Before you throw things, I'm not interested in recreating Fender decals. I want custom decals like my signature with a clear backing. A Canadian fan made me some Firme Chicanocaster stickers for my custom Warmoth beast, but I want to make my own. What types of materials do you need? Any good computer programs?
My computer's screwed right now, but go to http://www.usacustomguitars.com and then go to their links section. Scroll down a bit...there's a guy that does their decals. For some reason, I can't cut and paste his address and there's a symbol in it I can't type out. Sorry, but good luck.
We went over this on Dan Erlewines section at the LPF a while ago so I'm just cutting and pasting my response here.....
There's a bunch of ways to tackle this one.
The most common is to get Ink Jet paper for making decals. This is easy to get http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/82272.html and produces good results if you have computer ready artwork (or a scan). I have one reservation which is that Ink Jet ink is pretty colour unstable so you might have fading problems down the road however black should be fine.
Next way would be having a run of custom dry transfers done. 4D Crafts in the UK will do this for you as well as Letraset http://www.letraset.com/us/template3.asp?catid=3452 you can get any pantone colour including stock metallics as well as metal film but can get pretty expensive if you want multiple colours. A major plus is that a single run could give you enough logos to cover almost a lifes building output!!
Pearl inlay is a cool option. If you have the tools (Dremel with router base and mills) and skills to do the inlay but don't feel up to cutting pearl script then First Quality Musical Supplies http://www.fqms.com/ have a service to custom cut your name in Pearl script thats pretty affordable. I don't think it's listed (or any other banjo/guitar pearl stuff) in their current catalogue so call them. It did cost $15 for one capitol letter and up to 9 lower case letters and about a 1/3 extra for abalone.
If you have a good looking signature, I've seen good results from signing headstocks with gold or silver marker pens then lacquering over. Looks really good on black or coloured headstocks.
and from another thread..
Any piece of artwork can be turned into dry transfers. Letraset offer this as a service http://www.letraset.com/us/template3.asp?catid=3452 , I get it done here in the UK by 4D modelshop http://www.modelshop.co.uk/pages/home.htm . You can get them done in any Pantone colour including metalics and (at a price) in multiple colours. You can also get film metalics as well. You can spray laquer over it without decal edges, it's colourfast, comes in metalics and at least in single colours is very cost effective. One sheet of A4 would give a lot of builders enough logos for years of output. Also if applied OVER lacquer they have the appearance of a silk-screen (in fact they pretty much are, I'm sure that's how they're made up).
hope this helps, John
Thanks man!
Look to that grito character, he rocks!
I just made a headstock decal for my Warmoth neck...
:nya
That is cool man!!
Look to that grito character, he rocks!
Thanx. I can't wait to do my next one
Last edited by SMark; 03-10-2003 at 11:09 PM.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote