Jazz Baron: The Neck......

[BigSteve22]

So, I got my paint booth set up. (Not exactly OSHA compliant, but then again I'm not doing a production run, just one neck.) Got a few coats of lacquer on it and let it dry for a day. The lacquer is really starting to bring out the flame.

Today, I applied the headstock decal. Twice. It was twice because I screwed up the first time. When Rothko and Frost says their decals are thin, believe them! Much thinner than any other decals I've ever used, anywhere. I was smoothing out the bottom edge, with a soft tissue as recommended, and somehow I tore off a piece. Not just a little tear mind you, it totally disappeared. Not a trace of it anywhere, GONE. So I grabbed a piece of painters tape, and with one quick pull, the entire decal was gone before it could start to adhere. Luckily, knowing that I can screw up at a moments notice, and not wanting to wait for a replacement to arrive from the UK if I did, I ordered several. Second application went well.

Rothko and Frost did a great job of making exactly what I wanted, and I certainly can't say they didn't warn me about how thin and easily damaged the decals were. My advice is that if you want  a quality decal, made exactly to your specs, you can't go wrong with Rothko and Frost. Just buy more than one, the price goes down when you do.

Now I'll wait several days to be sure everything is completely dry, and finish things up. Photos attached.

 

[bagman67]

Well, that looks lovely.  Great work, even if it did take a second attempt.


And I can certainly admire the convenience of having your heavy bag hanging right there by the "spray booth," so if you screw something up, you can immediately take it out on an inanimate object.

 

[BigSteve22]

And I can certainly admire the convenience of having your heavy bag hanging right there by the "spray booth," so if you screw something up, you can immediately take it out on an inanimate object.

:laughing11: :laughing3: :laughing7:

 

[Logrinn]

I agree. Everything looks great - the neck, the decal, the spray booth and the heavy bag. :icon_thumright:

 

[rgand]

Looking good, pard. Nice job.

 

[stratamania]

You can't beat some home brewed ingenuity for things like makeshift spray booths. 

I've had a similar thing happen to me with an R & F decal, but it was after it had dried I caught it somehow and it started to come away.  They are good decals however, but get a mist coat on as soon as you can.

If the water is too warm I think it interferes with the adhesive property of the decal itself.

 

[Cagey]

I think also that the glue is not only super-thin, it's necessarily water-soluable, so they won't take much wetting or handling. When I did one recently, I wrecked the first pass as well by over-handling it. Luckily, I made them myself so I had plenty of spares.

 

[BigSteve22]

If the water is too warm I think it interferes with the adhesive property of the decal itself.

Yeah, I followed the instructions about the water too. Just barely warm. Took about 15 seconds for the decal to start lifting off the backing.

Luckily, I made them myself so I had plenty of spares.

I thought about that option, but I wanted to see what their metallic ink looked like. Glad I did, it looks NICE!

:icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

...I wanted to see what their metallic ink looked like. Glad I did, it looks NICE!
:icon_thumright:

I agree; that's really sharp!

Mine are just black, so I was able to do them on the laser printer on blank clear decal stock.

 

[Kostas]

Rothko and Frost did a great job on mine too. I didn't apply it but I was told their decals are the thinnest.
Good to see a non Fender decal in yours... :icon_thumright:


                                                                              :headbang5 

 

[BigSteve22]

Good to see a non Fender decal in yours... :icon_thumright:                                                                       

Yeah, right? If I wanted a Fender decal on my guitar, I could have saved a BUNCH of money by just buying a Fender. But then it wouldn't be so pretty or play as nice!

Custom guitar, custom decal. To me, there's no other way to do it.

 

[Kostas]

Custom guitar, custom decal. To me, there's no other way to do it.

Same for me. So far two blanks, a custom truss rod cover from Doug and a custom decal from Rothko and Frost. Actually two decals on the last one, front & back!
                                                                         
                                                                                                                                          :headbang5

 

[Logrinn]

Custom guitar, custom decal. To me, there's no other way to do it.

Same for me. So far two blanks, a custom truss rod cover from Doug and a custom decal from Rothko and Frost. Actually two decals on the last one, front & back!
                                                                         
                                                                                                                                          :headbang5

Front AND back? That's so cool. And so right, now that I hear/read about it. Of course a special instrument of your own making should have decals on both the front and the back of the headstock.