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Hi everyone Im thinking about doing some sort of headstock logo, probably just my initials. Don't want to go the inlay route at this point. I like the look of the printed ones on commercial guitars, Im assuming they are screen printed in which I do have some experience with. I have seen others use waterslide decals. Im planning on using tru oli for the finish....any thoughts, ideas, experience anyone would like to share would be much appreciated. Thanks

I drew up a design and took it to my local sign shop in town. They took the idea and produced vinyl stickers in silver and in gold.
I now have the name made in paua abalone to inlay it.

Here is a pic of the vinyl version.

Rick Gunn

Hey Rick. We have a Rose Creek in Arkansas not too far from where I grew up. I like the name.

Nice, I was actually thinking of that too as I have used vinyl for other things....does it feel really raised? What did you use for finish over it? Thanks

When i do a satin neck i will use the vinyl.
A couple of coats sprayed over it have worked well.

It is raised. Similar to the Martin ones.

The Rose Creek name came from the subdivision i live in.
Everyone here loves the name!

Cool deal, I am going with Tru Oil for my finish but can certainly use something different for the head stock or perhaps just seal the vinyl with spray lacquer or shellac I will have to experiment. Any suggestions would be appreciated. The overall finish that Im going for with the Tru Oil is going to be more satin, Im not much of a fan of the super high gloss look. Anyway I had to laugh Im a contractor specializing in old houses....company name is Timber Hill Restoration. Everyone loves the name and asks me where it got it...well when I was trying to come up with a business name I was sitting in the front room of my house and looked out the window at the street sign...I live on Timber Hill Road.

Watergunn do you seal first before applying the vinyl? and if so with what...what did you use for topcoat?
Thanks

The only finish i use is nitro gloss lacquer.
I no longer use the stickers i have been inlaying the name in paua.
I shoot gloss all the way until the last coat which will be satin.
I only some of my necks in satin.

I had a waterslide decal made by these folks:

http://www.bedlamcreations.com

contact:

jmuma@bedlamcreations.com

It was $52 for a large sheet that had 24 of them on it

Ed

I think another aspect of the "logo" business is the shape of the headstock. The flat trapezoidal shape of a Maartin headstock is absolutely unmistakable, for instance. Even if a guitar isn't a Martin, if it has that shape headstock one assumes that it is a Martin.

I've spent quite a bit of time trying to come up with a distinctive headstock shape for the guitar I'm building. My creative artistic skills are decidedly limited, but I did eventually decide on a Martin-esque shape with an ogee curve instead of a flat top. I think it is reasonably unique. Google "guitar headstock images" or something similar, and you'll get hundreds.

Do you find the ogee curve, and the headstock in general, visually appealing?