Formica covered steels look cheap and ugly

Tommy Huff · Post by **Tommy Huff** » 20 Dec 2008 7:39 pm

hi there Jimmy Gibson...I think your Carter is beautiful well, cause I have an sd-10 Carter with the same green mica on it! WOW!! I sure do wish I had known it was ugly before I bought it. But seriously I'm real glad we have both Chocolate and Vanilla! Merry Christmas..........Richard Burton

Charles Dempsey · Post by **Charles Dempsey** » 20 Dec 2008 8:11 pm

Mike Perlowin wrote:
Charles Dempsey wrote:
Mike Perlowin wrote:
Rick Schmidt wrote:Why?
Because.
Because why?
Because I said so.

Why did you say so?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Dec 2008 8:15 pm

Joe Rogers wrote:Donny, that "someone" happens to be one of the most respected names in steel guitar building with more innovations to his credit than you shake a stick at.
Joe Rogers

Joe, I suggest you go back and read John's post. He actually substantiated what I've said! Lacquer's biggest problems are cure time between coats and damage, and also he said he knew of no one using many, many coats or a "French polishing" technique.

Look guys, someone finishing or refinishing his own steel can take 40-50 hours on that finishing job. A company or even an average private builder would go broke doing that.

When you're doing it for a living, time is money.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 20 Dec 2008 8:30 pm

When you're doing it for a living, time is money

So basically we have to take utilitarian because of the cost involved ? That implies there IS something better than the norm..why not ask the manufacturers to raise the bar a little (Pun not intended)

Pat Comeau · Post by **Pat Comeau** » 20 Dec 2008 8:48 pm

Look guys, someone finishing or refinishing his own steel can take 40-50 hours on that finishing job. A company or even an average private builder would go broke doing that.

I agree with Donny...it took me almost 2 weeks to finish my steel guitar with lacquer, i wasn't in a hurry but for someone who does it for a living time is money.

Dan Murphy · Post by **Dan Murphy** » 20 Dec 2008 9:03 pm

As a profesional custom and oem painter and bodyman , I say Urethane is a much better choice because it stays flexable whereas lacquer does not.P.s Richard didnt you read the Forum Rules?? Next time try to keep you statements more neutral .However It is a good diverse thread. P.S. Cant We All Just Get Along??

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 20 Dec 2008 9:14 pm

but for someone who does it for a living time is money.

And the better the finish the more money we would expect to pay, and the more money the builder would make (Presumably)

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 20 Dec 2008 11:10 pm

Charles Dempsey wrote:
Mike Perlowin wrote:
Charles Dempsey wrote:
Mike Perlowin wrote:
Rick Schmidt wrote:Why?
Because.
Because why?
Because I said so.
Why did you say so?

2
Because just be-
5
cause just be-
1
cause.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 20 Dec 2008 11:17 pm

Stop the off topic chatter, please!

Joe Rogers · Post by **Joe Rogers** » 21 Dec 2008 1:14 am

Donny, I think it's possible you may have misunderstood my very first post. Let's back up.

Richard wrote:

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

I came back with:

Somehow I don't think "an easy short-cut" was the original intention of putting mica on a guitar.

I never once said lacquer was easier than mica. In fact I can agree lacquer is more time consuming. I meant that there were quite possibly other reasons for using mica other than "an easy short cut". I am referring to tonal differences. Every reference you made since then has been to validate that lacquer takes longer. That was never the point in my first posting.

Joe Rogers

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Dec 2008 8:59 am

Okay joe, I'm sorry if I misunderstood you.

Actually, the only reason I opened my big mouth was that I thought that some newbies might think that mica guitars were generally cheap and junky, while natural finish wood guitars were beautiful and of better quality. People have every right to like what they like, but they should know that junk exists in both laminated and natural wood persuasions. It's no different than the time I had to dispel the myth that p/p guitars were no longer made because they were so expensive.

A lotta people just wanna push their own agenda and preferences on everyone else.

Keith White · Post by **Keith White** » 21 Dec 2008 9:35 am

Hi all ,its each to ones own for what we want but i have just payed for a Hartly rains in white mica for my daughter to pick up at the show in march.The tone on that will sound the same as the other colours,that should give her a few years of playing without any problems. Its a steel thats all that matters to me, one more built for a younger player. Regards to you all at this festive time of the year.Keith White uk.

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 21 Dec 2008 10:05 am

I think I'll have my next one made out of house siding! 30 year guarantee!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 21 Dec 2008 5:19 pm

It's been fairly well documented, as well as I having heard it from the "horse's mouth" personally, that an impervious finish was chosen by Buddy because someone left a burning cigarette on his Bigsby, in spite of the fact that he had an ashtray attached to the guitar.

Mica glass was originally put on some of the prototypes but it was decided that it was too costly and difficult to do, so laminate was chosen instead. This was told to me by both Buddy and Ron Sr. personally, like I said above. And I'm sure Mike Cass will verify this as well.

Charles Dempsey · Post by **Charles Dempsey** » 22 Dec 2008 4:28 pm

b0b wrote:Stop the off topic chatter, please!

I'm sorry b0b. I've never seen a cascade on the SGF. Got away with it for a while though, didn't I

.

I would normally have some things to say about the topic, but dissing what must be about 85% of existing steel guitars (and by association, the players who own them) because of their finish is parochial and more than a little bit inflamatory, so I decided to keep my mouth shut and do something silly. You should be proud of me

.

Cool beans Mike, see 'ya next time.

Charlie

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 22 Dec 2008 4:35 pm

what Herb said.

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 22 Dec 2008 5:00 pm

If the appearance of your PSG really displeases you, it might affect your playing negatively.

If you think Formica is ugly, play lacquer. If dings, dents, chips and burn bother you, play lacquer.

It's a musical instrument, not a piece of furniture, and even if it's a work of art, it still needs to make music. More music, less talk.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 22 Dec 2008 7:59 pm

After reviewing this lengthy and interesting thread the only conclusion I have reached is that Ned McIntosh's blonde Carter is the most beautiful steel I have ever seen. I believe that covering up that beautiful piece of wood with mica would be like putting lipstick on a pig...at least that's what I believe that I believed.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 22 Dec 2008 8:09 pm

Cheap and ugly:

Click Here

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 24 Dec 2008 4:06 pm

Duncan,

Your kind comments are greatly appreciated. It was love at first sight when I saw it on the Carter website. However, I have to add the Cass restorations pictured on this thread are mouth-wateringly beautiful. Now I just have to achieve tone to match the looks.

How fortunate we are to have an instrument than can bewitch us with both its beauty to the eye and to the ears!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 24 Dec 2008 10:32 pm

those darn ugly mica guitars...I think I`ll buy a spray can of pink paint and paint this ugly MOFO...

Db

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 24 Dec 2008 10:35 pm

and those end plates are just too darn cheese so shiny, tomorrow I`m going to Home Depot get me some sand paper and fix that cheap ugly shine....

Db

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 25 Dec 2008 12:42 am

Stuart Legg · Post by **Stuart Legg** » 28 Dec 2008 12:33 am

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 28 Dec 2008 4:44 am

Then there is the problem of lacquer changing colors,as in the last Blue Darlin, which is now green...

The Steel Guitar Forum

Formica covered steels look cheap and ugly

my ugly green carter sd-10

Mica Finishes