Head issues (3)

Here's the RG560 headstock all taped up & ready for re-lacquering. The lacquer acts as a final overcoat to protect the new decal from being scraped / wiped off. 

This is the Watco brand lacquer used in this process. It's available at the local hardware stores here for about $20. I intended to purchase a guitar-specific lacquer product from Stewmac but decided against spending more money & waiting longer for it to arrive. FYI, it contains nitrocellulose, the same ingredient used in guitar finishing that will age nicely over time. I have no expectations for that to happen, really. Just glad that it's suitable for such guitar-related adventures.

My makeshift spray booth; just a flattened out box. This was done at the common corridor when the neighbours were all away at work / school. Remember to don at least an N95 face mask to prevent those invisible particles from entering your respiratory system. Also, a non-windy day is crucial for any spraying activity to take place. Seven coats of lacquer were applied with ample drying time in between. Thirty minutes of drying is recommended but I only did twenty because I blasted the table fan at it. There were cloudy build-ups along the way but this was successfully polished away using just normal guitar polishing fluid before the subsequent coat was applied. 

The protective tape was removed & you can see the original colour of the headstock there - Ibanez calls it jewel blue. I did not re-finish the headstock in black. The decal & blue overcoat came off on that fateful day when I cleaned the headstock with a simple intention of re-stringing this guitar. Someone I talked to mentioned the possibility of the blue turning black over time due to repeated exposure to light & chemicals. I have no idea if this would indeed happen to solid finishes over time but this RG560 will be 30 years old come December & the time element here might attest this understanding.

Okie dokie, it's all strung up (D'Addario 9s) & ready to rumble. I gave the final coat of lacquer an overnight drying before fixing the hardware. FYI, the pickups here are DiMarzio PAF (b), Fast Track 1 (m) & Half Track (n). This guitar had been through quite a rough ride but it's still good as ever. I will share what happened throughout its 30 years of existence in time to come. 

Wishing you a good week ahead, please stay COVID-free & stop believing the KTV outlets are equal to an F&B establishment despite the authorities licensing them as such. Idiots, yes?

Previously (click):

• Head issues
• Head issues (2)

Head issues (2)

So a replacement decal was purchased, I didn't know it comes in a pair.

Organic outline to facilitate a more presentable aesthetic.

No instructions came with the product & it turned out to be a non-water slide version - caught off guard. Darn. It's this transfer version, as you can see, it required a peel off after drying. It's a delicate process & took some time. Not for the impatient, definitely.

Regardless if it's a transfer or water slide version, there will be this bumped, ugly outline as indicated above. Do click the picture for clarity. 

After some delicate press-downs / unidirectional rubbing, the edges were successfully made to 'disappear' into the background. This image was taken at this particular angle to show the successful outcome; no more unsightly bumps. At this stage, the decal is very vulnerable to scratching, it's also very sticky & will transfer itself onto another surface. Extended drying is necessary. One more step & it's done. 

It's my first encounter with this type of make-over & it turned out above expectations. Grateful.

To be concluded...

Previously: CLICK

Ibanez 2017: Slight enticement

So it has escaped me all this while- the fact that Ibanez Premium models were not offered States-side. It will finally reach there this 2017.

This here is the RG1070, a fresh 2017 model which will debut in the USA. Look at that difference in the 'Premium' decal compared to the pre-2017 model RG970 (grey). Many of us might miss this at a single glance. It's unconfirmed if this new script would be the standard decal for all 2017 Premium models & the ones thereafter. Please note.