Formica covered steels look cheap and ugly

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 13 Dec 2008 12:21 am

I hate the look of steels clad in formica, it's just an easy short-cut for manufacturers.

Let's get back to more laquer finishes.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 13 Dec 2008 12:57 am

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 13 Dec 2008 1:01 am

Rick Schmidt wrote:Why?

Because.

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 13 Dec 2008 1:09 am

Hmmmm....never looked at it that way.Formica has higher resistance against bar nicks, smoke damage, discolorations etc etc.
I don't think that it should be looked at as an easy short-cut for manufacturers.
Pretty darn smart would be my word.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 13 Dec 2008 1:23 am

Mike Perlowin wrote: Because.

Point well taken Mike!

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 13 Dec 2008 1:40 am

My first few guitars were wood and I loved them but my last 2 were black mica. It seems to withstand the slings and arrows of outragous misfortune a lot better.As far as mica generally looking cheesy,I think black and a few "woodgrain" type colors like rosewood,birdseye maple look OK and I've seen a couple of very nice two tone Zums,Carters etc. I saw some mica samples that Mitsuo Fuji offers on his Excels and he has a glossy butterscotch mica the exact color of an old Stringmaster which I would have if I ever got another Excel. I just can't stand the fire engine red,tele-tubby purple,bright white and a few other colors that some people actually allow themselves to be seen sitting behind. Why not go all out and make one with that late 50s white countertop with the gold flecks and little boomerang motifs.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 13 Dec 2008 1:51 am

It's been done (awesome looking guitar Stu)

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 13 Dec 2008 2:00 am

I rest my case

Barry Gaskell · Post by **Barry Gaskell** » 13 Dec 2008 2:44 am

Hi Guys
Chacun a son gout.
Barry

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 13 Dec 2008 2:58 am

Il ne faut pas chercher midi à quatorze heures

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 13 Dec 2008 3:23 am

The classic Emmons black mica with alloy strips looks classy to me. However, I also think that a great piece of flamed or birdseye maple is hard to beat.

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 13 Dec 2008 3:38 am

Gosh Richard, This is a fine time to tell me now, after I just bought a (real purdy) D10 Black Mica..

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 13 Dec 2008 3:56 am

I guess I have no taste then, I love my beautiful blue mica Mullen. Maybe you'll never have to look at it.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 13 Dec 2008 4:03 am

La beauté est dans l'oeil du spectateur !!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 13 Dec 2008 4:16 am

Two words:

CARBON FIBER

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 13 Dec 2008 4:16 am

richard burton wrote:I hate the look of steels clad in formica, it's just an easy short-cut for manufacturers.

Let's get back to more laquer finishes.

Beauty is in the eyes of the barholder.

Richard,

Here is the problem, and this has been well documented here, the only guitars that deliver any serious tone at all are the black ones.

So if you have a guitar laquered in jet black who is going to be able to tell wether it is clad in mica or not?

But thanks so much for playing!

Sam Lewis · Post by **Sam Lewis** » 13 Dec 2008 4:17 am

Right on, Howard. I don't believe I'll play my great Mullen RP in Britin - might offend Richard.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 13 Dec 2008 4:37 am

The pedal steel will always be an inherently bland-looking instrument, due to the fact that it is essentially a plank of wood with some strings on it.

To compound this blandness by covering it in formica is an aesthetic crime, in my opinion.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 13 Dec 2008 5:33 am

I think I'm going to replace my counter tops with the same Formica I have on my PSG which is the same as my neighbors counter tops.
Maybe I’ll just save some money and use the old counter top to make me a new steel guitar.
Maybe I'll just go to a cabinet shop and have them make me a counter top and a PSG out of the same Formica.
I think that old Fifties pearl trimmed in chrome would look great.
I think I might have an old Pearlized mica table top somewhere in storage if anybody is interested.

I remember the good old days when most PSGs were made out of just plain old Birds Eye Maple.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 13 Dec 2008 5:41 am

Yeah, and honi soi qui mal e cent!

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 13 Dec 2008 6:12 am

As cousin Minnie Pearl so elequently put it..Beauty is skin deep.

It's the sound/tone that counts the most, right? There are some really nice mica guitars out there, personaly, I prefer wood,birdseye,flame,etc.

Bill

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 13 Dec 2008 6:26 am

Way to go Richard! Tell it like you see it and don't sugar-coat it. Fire away... I love it!

I've owned 6 pedal steels and every one of them has been mica finished. I haven't had the pleasure to appreciate the true qualities of a "real wood finished guitar". I can look at pictures and see them in person and appreciate them for their beauty, but without ever actually having owned one, I am ignorant (not to be confused with stupid) of the true benefits of owning one.

I can tell you this. I was given a prototype 6 string electric guitar from Yamaha in the mid 70's. It had the outline of a Gibson Les Paul, but the top and back were perfectly flat and it had a rosewood formica finish.

Would you believe me if I told you that in my entire life, I have never heard a better sounding solid body guitar? It's true. Now would you believe me if I told you that I sold the guitar cheap because I thought it was ugly as hell and I was too good to be seen playing such an ugly guitar? That's true too.

BTW, It still looked brand new when I sold it. So therefore, it was also the most durable guitar I've ever owned too.

I guess my question is this... Is there a difference in the tone of a steel guitar made in mica vrs. one with a beautiful wood finish?

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 13 Dec 2008 6:52 am

I guess my question is this... Is there a difference in the tone of a steel guitar made in mica vrs. one with a beautiful wood finish?

Are you serious?

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 13 Dec 2008 6:54 am

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 13 Dec 2008 7:08 am

John Drury Wrote,

"Beauty is in the eyes of the barholder."

This should be the SGF Quote of the year!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Formica covered steels look cheap and ugly

Formica covered steels look cheap and ugly

Re: Formica covered steels look cheap and ugly