Headstock Branding

absolutpepper

Hey,

After a long time thinking about it, i've finally decided to put together my own partscaster(an Esquire along the lines of the postmodern journeyman series) .  I've got a MJT body on the way and also just scored a nice satin nitro allparts neck on the 'bay.  What I was wondering is, has anyone ever tried to do a headstock logo by using a heated banding iron?  I fancy doing something a bit different and I dont really wanna stick a fender-esq logo on.  Any tips, suggestions would be cool.

paulnb57

I have harboured similar thoughts for some time, but have no idea how to make a branding iron

WezV

I have seen it done.  Quite a few acoustic makers do it too.

not sure where you get a brand from but it shouldn't be difficult.

obviously light woods will work best, but practice first

axisus

The downside is that it would be less resalable should you wish to get rid of it. A transfer type logo could be easily replaced. 

I remember some years ago someone couldn't sell a decent neck because he'd 'branded' it with a cat logo or something.

DiscoStu

My old Gibson Firebrand Les Paul had exactly that. Here's a pic off the net

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0989/8188/products/GibFB335-3_2048x2048.jpg?v=1444944855

absolutpepper

It'll be my first guitar build, so i dont plan on ever getting rid haha.  Yeah like the firebrand idea

RocknRollDave

Alternatively, could the logo be cut out with an appropriate tool and just made to look like it was branded, using dark stain or so forth?
Just wondering if it may be easier to find someone who couldcut a logo than it will be to find someone to make the brand up for you...unless you are fully capable of such things yourself (you have to excuse me assuming everyone is as useless at handiwork as I am myself!)

Jalapeno

Have a look at Rothko & Frost's decal options.

Corvus

A pyro pen or whatever they're called might get it done, depending on design etc I guess.

MtB

I wasn't comfortable with the "G" logo that was on my JXG build, so had a Junior logo made by Rothco & Frost. 

http://i.imgur.com/kGs7Vnv.jpg?1

WezV

you can get branding irons, but not always cheaply unless you make friends with a metal worker

https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=Wood+Branding+Iron

how about this
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/215034725/custom-wood-leather-food-branding-iron

PVO_Dave

I was wondering if our favourite resident pickup maker, might be able to do something similar with his fancy pants laser?

I've got a solid rosewood neck I'd like my signature burnt / maybe lasered into the headstock. 

What says you @TheGuitarWeasel ?  

absolutpepper

Well my surname is Pepper (unusual I know) so I was thinking maybe two small pepper shakers at the end of the headstock a la some of the graphics on the JHS pedals if that makes sense...something a bit understated

WezV

PVO_Dave said:

I was wondering if our favourite resident pickup maker, might be able to do something similar with his fancy pants laser?

I've got a solid rosewood neck I'd like my signature burnt / maybe lasered into the headstock. 

What says you @TheGuitarWeasel ?  

That works very well, I forgot I had done this in the past.  It's a lot neater than a brand though

rsvmark

Could you use a dremmel to etch a logo and use a soldering iron to achieve the branding effect?

PVO_Dave

WezV said:

PVO_Dave said:

I was wondering if our favourite resident pickup maker, might be able to do something similar with his fancy pants laser?

I've got a solid rosewood neck I'd like my signature burnt / maybe lasered into the headstock. 

What says you @TheGuitarWeasel ?  

That works very well, I forgot I had done this in the past.  It's a lot neater than a brand though

The neatness would be a bonus for me

OilCityPickups

PVO_Dave said:

WezV said:

PVO_Dave said:

I was wondering if our favourite resident pickup maker, might be able to do something similar with his fancy pants laser?

I've got a solid rosewood neck I'd like my signature burnt / maybe lasered into the headstock. 

What says you @TheGuitarWeasel ?  

That works very well, I forgot I had done this in the past.  It's a lot neater than a brand though

The neatness would be a bonus for me

Easy on some levels: better to laser mark a head facing before installing as clearance in the machine for the length of the neck is tight, also the headstock angle back may be an issue requiring a jig to be made.

PVO_Dave

TheGuitarWeasel said:

PVO_Dave said:

WezV said:

PVO_Dave said:

I was wondering if our favourite resident pickup maker, might be able to do something similar with his fancy pants laser?

I've got a solid rosewood neck I'd like my signature burnt / maybe lasered into the headstock. 

What says you @TheGuitarWeasel ?  

That works very well, I forgot I had done this in the past.  It's a lot neater than a brand though

The neatness would be a bonus for me

Easy on some levels: better to laser mark a head facing before installing as clearance in the machine for the length of the neck is tight, also the headstock angle back may be an issue requiring a jig to be made.

Reckon your setup could cope with a Telecaster neck?  

OilCityPickups

PVO_Dave said:

TheGuitarWeasel said:

PVO_Dave said:

WezV said:

PVO_Dave said:

I was wondering if our favourite resident pickup maker, might be able to do something similar with his fancy pants laser?

I've got a solid rosewood neck I'd like my signature burnt / maybe lasered into the headstock. 

What says you @TheGuitarWeasel ?  

That works very well, I forgot I had done this in the past.  It's a lot neater than a brand though

The neatness would be a bonus for me

Easy on some levels: better to laser mark a head facing before installing as clearance in the machine for the length of the neck is tight, also the headstock angle back may be an issue requiring a jig to be made.

Reckon your setup could cope with a Telecaster neck?  

I'll take some measurements today ... it'd have to go diagonally so alignment and logo angle might cause a headache ... but i'll see

OilCityPickups

As you can see it has to sit diagonally on the bed ... this means I'd have to rotate the image file to the precise angle of the neck to ensure the logo is in the correct place. Also make some sort of Jig to hold the neck at that precise angle as the scan is made.
Damn pic disappears every time I try and save it !!!!! Gurrrrr

OilCityPickups