Nickel Platers, anybody know a good one?

Jamie · #1 05-20-2003, 07:39 AM

I know a lot of these guys advertise on eBay. I have an old Aria body with a Kahler flyer, and I am busy getting it nice and smooth so I can "chrome" it. I don't think I'm going to bother changing the trem, if I do it'll just be a direct replacement Flyer. Basically I'm going to sand the neck smooth, fit Sperzels, chrome the body and its already loaded with PAF Pros, and once that's done, I've got a chrome beater that I can throw about. I may attempt a chrome Jem if the experience is good. But does anybody know of any of these nickel platers that are better than the rest? I know Rich has had some odd experiences but not any good ones? Anybody who knows a good nickel-plater, your help is appreciated.

Rich · #2 05-20-2003, 02:19 PM

There is no choice, the ones on ebay are all the same butcher company.

iain · #3 05-20-2003, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

There is no choice, the ones on ebay are all the same butcher company.

But he's not bitter

. I don't blame Rich either, it sounds like they really screwed up on the body he sent. Check Rich's used page for his take on it.

Rich · #4 05-20-2003, 06:59 PM

I didn't send it, was a project I bought off ebay. Anybody wants pics of how they butchered just the neck pocket alone drop me an email and I'll send them the folder.

Jamie · #5 05-21-2003, 09:06 AM

Yeah I read the review of the guitar on the used page. But there must be somebody out there who can do a good job. Rich, any chance of the pics just out of interest? It might not be good enough for a chrome jem, but it might do for the beater....

Rich · #6 05-21-2003, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Anybody wants pics of how they butchered just the neck pocket alone drop me an email and I'll send them the folder.

SilverSurfer2 · #7 05-30-2003, 10:07 PM

if you do an internet search on nickelplating...i'm sure you will find other services that might be willing to try it on your guitar.
But the ebay ppl are the only ones that i know of with some experience in doing guitar bodies........i don't know how they are turning out nowadays....but their finishes are unpredictable. You can end up with a crappy one, or a fairly decent one. They told me it's different for every guitar. I've seen some horrible ones (the kind where you just want your money back), and then some more better looking ones.
Most of them come back with crappy edges, neck pocket gouges, and all the drilled holes are either filled with metal plating or are not uniform and the parts won't fit. you have to clean all the edges, pockets, holes, routes yourself.....and that can be a pain. They don't do that for you. The one i had done came back with several flaws, there were hills around the edges, gouges in the neck pocket, drips, bubbles, ridges, valleys, ripples in the finish, etc.....Parts didnt fit......and i spent hours just to get them to fit. But i can't get rid of all the ripples, hills, valleys in the finish.......those are there to stay whether i like it or not.
The finish looks good from 5 ft away.......nice and shiny. But don't be expecting anything better than a real Js chromeboy.......
Of course, if you are going to play the guitar all the time.....then it won't really matter. When all the parts are fitted, some of the flaws get covered up.....and the overall appearance seems to look better. But from 10 ft away......you won't see the small flaws, and the finish looks pretty sweet........it shines and reflects like chrome. However, the finish is not smooth like a chromeboy..

Rich · #8 05-30-2003, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSurfer2

I've seen some horrible ones (the kind where you just want your money back), ..

Don't you mean "the kind where you just want to sue the balls off them for totally screwing up your guitar"?

SilverSurfer2 · #9 05-30-2003, 10:21 PM

Rich, you should've been the first to sue their balls off

[/quote]

Rich · #10 05-30-2003, 10:24 PM

I didn't commision the work, it was somebody elses mess, and believe me, he wanted to sue their balls off

littlegreenman · #11 05-30-2003, 11:40 PM

they just recently had another one on ebay, that they call a "second"

I wouldn't call it reject pile, if it was my guitar I'd be sending it back saying, now you can strip it, and send it back when it's right.

SilverSurfer2 · #12 05-31-2003, 11:47 PM

And on top of that, How about telling them they used the wrong process