Painting pickups?

Started by neurotictim, January 13, 2008, 06:53:26 PM

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dfung60

Glad that the project came off OK.  For what it's worth, this thread started at the more normal solution for this kind of problem, a paintfill.  It's commonly used on golf clubs and other pieces that have engraved or etched markings that you want to highlight.
 
It's basically exactly what neurotictim asked about at the beginning.  You need model paint (Testor's like the kind you used on models when you were kid is fine) and the proper solvent for it.  You want to pull the pickup and, in a concealed spot test to make sure that the solvent doesn't soften or damage the surface of the pickup.  
 
If it's OK, then you wipe the logo area with the solvent so it's clean.  Then, after it's dry, you use a brush to fill the logo area fully with paint.  You want to make sure that the paint fills the entire logo area and it's OK if a little is out on the top of the pickup.  Finally, while the paint is still wet, you dampen a cloth with solvent (not dripping wet, but damp)and gently wipe the excess paint off th surface of the pickup.  If you do this properly, the surface should be cleaned off and the engraved area should be untouched.  Let it dry and you're in business.
 
At the factory, Alembic probably uses a foil stamping machine to highlight the logo.  That foil is shinier than regular paint, but would be hard to reproduce without their setup.  
 
There are actually a class of highly metalized model paints which you paint on and can polish to a shine after they dry.  That might give a result more like the original logo, but this kind of paint is in a different (and stronger) solvent that might not lend itself to the paintfill process.
 
David Fung

xandaum


pauldo

Alexandre -  
Congratulations on your first post.
Your comment exudes untold wealths of intelligence.
 
Do you have a point that you are trying to make or did you accidently subscribe to the wrong bulletin board group?

neurotictim

Well, since one person here has a flair for eloquence, I guess I'll mention that I've gotten round after round of compliments on my beautiful bass, and a couple of discriminating bassists have commented positively on the logo fills.
 
Thanks for your comment, David, it clears up some things I neglected to mention.
 
Kevin, as long as you are careful and patient, you'll do just fine.  Use my info and David's points and yours will look just as good (or better!)

David Houck

Paul; I suppose there is the possiblity that there may have been some kind of language translation issue.  I have no idea; I don't know any Portuguese.

bigbadbill

It's ironic, I tried (and failed) to get non-gold-lettered pickups when I ordered my Triple O! just goes to show I guess...

adriaan


lbpesq

O.K., I admit, I don't get it.  Is there something about the Netherlands, Brazil, and pickup paint that was taught on a day I was home sick?  Why do we now have two areas of the world commenting on the sexual preference of pickups?
 
Bill, tgo

adriaan

The gay-factor is not so much in the sexual orientation of a piece of musical equipment (and I count three areas of the world commenting on that, not two) as it is in the choice of flashy gold paint to make those large capital letters stand out even further.
 
But then I did already say that it looks real nice - hm.
 
I defer to the supreme authority in such matters, Oscar Wilde: Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only beauty.

olieoliver

Websters originally defines Gay as;
 
1 a: happily excited : merry  b: keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits  
2 a: bright, lively  b: brilliant in color
3: given to social pleasures; also : licentious
 
 
This was added later;
 
4 a: homosexual  b: of, relating to, or used by homosexuals  
 
 
I think #2 above can apply here. I think the Gold leaf looks Cool, (Using the slang definition that is).
 
1: moderately cold : lacking in warmth...
.....
7slang a: very good  
 
Well done Timothy,
 
Olie

adriaan

Olie,
 
Given the magnanimous emphasis in the original posting (hummmm...GAY.) I would venture a guess that #4 carries the flag for xandaum's comment.

texangerbil

Adriaan - Totally off topic but I'm interested that Oscar didn't pass comment on those who find beautiful meanings in ugly things... Now they're the people that I want to learn from.
On to less metaphysical things, my Spoiler pups are so worn they don't even have the outline of  a logo left. I guess I have no way back.

adriaan

Nigel - One could say that, for Wilde, ugly things represent corruption, like the picture of Dorian Gray. The quote was from the preface to that novel, which actually starts with the assertion The artist is the creator of beautiful things.
 
I guess the zen approach wasn't Oscar's thing. ;-)