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These guys seem to have pretty good results with their method.http://www.musicangle.com/upload_images ... Allman.jpg

Sorry but I couldn't resist. It is one of the all time greats.

Filippo,

I haven't done it on a case, but with the bumps and all, you might think of using liquid frisket to paint the outline on. I have used it on other things and found it to work well. I haven’t used it on a material like you would find on a guitar case so you would have to test before trying it.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-liquid-frisket/
Although I have painter friends that I know could get the tape to stick and look fine when they pull it up. I just never had that kind of luck. Something is always off. Of course the liquid frisket might just be adding an extra unneeded step (which I do alot).

John

cut your logo out of a sticker sheet - the sticker will give you a well defined edge as it will stick to the plastic.

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Filippo,

Look for a truck/car lettering sign/graphics shop in your area. They can down load a photo, convert it and then cut it out in PSA backed vinyl using an plotter that has an exacto knife type blade instead of a pen.

Steve

I have a friend who is an amazing airbrush artist. I have an email out to him to see if he can help. He's done amazing work on guitar cases for years.

If I were to try it, I think I'd try a templete and airbrush so there would be little to no bleed through at the template edge. I think I'd use double side tape to attach the template to the case and ensure that the tape was trimmed right to the inside edge of the template.

I do think you'll have a hard time getting a crisp edge due to the texture of the case though.

I know you were looking for actual details and way to do this from people who HAVE done it, but you got my thoughts anyway.

You can always get some case vinyl and practice a few things if no one is able to help you out.

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My sister worked in a sign shop when I was in Jr. High percussion. She would make vinyl stickers for me to put on my practice pads. I honestly don't think it would look very good on a case. Not in the professional sense, at least.

Dude...my brain waves have been hovering around this subject for a couple weeks.....all I came up with was to get a trophy shop to do a brass plate for me (last name and some other something)....then just affix that to the side of the case. I've got an old Alvarez case for my L-OO that I'm doing that on.

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Here's the reply I got from my friend Pete. Again, remember airbrushing might be easiest.



So, it sounds like you lay the logo out each time and just ensure you squeegee the edges down so no paint can seep under (kind of what I though with the double sided tape)

Now I'm hoping you'll try it out (maybe I should too) and show us all how it goes.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Filippo,
No I haven't done it on anything with a rough surface like a guitar case.

James,
You use the negative for a mask to paint with, a vinyl sticker on a $200 guitar case containing a $3000 guitar would be beyond tacky.

Steve

Here's what I do on my cases. Sorry for the lousy photo. It was sunny that day and the photo burned out.

My partner works in a shop where they do stuff for trophies. It is laser engraved on metal of some kind. Probably aluminum. The metal comes in silver or gold. Different finishes. I went with gold to go with the case latches.

They can print any colours. Can drill holes. I get mine with heavy duty 2-sided tape and I just peel and stick.

Looks very pro I think.

Neil

Filippo,

I have done this several times, and to different results. Here is what I do:

1. I take masking tape and stick it to a sheet of polyethylene or a teflon doped plastic. Using successive overlapping layers, I build up a swath larger than that of my logo.

2. Print out your logo, and using pray adhesive, fasten it to the tape (that is stuck to the polyethylene)
3. Using a razor knife, cut out your logo.
4. Remove the 'template' and stick it to your case in the desired area, ensure the edges of the template on the log are stuck well to the case ( I am assuming this is Tolex if it is bumpy)

5. Spray a first coat using a matching color to that of the case. I prefer to use Rustoleum paint for plastics as the paint/ solvent ratio is very high, which results in better coverage with less spraying.

6. After that coat has set (inside of an hour) spray 'light successive' coats of your desired logo color. NOTHING THICK. You want to mist the color on in as many coats as required to get the color density you require. Too thick, and it will run in the texturing crevices.

7. Remove the mask when the paint it dry.

7. If you spray too thick, after you remove the mask, you can take the original dark color and paint a boarder with a artist brush, which I have to do every once in a while. It restores the sharp edges.

That is what I have done to good results. Even if the paint runs and the edges are not so well defined, it still looks pretty professional. Just remember, misting coats and you won't have blurry edges.

Stephen

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Just my opinion, but a logo on a case implies branding, which in turn implies mass production which I do not believe is the goal of a luthier.

I would skip the logo on the case. Maybe I just have a bad taste in my mouth from $100,000 worth of art school which got me all the way to the ARMY, but I am not a big fan of logos/advertising in general. To me a visually appealing/navigable website and high quality work will yield the best advertising possible (not limited to luthiery).... word of mouth.

Again, just my opinion.

Hi Filippo!

Back in the '70s I used to brand my cases by cutting my logo out of a piece of clear self-adhesive pickguard material ... lay it on the case in the appropriate position and gently pat it down ... spray paint ... worked well. I then put the template on a piece of waxed paper and kept it for the next time I needed it ... I remember getting quite a few applications out of the one template.

David Wren http://www.wrenguitarworks.com

I have Ameritage embroide my logo onto the case outer fabric. Looks a million bucks and is well worth the set up charge IMO.

Dave F.

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Filippo:

I have not done this, but have layed out stripes on cars. If you opt to go with the masking tape methods, use "fine line" tape. You can get it at a good automotive supply co, especially one that carries paint and materials. It is vinyl, more like what you'd get from the sign shops. the edges are able to be pressed down and you won't get nearly as much bleeding under them.

Darrin

Here's a photo of my cases done by Ameritage...as mentioned by Dave F.

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Hank Mauel

Filippo,

Sorry for the confusion.

Couple of thoughts: I use Ameritage cases for my high end stuff, as embroidered cases do not come cheap. You will pay a lower rate for you first case, as it is considered an engineering sample, but it will still be upwards of $300.00

For many of my guitars, I use cordora nylon featherweight cases. Then I get a matching piece of material, and have my logo embroidered to it for about $8.00 (about 8-10 inches long). Then I have my wife stitch the edges, and I glue it to the case using fabric glue. This looks very professional.

For tolex and ABS cases, I use the approach I noted above. I use polyethylene only because the masking tape does not stick to it very well, and it makes for a good transfer surface. So basically, I just keep sticking strips of tape to the polyethylene, making a 'swath' larger than my logo...almost as if I used a single big strip of tape. Then I glue a printout of my logo to the that tape, which is only so I have very well marked cut lines. Using a sharp razor knife, I cut along my logo until every line is well cut. Then, I just peel back the 'negative' of the tape strip that is now without my logo...Meaning my logo is left stuck to the tape that is stuck to the polyethylene...I have the outside mask in my hand. I stick this to the case, and spray paint away...I fear that in reading this, I not only sound confusing, but slightly crazy, so I will make up a quick series of images of what I do....

Fingerstyle: as a custom builder, it is my goal that everything from the case to the look and feel and sound of my instruments screams quality and 'legit-ness'. Having a logo on my case (particularly an awesome case like those from our sponsor Ameritage) only helps put a cherry on top of effort that that case holds...I do not feel that it says anything concerning mass production.

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Why mess around. Take the logo and case to an old fart sign painter.
and ask him to splash dis on dat. Stay away from the young ones..sing painting is becoming a lost art.


blessings

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This is what I do with my cases that are not embroidered.

On Tolex, I do the process I enumerated above, and then outline it with a black paint pen.

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Hey, Filippo, I started to suggest frisket film--not liquid frisket. It's a self-adhesive material with a safe backing paper. The problem, though, is that you peel it, stick it, and then cut and peel your stencil AFTER applying to the case, so you run the risk of cutting the case covering. In addition, its a one-off process. I think Dave Wren's idea sounds as practical as anything else. Or...you might consider having a silk screen made by a local t-shirt shop. They (or maybe you) could then print the logo on the case, and the screen would have an extremely long working life. As a custom luthier, you probably could live long enough to make enough guitars to wear out a silk screen....and you could also print up some cool t-shirts to wear to trade shows and festivals, etc.