of "cranial rectitis" quicker. But if you want I can laugh at you too

Yeah, it looks like a coat of clear satin (poly-u probably) over the top but you can still feel the bumps from the different layers of paint. That's why I wonder how it's going to hold up over time.

Yep! I do mine a little different. I DON"T reverse the image. I print it "on top" of the film if you will using my inkjet. I then spray a quick shot of clear on the headstock, slide the logo in place, press the bubbles out (if any) and shoot a quick shot of clear over the top. When those dry I finish normally. Lots of clear, wet sand, polish. As long as you don't touch the ink on top you won't smear it. I think others have had problems with smearing by doing the reverse logo and setting the ink in the lacquer and having it smear when you slide the logo in place. I've had problems with the "seam" of the film in the past and considered doing what you suggest and covering the whole headstock. I was afraid of the edges peeling after a while so I'm going to clear coat it and wet sand it until they are gone this time.

Finishing up a J bass I've been putzing with for too long and I decide to paint the haedstock black to match the body. Since it's a headstock I figure I'll use a paint bomb instead of mixing up a batch and screwing around with cleanup. So, in all my wisdom I pick up a can of black and spray away (after careful taping). Six coats on, so far so good. Wet sand and polish to perfection - sweet. Go to place my logo and realize it can't be seen with the black background. No sweat, up to the pc I go and print off 3 different colors. Still can't see it! Oh, well, an idea hits. I lay out some painters tape on a steel plate, tape down my logo and cut it out carefully with an exacto knife and I now have a stencil. Lay the stencil on the headstock and spray some white lacquer for the logo. Dry, spray, dry, spray, etc. Looks great so far.......... Pull up the tape and I have one big, fat gooey, sloppy, sticky, freakin' mess. Look over at the can of black paint and it's.............ENAMEL!!! After I pull my head out of my rectum (took a while because I was laughing at myself pretty good!! ) I sand it back down to wood and stick a black logo on it. Another four hours well spent!

"Madeira"? I don't know how company names work in Canada, but I believe the Madeira name is owned by Fender (via the purchase of Guild Instruments in 1995). I think the Madeira shop was turned into Fender Custom Shop (in Nashville???). Anyhooo, Lex, I'm only mentioning it because companies here in the US are very protective of their names and like to send lawyers and threatening letters to you until you change your sign and throw out all your business cards and start with a new name, etc. Just crossed my mind................

You asked about Guitar Parts Resource. I've done a little business with them (I believe they are also Bass Parts Resource - see Wes' link) and they are quick and they do combine shipping to save you $$. Don't know if they ship to Australia though....

Thanks for the encouragement guys! No inspections or any of that here. I live in a township (read very small and out in the country) that doesn't have business zoning for home based stuff. It cost me $20US to file the application. I'm doing it as a "sole proprietorship" for one year to see how it goes then I'll hand over the $130 for incorporation registration. I do most of my sales on eBay for the repaired and seconds I sell, but I'm getting a ton of local sales now and I need to get serious before the tax man cometh. Besides, the wife is an accountant and fears the tax man more than most!! I do most of my repairs and custom building in the garage or basement with hand tools (I find it very relaxing) and when I have some serious work to do I have a friend that has a complete woodworking shop I use. He builds custom furniture and cabinets, etc. as a second job and I work with him in our "real" day job. My customers understand they are not going to get a guitar in a week or two and they don't mind the wait. Thanks Again!

Sounds good daddy ray. PM me or email me with the details.

I fianlly did it this week.....Sent in my forms for the resale certificate and business license. There's too much going in and out to avoid it any longer. It's going to create a lot more paperwork and hassle (collecting sales tax, etc) but I'll be legit! Starting Jan 1st I'll be Presence Guitars The wife is an accountant and has agreed to keep my books and do all of my tax forms and reporting for me too. All I have to do is buy stuff, make stuff, save receipts and most of all sell stuff!! I also have made agreements with some local suppliers to get much better pricing on supplies!!

Where's the festival? I'm in Wisconsin and it's a short hike for me to be there. I'm going to meet with a band tonight that has a 9 stop tour this spring with Atlantic Records and see if they are willing to play one of my guitars and a bass on the tour.

Congrat's Man! The first one is the advertisement for all the others............I hope he has a big mouth and likes to talk. Word of mouth sells my guitars.

Here's a great sounding one you can find at a decent price. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...&category=41430 I haven't used the MM 1/4 pounder but I use the P bass 1/4 pounders all the time. Loud, fat sound and it's clean. Look around on the net and see if you can find an mp3 of the MM to listen to and see if you like it. Here's SD's link on spec's: http://www.basslines.com/website/tonechart.shtml#bass

Standard strat with splattered paint. Sounds the same as a strat - is a strat is a strat..... The paint is kind of thick. I'm curious to see how it holds up over a few years of actual playing and handling. Anyone have one yet?

I'm with rye on the "GOO GONE". The stuff is great and doesn't stain or discolor the wood. Leaves your guitar smellin like an orange grove too!!