Monterey pop graphics

PVO_Dave

Was doing my local guitar tech a favour today, tweaking some Monterey pop graphics, getting the sizes right etc.. for a project he's doing for a client.

I did a test print and tried the against my surf green Strat, think it looks great! Just ordered some inkjet decal paper, think I might apply them

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r638/davewitchalls/image_5.jpg

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r638/davewitchalls/image_4.jpg

JookyChap

Must admit I keep looking at #1 son's white Strat and wondering whether I should break out the Sharpies or not... 

Go for it I reckon, looks great

p90fool

Nice, there must be a market for those.

Niallmo

http://procrasti-nation.eu/wp-content/uploads/Shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpg

PVO_Dave

JookyChap said:

Must admit I keep looking at #1 son's white Strat and wondering whether I should break out the Sharpies or not... 

Go for it I reckon, looks great

If the waterslide attempt comes out half decent, I'd be happy to send you a set. 

p90fool said:

Nice, there must be a market for those.

I said to the guy in question, a finished red and white body with the graphics might do well on eBay, hard to track down!

Niallmo said:

http://procrasti-nation.eu/wp-content/uploads/Shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpg

I've only got a certain number of sheets coming, but if these work out on the first attempt (requires 2x A4) I could potentially send you a set as well. 

First attempt though, so not expecting great things

Niallmo

Awesome, looking forward to see how it turns out. I've had a look about and it didn't look like anyone is doing this type of decoration. Plenty of pinups and fretboard stickers but few well known body designs.

In related news I've ordered a "Voodoo" reverse bridge pickup pickguard...

Aidanspaghetti

works really well w surf green! Would look beautiful on my malmsteen Strat! Pm me if you ever decide to print and sell a few

PVO_Dave

I'll update this thread once done, the only thing I'm not confident on transfer wise is the bluey/turquoise colour, probably OK on a white guitar, but not sure how it'll show on a colour base, we'll see I guess

JookyChap

Well, I'm game to try it on a white Strat if you like. The chaps are right though, think you could do well with these...

The Rocky Racoon might be a bit trickier to pull off mind

PVO_Dave

Hmm.. well the good news is the colours look good against coloured bodies:

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r638/davewitchalls/image_7.jpg

The bad news is that the transfers dry white!

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r638/davewitchalls/image_6.jpg

Ive taken them back off before they fully dried. Now to track down some truly transparent decal paper.

WezV

So close!!!

Are you sealing them with lacquer before applying... Maybe try a different sort

Niallmo

Looks great! Pity about the paper, must be some clear out there somewhere...

PVO_Dave

WezV said:

So close!!!

Are you sealing them with lacquer before applying... Maybe try a different sort

I think the lack of lacquer / clear is the problem. I bought this paper because the instructions didn't mention needing it (hoping to avoid that step). 

All of the other brands mention needing it. 

Will it not make the decal less flexible?

PVO_Dave

Attempted round 2 tonight. I bought some art supply type spray on gloss varnish, printed and cut out the details, gave the, a coat of varnish and allowed to set. 

It was better, but still not good enough, so again I removed them. If you could apply the fiddly decals well and were planning on adding a proper finish on top, I reckon waterslide decals would work, without lacquer though, I think this is a no go. 

Last option is inkjet printable clear vinyl, might have a go, but it'd be very, very hard to apply these first time in the right place with no bubbles etc..

Niallmo

Bubbles are no prob, just chase them out. There's a guy in the states who uses clear transfers...found the link then lost it!

Dalefty

Are you using waterslide paper for an inkjet or laser printer, I've had some very good results making them using a laser printer, but not so good results using an inkjet printer.

DaLefty

DannyP

I use waterslide decal paper for pedals. The background dries white, but one coat of clear acrylic is always enough to make it go clear in my experience.

PVO_Dave

Niallmo said:

Bubbles are no prob, just chase them out. There's a guy in the states who uses clear transfers...found the link then lost it!

I ordered the 'paper' last night, round three next week maybe

Dalefty said:

Are you using waterslide paper for an inkjet or laser printer, I've had some very good results making them using a laser printer, but not so good results using an inkjet printer.

DaLefty

This was Inkjet as it's all I have available to me, kind of makes sense why Laser jet stuff might be better, as it wouldn't need to be as permeable? (maybe anyway)

DannyP said:

I use waterslide decal paper for pedals. The background dries white, but one coat of clear acrylic is always enough to make it go clear in my experience.

I can definitely see it being OK slathered in a top coat, but that's not something I want to do to this guitar really

PVO_Dave

I moved on the guitar destined for these, but thought you might be interested to see how they came out on the guitar tech finished guitar

Couple more pictures of the process here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.926458310738775.1073741838.120056308045650&type=1

stonevibe

Looks good. Much nicer than the official Fender one!

Aidanspaghetti

Me still likely... Yum yum