Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: WezV on April 27, 2010, 08:31:21 PM

Title: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 27, 2010, 08:31:21 PM
its a guitar i built for myself last year that i finally got around to finishing - and decided to have a bit of a play.

This isnt to show good practice or even something a lot of you will like - just showing my experiments

so i started painting it black, then covered quite roughly in faux silver leaf... i didnt go for full coverage as i wanted some black showing in places - although i did misjudge scratchplate shape first time round
that gave me this
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/silver1.jpg)

i quite liked it but continued playing as i had some gold and copper leaf too

so - the last 24 hours progress (most of which was sleeping and being at work)

added gold and copper - dont like it though, some of the patterns are fun but the colour contrast is all wrong
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st1.jpg)

roughly distressed it, which removed a lot of gold and copper... still not happy with colour:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st2-1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st3-1.jpg)

wiped down with black stain, rubbed down with wire wool and one coat of lacquer later:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st4.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st5.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st7.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st8.jpg)


seeing it like that i am not sure if i want to relic the hardware or not.... but i think i am just about done now
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Philly Q on April 27, 2010, 08:55:51 PM
Very interesting process!  But I think my jury's out on this one until I see the finished guitar.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: MrBump on April 27, 2010, 09:03:13 PM
Ditto - was there a thought process, or was it a little more random than that?

Does look kinda cool... I think that I like the idea of gold or silver leaf...
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Andrew W on April 27, 2010, 09:03:28 PM
I think that's really cool.  I've always like the distressed metal look: for some, completely indefensible reason, it's never bothered me the way some relic jobs do.  Is that a CuNiFe wide range humbucker you have in there?  The question remaining though is what are you going to do with the neck?  
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: th3sku11 on April 27, 2010, 09:08:06 PM
Still not sure about the gold/copper bits. The rest has an appeal for me though :)
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Ian Price on April 27, 2010, 09:09:28 PM
Interesting Wez. I think I'll reserve judgement until I see the finished article though. Will be very interested to see what it looks like.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 27, 2010, 09:13:46 PM
was there a thought process, or was it a little more random than that?

random - just seeing what happens for sh1ts and giggles

now i need to make a couple of decisions which will affect the final look

1.  loads of clear till it can be buffed to a high shine or leave textured  and lightly coated

2.  Relic hardware to match or stay with the contrast


the neck bucker is an original wide range  - its the one HTH didnt like, but i am rather fond of it - partnered with a BKP flat 50 and a 4-way tele switch
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: TheIronBeast on April 27, 2010, 09:32:07 PM
I didn't like the look of the silver with the gold and silver but after seeing it wiped down with black stain and with the wire wool I really like the look of the guitar. I love the look of beat up Strats/Teles. That now looks like it has been on tour round the world, played every night for the past 30 years. I like the way that it has turned out.

I will be interested to see what you decide to do with it, will be keeping a close eye on the development.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Twinfan on April 27, 2010, 09:39:45 PM
Looks very Trussart!
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 27, 2010, 09:46:37 PM
Looks very Trussart!

poor mans version ;)
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: PhilKing on April 27, 2010, 09:46:38 PM
looks a bit like the bottom of my frying pan (outside!).  Didn't mind just the silver, hated it with the gold & copper, don't mind the wiped down look.  I would lacquer it more myself though.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Lew on April 27, 2010, 10:51:40 PM
Tyler meets Trussart  :D
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Dreichlift on April 27, 2010, 10:57:27 PM
I love the finish you ended up with, with a slightly different choice of colours and some aged hardware I would think it'd work really well on something with cammo humbuckers.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: d1dsj on April 27, 2010, 11:14:27 PM
Looks very Trussart!

 8)
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Andrew W on April 27, 2010, 11:16:08 PM
the neck bucker is an original wide range  - its the one HTH didnt like, but i am rather fond of it - partnered with a BKP flat 50 and a 4-way tele switch
That little lot there looks like it's worth the price of admission alone.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 27, 2010, 11:25:02 PM
when i was at the silver stage i was considering:

1.  blackburst finish
2.  Masked off flames in trans black
3.  Candy colours
4.  Stripping it all back and giving in
5.  and the distressed thing which i ended up going for


Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Ratrod on April 28, 2010, 10:54:16 AM
Very Trussart indeed. it would be nice to take a Squier thinline Tele and give it that look, including the dark stained neck and rusty hardware.

I thought about doing this by drybrushing but this faux silver leaf look a whole lot better.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: gingataff on April 28, 2010, 01:00:33 PM
Maybe try an aluminium scratchplate?
I think the finish isn't so bad itself, but that metallic look clashes with the white plastic.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: AndyR on April 28, 2010, 01:08:31 PM
I kinda likee :D

I didn't find the silver/gold/copper too offensive, either... but I prefer what it's progressed to...
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Frank on April 28, 2010, 01:34:01 PM
I would wrestle an adult grizzly bear for that guitar. And I would win.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Dazza1004 on April 28, 2010, 03:07:05 PM
I like it but the neck doesn't look very well made  :D
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 28, 2010, 05:04:44 PM
Maybe try an aluminium scratchplate?
I think the finish isn't so bad itself, but that metallic look clashes with the white plastic.

i considered that - may make one to see
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: roland_rat on April 28, 2010, 05:10:12 PM
Hi I like how the guitar looks now.   Was not sure part way through.   I wonder if the pickguard needs to be aged maybe. 

Will be intrested to see how the guitar looks once finshed.  Keep us posted.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 28, 2010, 05:13:51 PM
Hi I like how the guitar looks now.   Was not sure part way through.   I wonder if the pickguard needs to be aged maybe. 

Will be intrested to see how the guitar looks once finshed.  Keep us posted.

its another thing i may try - i intend on making another anyway as this is slightly out of shape around the horn so i have one to practice on
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 28, 2010, 05:37:17 PM
i am also doing a bass for myself - think standard (BK)P-bass with my version of a teisco spectrum bass shape.  its black and together for a test fit at the moment and looking good

...

but would it look better in copper leaf with a browny green stain :)
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: psy on April 28, 2010, 06:57:18 PM
Love the final finish you ended up with there Wez
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: badgermark on April 28, 2010, 07:26:25 PM
Needs an aluminium neck, Albini style. Looks good Wez, not totally keen on the scratchplate myself, but I'd rock the $%&# out of it regardless.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Jonny on April 29, 2010, 12:44:44 AM
I REALLY like the end (?) result. Distress the hardware!
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: gingataff on April 29, 2010, 03:21:18 AM

but would it look better in copper leaf with a browny green stain :)
Could you chemically age the copper to make verdigris?
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on April 30, 2010, 07:30:12 PM
well - lets see about that ;)

trial metal leaf finish number 2 - going for a different look here, the idea for this one is a more traditional gilded finish, so i went with an acrylic size (the glue/varnish that sticks it down) and loose leaf copper (rather than the transfer stuff i have used so far). 

once complete the plan is to age the copper to start to develop some green - rather than wait 10-15 years i am going to accelerate the process before lacquering.   i have looked around for chemicals to age it and two easy ones keep popping up.   apparently urine does a good job, but a salt & vinegar mix also works well - so i think i had better use that.

anyway - just done the rear of the bass and i am rather happy so far.  still needs a little burnishing but it has worked well
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/copper1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/copper3.jpg)
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on May 01, 2010, 11:31:21 AM
front and sides

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/copper4.jpg)
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Philly Q on May 01, 2010, 12:01:50 PM
Funky!  :D   I think that absolutely demands a matching headstock.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on May 01, 2010, 12:04:33 PM
i was thinking the same thing

it wont be this shiny though - just wiped it down with the salt  vinegar solution and i think its working as the cloth came off green.  i am off out for the day now, looking forward to seeing what happens by the time i return home
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Frank on May 01, 2010, 12:08:07 PM
I just realised what the stratele guitar reminds me of - it's like a custom shop Squier 51

... and don't be offended by the analogy, I loved the design of the Squier 51, definitely had that funky retro vibe about it

Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on May 01, 2010, 12:12:15 PM
i was thinking squire 51 when i first started it, it was originally going to have a 51 style plate

i still think they should be making a higher end version of the 51
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Frank on May 01, 2010, 12:31:46 PM
The whole thing's given me a sudden attack of very intense GAS. You've taken my two favourite guitars and squelched them together with my two favourite pickups and made it look so utterly funky that I can practically hear the gut-wrenching sound of it just by looking at a photo. It's possibly my favourite piece of guitar design of the year so far and I'm not easy to please when it comes to F-style guitars.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on May 02, 2010, 10:39:41 AM
cheers frank - hopefully i will have some finished pics in the next few days

the bass above also has a slight 51 fender connection.  i have the pickup wired to a series/parallel switch for pseudo 51 p-bass sounds


anyway - back to the ageing of copper.  not much happened yesterday whilst i was out.   i wiped it down with the salt & vinegar solution then later wiped it down with water which i think halted the processs.   it definately got more varigated during the day - but not too much green came along.  so today its the same thing without the water wipe down


Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Andrew W on May 02, 2010, 11:06:32 AM
I'm really loving the bass and I think the idea of a verdigris bass is pure genius.  I really can't wait to see what this looks like finished.  Really cool.  The Tele I kludged together last year is looking very nervous at the moment... :)

I also wondered if anyone else had added metal leaf to guitars and after a bit of Googling it seems that there are a couple who've done gold leaf (I seem to remember a Fender Custom Shop with white gold leaf too?) but I think you might be the first to go down the verdigris copper route.  Exciting times.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Philly Q on May 02, 2010, 11:53:11 AM
i still think they should be making a higher end version of the 51

+1
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: Frank on May 02, 2010, 12:12:25 PM
Wikipedia says:

Quote
Another method of obtaining verdigris pigment, used in the Middle Ages, was to attach copper strips to a wooden block with acetic acid, then bury the sealed block in dung.

food for thought there
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on May 02, 2010, 01:49:57 PM
i think its getting somewhere now, definately have patches of green showing - no dung or wee needed
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: TheIronBeast on May 02, 2010, 03:09:17 PM
The bass is looking good. Looking forward to seeing the end results of these guitars.
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on May 02, 2010, 07:22:45 PM
so this it what it looks like now:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/acopper1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/acopper3.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/acopper4.jpg)

the vinegar actually ate through completely in some areas.  there was more green but it wiped off :)   i think i will hang it somewhere for a week or two to see how the copper darkens but i think this is quite fun
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: AndyR on May 03, 2010, 11:42:08 AM
I'm really liking what's going on with these finishes Wez - I think you got something here :D
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: WezV on May 03, 2010, 12:26:46 PM
cheers andy - the bass has gone greener overnight

i purposely did the front and back differently to see if i could control the effect - which i think i can to a certain extent


if anyone wants me to mess up one of their bodies like this feel free to contact me ;)
Title: Re: metal leaf stratele
Post by: roland_rat on May 04, 2010, 03:56:41 PM
Im liking these Wez.
 I do perfer the finish on the guitar has oppossed to the bass though.