Formica covered steels look cheap and ugly
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- Lee Baucum
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Lee, I think all laminates are the same.
They are sheets of kraft paper laminated together with resin. Much like layers of fiberglass and resin on a boat except it's not woven together like fiberglass. This is why it's so strong and resistant to dings etc.
After the Kraft paper, is the color which is like the covering on a drumset. After the color is the melamine covering (real tough plastic) which gives it it's scratch resistance, gloss and "depth"
They are sheets of kraft paper laminated together with resin. Much like layers of fiberglass and resin on a boat except it's not woven together like fiberglass. This is why it's so strong and resistant to dings etc.
After the Kraft paper, is the color which is like the covering on a drumset. After the color is the melamine covering (real tough plastic) which gives it it's scratch resistance, gloss and "depth"
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Richard, your very first line of this thread read, "it's just an easy short-cut for manufacturers."
Somehow I don't think "an easy short-cut" was the original intention of putting mica on a guitar. Someone once told me that bolting an aluminum neck onto a wood body will gouge into the wood over time thus killing some sustain. Mica eliminates this.
Don't get me wrong. I have heard both wood and mica guitars that had tone to die for, so I am not taking sides. Just food for thought. Speaking of food.....I now think it is time to raid the fridge......
Joe Rogers
Somehow I don't think "an easy short-cut" was the original intention of putting mica on a guitar. Someone once told me that bolting an aluminum neck onto a wood body will gouge into the wood over time thus killing some sustain. Mica eliminates this.
Don't get me wrong. I have heard both wood and mica guitars that had tone to die for, so I am not taking sides. Just food for thought. Speaking of food.....I now think it is time to raid the fridge......
Joe Rogers
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- Lee Baucum
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Danny - My point was, we commonly refer to all laminates (on pedal steels) as "mica", which is short for Formica. Formica is a brand name of laminate.
It's akin to calling all tissues "kleenex". Here in the south, many of us refer to soft drinks as "cokes". "Yes, I'll have a coke, and make it a Dr. Pepper, please."
It's akin to calling all tissues "kleenex". Here in the south, many of us refer to soft drinks as "cokes". "Yes, I'll have a coke, and make it a Dr. Pepper, please."
- Bill Duncan
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Formica vs. Wood
There is something about the look of granite. Possibly a little heavy, but it would be different. Come to think of it; it probably would not be much heavier than an old D10 MSA!
Bill Duncan
Bill Duncan
You can observe a lot just by looking
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mica
Mica covered steels? What can I say?
Iv'e been looking back at all the helpful tips Richard has given to the forum when guys have been at a loss to sort out their problems,so cut the guy some slack when when he makes personal opinion on the look of a guitar.
I just hope he doesn't stop helping people out when they can't help themselves.Due to the flack he has taken over this.
Keep it comming Richard
Regards Ray
I just hope he doesn't stop helping people out when they can't help themselves.Due to the flack he has taken over this.
Keep it comming Richard
Regards Ray
- John Drury
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- John Drury
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- Lee Baucum
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- Mike Perlowin
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Well I do, and the's fightin' words. How dare you have different tastes in condements as me, you dirty low down $%^$^&(% b%^&$^&^*+)_(*Lee Baucum wrote: I don't like mustard on my sandwiches.
Nest you'll be saying you don't like pepper on your scrambled eggs. Sheesh!
Just Kidding Lee. But I really do like mustard.
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
- John Drury
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Not Baa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aad!Danny Bates wrote:The Sho-let-paper was classy, but for the utmost in durability (except fire and the blood slinging "Anti-Animal Torture" folks), the classiest finish would be "Liberacesque" fur. Like ZZ Top's guitars.
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr
- Rich Peterson
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I love the look of real wood
My red lacquer MSA Classic looked so-o-o-o beautiful until I screwed up and let a cable bouncing around inside the case trash the finish. It upset me so much, I couldn't look at it. Didn't play steel for many years.
If I had bought the white Formica instead, I would have had years more fun, and probably be a really good player.
If I get a PSG custom made, I might have it match the DiPinto Belvedere DeLuxe in my avatar photo: White body with a black carved top, huge white pearloid pickguard, and siver sparkle pickup rings and the entire face of the headstock. (In spite of all that gaudiness, it's a good sounding axe, and the best neck I've EVER played.)
I vote for durability.
If I had bought the white Formica instead, I would have had years more fun, and probably be a really good player.
If I get a PSG custom made, I might have it match the DiPinto Belvedere DeLuxe in my avatar photo: White body with a black carved top, huge white pearloid pickguard, and siver sparkle pickup rings and the entire face of the headstock. (In spite of all that gaudiness, it's a good sounding axe, and the best neck I've EVER played.)
I vote for durability.
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- John Ummel
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- Les Anderson
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Fascinating to read from the beginning, Because, starting at the end page one would be of the impression that Richard had gone "Over the Top" with some form of insult, when in fact nothing of the sort occurred.
If YOU are reading this from the end, I humbly suggest that you go to page one and TRY and find what the hullabaloo is about, I can't.
Richard I'm sure wasn't attempting to bait anyone by this post,. just expressing HIS opinion, as is his right.
If YOU are reading this from the end, I humbly suggest that you go to page one and TRY and find what the hullabaloo is about, I can't.
Richard I'm sure wasn't attempting to bait anyone by this post,. just expressing HIS opinion, as is his right.
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It's a lot more involved than wiping on some stain and then spraying a few coats of something on top. The only "involved" part of finishing a new steel guitar is the inlay work (really easy if you have the tools) and the cure times between coats of finish. I've done furniture restoration and auto bodywork, and there ain't nothin' much easier than spraying on a finish.Joe Rogers wrote:Richard, your very first line of this thread read, "it's just an easy short-cut for manufacturers."
If that "someone" tells you anything else, it might be best if you ignored him.Someone once told me that bolting an aluminum neck onto a wood body will gouge into the wood over time thus killing some sustain. Mica eliminates this.
- chris ivey
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