Calling Shaun 84 Targa.... Silk screen help.
 

Shaun,

I hope you can help out. It's getting near the time for my guitar project to do a little silk screening to remain period correct. I doubt I can outsource this, as no shop will touch a registered trademark. Since this guitar is for myself and not for sale, I am not bound by trademarks. I looked online a few weeks back on DIY silk screening and found some info, but would like to know how you would go about it and if the results would be satisfactory. This is pretty much a one off deal, but I'd still like to do it right and probably would keep the screen in case I build another LP down the line. Any links, videos, advice would be greatly appreciated!

Dave
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/581880-1959-les-paul-guitar-build.html

Hi Dave,

I started reading your epic thread (WOW, crazy impressive!) but can you tell me exactly what you want done? Is it something I can do for you and send?

LMK!

Probably something like this:

http://ewilkins.com/lespaul/1968lesp...aul_screen.jpg
http://ewilkins.com/lespaul/1968lesp...creen_head.jpg

Dave, I can burn a screen for you no problem, just need the artwork. do you know if that's screened directly onto the wood or fabric which is laid down and then poly'd over?

Shuie, yes, exactly! Also, is the Gibson logo a silk screen on a '59 or inlay?

Shaun, screened directly to the wood (actually on top of the lacquer). Gotta work on getting good artwork for it.

FWIW, here's a shot under a blacklight. Silkscreen appears to be on top of the nitro lacquer (no poly). This is a junior, not a standard, but either way, the 'Gibson' script should be under the lacquer. The Gibson script is a mother of pearl inlay on a Standard. The peghead veneer would be holly. The lacquer is old school nitrocellulose sprayed as thin as possible.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...r7-3251138.jpg

OK, just email me the artwork and I'll make you a screen. Do you know what ink you are using? I'm assuming UV cure, but please check.

Shaun, will do and I have no idea on the ink. :) What do you recommend?

Shuie, either I make the inlay or I think it may be hard to come by.. Not having much luck on the Google search yet.

I will research it Dave. I use heat to cure my inks which would not work in this application. I'll let you know.

Thanks, Don. I think I'll see if he still has the gold inlay.

Thanks, Shaun.

This is getting confusing. This link seems to confirm that the "Gibson" logo was either a water slide decal or silk screen under a few layers of lacquer. I have seen how Gibson now uses the holly veneer with the with the MOP inlay.

This thread talks mostly about the Junior, but I think the Standard got the same treatment.

Im pretty sure the silk screen goes over the lacquer and the 'Gibson' inlay goes under. I may be wrong, tho. It wouldn't be the first time today.

This isn't my work, just some photos I found on the interweb.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...goRepair-1.jpg

The "Les Paul model" was definitely silk screen and on top of the lacquer. That's why it's so easy to rub off when cleaning. It's the "Gibson" logo that is throwing me. After more reading, it seems that the Junior had a decal "Gibson" logo after the first clear coat, now it does look like the Standard is MOP. The logo looks gold these days due to the lacquer yellowing. I also think that the original Standards had the inlay route done around each letter. Later, it was done with the logo set into a black epoxy, then a rough rectangle was routed out, like in the above pix.

Dave, I could cut a vinyl stencil, you could apply that, paint the logo, and pull the vinyl...

Wouldn't require you shipping parts all the way across country.

Thanks Sidney, but it has to be a silk screen. :) Somethings have to be done right and vintage.

Painting it on using a mask is no different then squeeging the paint on through a silkscreen IMO. Silkscreening is simply a way for the factory to do a bunch of these in less time.... just my two cents

You apparently don't have the level of OCD that we do. I once heard of a guy that went to the trouble of modifying a sewing machine just so he could get the right number of stitches per inch while he made 'period correct' seat covers. When you're invested this deep, you just want things a certain way.