JEM/RG Chroming service on ebay, UK

[JTM45]

Yeah,the 'Harley Strat' and the 'Aloha Strat' have been chrome plated.It is purely a cosmetic finish over Aluminium Bodies produced by a U.S. based company called 'Spruce-Hill Guitars'.They(Fender) also finished some of the bodies with various Anodised finishes which were done by a guy called 'Peter Kellet' in the U.S.They do look nice but I personally think they lack the character of a 'Bare Aluminium' Body.I have an Aluminium Telecaster body which I'm building into a guitar at the moment and I debated whether or not to have it chromed,but after much thought(and studying of various guitars)I've decided to keep the body in its 'Raw Aluminium' state.Quite a few people have been playing Aluminium Body guitars lately (Billy Gibbons+Ronnie Wood to name a few)and they are reported to make fine guitars.They are obviously hollow bodies which adds it's own tonal characteristics,but Aluminium is also known to be a particularly good material for carrying sound-waves and when used for a guitar it definitely seems to resonate well and the Sustain is heavenly.So I reckon they should make Aluminium JS bodies and polish them.They do eventually lose their shine but all you need to do is polish the Sh*t out of them again and your good for another 6 months!!!!
I know this wasn't purely about 'Chroming' guitars but I love the look of a 'Metallic' looking guitar and Aluminium is a GREAT solution which even has the added bonus of sounding Fantastic!!!!You have gotta' be a little bit careful not to knock them too hard(as with any guitar though) as it is possible to dent them(lol!)!!!
Aluminum Guitars Are VERY COOL!!!!!!!!All the Best!.....JTM45!!!!!!!!!!!

[MehYam]

Sweet idea, I'd love to try an aluminum JS. Are there any other aluminum guitar testimonials out there?

[AcidPenguin]

This auction is for a brand new (three weeks old) Ibanez 2005 spec Jem 555 with a chromed body and headstock and 2005 spec Edge Pro II tremolo. I have purchased this guitar for the sole purpose of chroming her and putting her on ebay for one lucky person. It truly is a one off inspired by my personal hero, Steve Vai's Bad Horsie guitar used on the London Astoria DVD. Below is the spec of the standard instrument

New spec JEM555??

[sniperfrommars1]

Rich do you still own this guitar? Willing to part with it? Im looking for something cheap to smash on stage at an upcoming show . But seriously you interested in parting with it drop me a pm

[Rich]

I hate the fact there's a few Rich's in here now

[flyingzombo]

Originally Posted by Rich

"Chroming" guitars is the attempt to actually CHROME a guitar. Sticking a "mirror film", chrome mylar, whatever you want to call it isn't chroming a guitar. Neither are the simulated painted chrome finishes. Real chrome is not cheap, is prone to failure just by the nature of the process, etc. etc.

Hi everybody I am new to this site and I am a paintsprayer I work in Germany for a company who does chrome!
I agree chrome has been doomed to failure until now we do all the ski helmets for Uvex and I have done my own guitar and it doesnt peal off or discolour!!
First of all we spray the object with a special clear ground coat then we do a special trick to make the chemicals stick to the paint so it doesn't peal off sorry cant tell you copyright !!
Then an acid is applied to the ground coat and then washed off then chemicals including silver is applied to the surface causing the chrome effect!
This is blown off then sealed with clear lacquer no bonding agent is needed as I saw in previous posts!!!
We also do different transparent colours and it does look amazing this is real chrome and it sticks I do it all day long its my job !
Here is the company I work for look at my work !!

www.Blach.de

Look under Blach Lackierung then under Verspiegelung Chromlook you can also watch me on TV on the web site doing chrome work !!

Here is also a link to see my Ibanez RG550!!!!!!!!

http://www.6stringheaven.com/forum/p...pic.php?t=1108

[Rich]

Originally Posted by flyingzombo

chrome effect!
Chromlook

Says it all.
Look and effect in no way describe real CHROME!!

They've been doing "chrome effect" on helmuts in the US for many many years. Check Troy Lee's work for examples.

[littlegreenman]

Bottom line is, until the guitar body is NOT made of wood, chrome, or chrome paint is not going to remain perfect looking for long. The chrome effect is soooo mirrored, reflective, whatever you want to call it, that when the wood moves, visually it will be magnified many times. Not to knock the finish you're doing flyingzombo, I've just used most of the chrome paint systems available and am not happy with the finishes on wood. You end up seeing wood grain eventually as the wood expands and contracts. The chrome paints are not flexible like most urethane's are. Either way, I still don't get the desire to have chrome guitars, but that's just me

[darren wilson]

If it ain't plated with chromium, it ain't "chrome".

"Silver", "mirrored", "metallic", "chrome look" or "simulated chrome", but not actual chrome.

[flyingzombo]

Originally Posted by darren wilson

If it ain't plated with chromium, it ain't "chrome".

"Silver", "mirrored", "metallic", "chrome look" or "simulated chrome", but not actual chrome.

Fair comment I didn't want to mislead anybody what we do is of course chrome look but I must say it looks damn good !
The surface is absolute top but it has its flaws and I don't take your comment as an insult either it just depends on what your definition of chrome is I suppose!
I noticed there was one guy who littlejohnnieskint who had a go and thats fair enough through experementing people often stumble on new things!

Take care Zombo !

[flyingzombo]

Originally Posted by Rich

Says it all.
Look and effect in no way describe real CHROME!!

They've been doing "chrome effect" on helmuts in the US for many many years. Check Troy Lee's work for examples.

Also a fair comment Rich it is chrome look and not as you would say real chrome I did my RG 550 and it turns peoples heads when I play !
Its good enough for me and everybody has a right to their opinion like I say I work solely with chrome look everyday I do nothing else!
Do you have a link for Troy Lee ?? Thanx Zombo

[flyingzombo]

Originally Posted by littlegreenman

Bottom line is, until the guitar body is NOT made of wood, chrome, or chrome paint is not going to remain perfect looking for long. The chrome effect is soooo mirrored, reflective, whatever you want to call it, that when the wood moves, visually it will be magnified many times. Not to knock the finish you're doing flyingzombo, I've just used most of the chrome paint systems available and am not happy with the finishes on wood. You end up seeing wood grain eventually as the wood expands and contracts. The chrome paints are not flexible like most urethane's are. Either way, I still don't get the desire to have chrome guitars, but that's just me

Sorry I disagree with you mate I know you don't want to knock me I also appreciate your comments but I have sprayed for 27 years and I know my stuff inside out ! Our chrome look is totally flexible and it doesn't fade I also noticed there was a guy on here a while ago who did some stuff with chrome mylar I think and he got completely dogged out!
I don't think anybody should be prejudged without being given the chance to prove himself if you would like a pic of my guitar I would be happy to send it to you!

Cheers Zombo

[littlegreenman]

Originally Posted by flyingzombo

Sorry I disagree with you mate I know you don't want to knock me I also appreciate your comments but I have sprayed for 27 years and I know my stuff inside out ! Our chrome look is totally flexible and it doesn't fade I also noticed there was a guy on here a while ago who did some stuff with chrome mylar I think and he got completely dogged out!
I don't think anybody should be prejudged without being given the chance to prove himself if you would like a pic of my guitar I would be happy to send it to you!

Cheers Zombo

That's fine dude, and I'm not knocking you, I'm just stating that as a guitar builder/player/owner, I know the properties of wood. Even black ends up showing the wood eventually. unless you've figured out how to make wood completely stable, it's going to move, and with a reflective surface like chrome, you're going to notice it. I didn't say it would crack, or peel, or flake like the original JS2's did, which were real chrome over wood, I just said that given time, as the wood continues to change with climatic changes, you're going to notice it and the perfect chrome finish is not going to remain perfect. I don't need a picture of your guitar, I know the paint system being used, and I know it looks fantastic, I also know it will look fantastic for a long time provided the substrate you are spraying onto is stable. Wood is nowhere near as stable as plastics, metals, etc. It will expand, shrink, contract, not only with temperature, but humidity as well. When I comment on the flexability of the product, I am referring to it's ability to come back to it's perfect state. It's a chrome finishing system, while it's flexible, it is a metal based paint, and doesn't hold the same elasticity properties that a standard uro base/clear system does, particularly if you are spraying a laquer as you mentioned.
It's not a knock at all, it's just knowledge of how wood moves, and how paint reacts. I don't have 27 years of experience painting, so I probably don't know as much as you do, but in those 27 years, not all 27 years have been spent spraying the chrome finish. So in a year's time, after being gigged and played, show me a picture of the guitar, it will probably still look cool as hell, but I'm betting you'll see the wood grain showing through in the finish a lot more than you would if the guitar was painted a straight silver or any other color.

[littlegreenman]

By the way, I just looked through the site, you've got some very cool stuff on there, nice to see

[Rich]

If you google Troy Lee Designs it'll be at the top, or just turn the TV on Sunday and watch any US racing event to see everybody wearing his hard hats