Made some headstock decals for my guitar

I've been pondering making some headstock decals for my beloved Cabronita for some time. Since I've taken to assembling guitars recently, I thought I'd come up with a name/design for my imaginary guitar company. Settled on one of my favourite words (meaning, basically, 'guts') and a sort of tattoo/western style font. Fired up the printer and these are the results.


Made a bit of a boo-boo when applying it and rubbed of some of the ink. I applied the lacquer thinly when sealing the decals. Fortunately the guitar is a relic so I think it looks quite suitable. I can easily make another if I find it bugs me.

Thought I'd do something on the back too, ala Fender Custom Shop guitars. Came up with a serial number based on my birthday, and a model name being one rough translation of 'Cabronita.'



So I'm probably not going to win any design awards, but I'm quite happy with how they turned out.

Oh, and this is the guitar in question pre-stickering.

 

LOL! I suppose that'd also be an appropriate name. Playing this guitar certainly gives me the horn.

Too much information?

 

It's special decal paper from a local model (i.e. model and RC cars, planes, etc.) shop. I designed the logo in Photoshop after downloading an appropriately cool font and printed them with just my bog-standard inkjet printer. The instructions that came with the paper said to print on normal quality but I experimented with normal and best and found the latter was sharper and darker. Then I lacquered the decals with some satin clear from a small aerosol from the same model shop—this seals the ink so when you soak the decal in water to slide it off the backing the colour doesn't run. I think I did maybe three quite light coats. I'd probably do more next time because, as I mentioned, I smudged the decal slightly, but I wanted to avoid too prominent a raised edge from laying the lacquer on too thick. Then, like I said, once the lacquer was dry I cut the decals out, soaked them in some warm water—into which I had disolved a little clear glue which helps the decal adhere better to the headstock—positioned them where I wanted them and absorbed the excess water with a paper towel. Hopefully that clarifies the process for you.

Thanks. The body is an MJT scored quite cheap via one of their ebay auctions. Pickup is a TV Jones Classic. The neck is an Allparts TMO Fat, slightly reprofiled, lacquered, and relic'd by a local guitar builder. From memory I spent about $1100NZ—a little under $800US at the current exchange rate. So a bit more expensive than an MIM Cabronita for example but, in my opinion an infinitely better guitar. It's a superb guitar; the best I've ever owned and there's no way I'd ever sell it.