How can I dress this up?

Glen Derksen · Post by **Glen Derksen** » 24 Dec 2008 8:34 pm

I don't care for the look of my steel and I want to "dress" it up a little without having to completely re-cover it. I was thinking of putting some black mica just on the face of it. Does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks.

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Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 24 Dec 2008 8:48 pm

Glen, I think it looks fine like it is. It looks in the photos like the trim is black rather than polished aluminum and I think we are so used to polished aluminum trim strips that you are most likely missing that look. However, I have a Magnum D10 that has no polished aluminum on it and it looks very hot-roddish and quite functional which it is. If that guitar were mine I would not do anything to change the appearance other than not lay the bar between the necks.

Jerry

Post by **b0b** » 24 Dec 2008 9:30 pm

Flames.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 24 Dec 2008 9:38 pm

b0b, you scared me. I thought for an instant you were calling for me to be flamed!

Jerry

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 24 Dec 2008 10:09 pm

Sometimes for gigs I attach a tapestry to the front of my guitar. This is something we found at a thrift store. It fits perfectly for the steel guitar legs, and I use the clips that hold mic cables to mic stands to hold it on the legs. I'm thinking of making a few different designs in cloth for this purpose. This will dress up your steel without modifying it.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 24 Dec 2008 10:30 pm

Glen,
I think it looks great like it is, but I'm crazy about the natural wood look

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 24 Dec 2008 11:10 pm

I wouldn't make any changes to the guitar body. It looks fine to me! I also really like that tapestry addition! Although, it might look a little odd on a 3-legged non-pedal steel¡

Glen Derksen · Post by **Glen Derksen** » 24 Dec 2008 11:22 pm

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep them in mind. I was also thinking of replacing the black borders with some Shobud type borders.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 24 Dec 2008 11:30 pm

It l©©ks like a ‘Classic’ instrument, just the way it is! You might try some fancy black pin-striping from Auto~Zone and that's easily removed, if it doesn't turn out the way you want it to!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 25 Dec 2008 12:02 am

Glen Derksen wrote:...I was thinking of putting some black mica just on the face of it.

Ghasp ! Didn't you read the topic about Formica-finished instruments looking cheap and tatty ?

Don't change that natural wood finish. If you want to embellish it try some transfers. Then if you change your mind you can get them off (as long as you don't varnish over them.) $:\$

Pat Comeau · Post by **Pat Comeau** » 25 Dec 2008 12:06 am

I wouldn't swear 100% on it but i'm 99.9%

sure that the finish on your guitar is wood grain formica and i don't think it would be a good thing to put another layer of formica on top of that , i think it would be better to strip that formica and then glue another color of formica of your choice, but i must say...the guitar looks fine the way it is, but again...it's not my guitar

just my 2 cents

Dwight Lewis · Post by **Dwight Lewis** » 25 Dec 2008 12:43 am

This looks like formica already. I think you could polish whatever aluminum you have and put some gold Grover tuner keys on and maybe even different fret boards, but she is a beaut as is. Looks alot like an MSA. What company made this steel and are they still in business? Also you could change pickups, depending what sound you like get yourself custom wound split coil humbuckers where you can get clean and warm sounds, Humbuckers look the business at the tail end, kind of like flowmasters on a Ford F-150.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 25 Dec 2008 2:50 am

Dwight, that steel is a Linkon...says it on the front. It's made by Wayne Linkon in Canada. Not sure if he still builds steels but I would imagine he does. He supplies many steel parts to players. Have a good Christmas all you Forumites.

Micky Byrne United Kingdom

www.micky-byrne.co.uk

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 25 Dec 2008 5:38 am

b0b wrote:Flames.

Real ones.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 25 Dec 2008 6:07 am

Again I say, “Leave it as it is”! It l©©ks grrreat! If you must dress it up a bit, look up a place called “Signs First”. They do all kinds of lettering and designs, like you would see, for instance; the lettering on office doors or banks and many other business places. In fact, I think Bobbe Seymour uses their services for some of is decals! I believe the Logo and Lettering on my Derby come from a similar place. If you draw what you want close to size on paper, they'll custom-make a copy of it in the color of your choice! Each letter or piece of the design is a piece of self-adhesive tape that is easily removed by your finger-nail! I had my Hawaiian-Name = Big John = Keoni Nui made in both White and Black Script for only $1 each! Otherwise, leave it alone! Just MHO!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 Dec 2008 6:21 am

Micky Byrne wrote:Dwight, that steel is a Linkon...says it on the front.

I'd have guessed it was an old mica/plywood MSA Classic.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 25 Dec 2008 6:33 am

Ok, serious answer... the important thing is the sound. If it sounds great, does it matter what it looks like, really? I think it looks just fine as is.

If you do start experimenting with cosmetics, don't do something you can't undo.

Life doesn't come with a ctrl+Z combo...

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 25 Dec 2008 7:10 am

Leave it alone,it looks fine like it is.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 25 Dec 2008 7:29 am

If that is a laminate-covered guitar, you can get some chrome pin-stripe tape at you local automotive parts supplier and either put it over the black trim, or put it right next to the black trim.

If it is a lacquered finish, be careful what you stick on it. The adhesive from the tape can mess up the finish.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 25 Dec 2008 8:06 am

yep ! leave it as it is
if you don't like it, sell it & get one to your liking

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Dec 2008 8:44 am

I agree with CrowBear.

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 25 Dec 2008 9:04 am

Glen, You might do a search on eBay and find something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... :middle:us

I've used scrolled pin striping like this on a couple steels. Never have had a problem when I decided to change or remove it.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 25 Dec 2008 9:20 am

Forum member Jack Francis makes die cut adhesive art. He could do flames or anything else you want in a color that's compatible with the wood finish.

The man is a professional artist of exceptional caliber.

John Groover McDuffie · Post by **John Groover McDuffie** » 25 Dec 2008 9:21 am

contact paper!

John Groover McDuffie · Post by **John Groover McDuffie** » 25 Dec 2008 9:23 am

Gee - I see I'm not the only forum member with nothing better to do on Christmas morning - so Merry Christmas everyone!

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How can I dress this up?

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