If I liked the 3 knob horizons more I would offer to relieve you of that horrible guitar
This site may earn a commission from merchant links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
Having seen the detail that many custom autobody spray shops - even small project garages - have put out, I'm confused why a few of you seem to believe a neck-through guitar would be *that* complicated for a competent auto painter / corrector / detailer?A very fair point. This I would never leave to a spray shop. But there's two point here: paint matching and finishing.
Paint matching is actually really easy and good spray shops have this down pat. Indeed, the paint for my next job is coming from such an establishment. And as a body-only spray, it is something they could also apply. The only reason they ain't is cos I'm happy doing it and don't wanna pay someone else to do something I can do easily.
Which brings me onto finishing. Body-only resprays are piss-easy to do with practice. But yes, a full neck/body spray like this is a whole new level. For that, you need a good luthier.
My main point here is that ESP are obviously not playing to their strengths. By keeping control of paint matching, without having the competency to do it, they putting their pride before what the customer wants.
I kinda agree with you. In my case it's more an emotional reaction related to having to explain stuff to them. I'd probably mask it up before I'd even bring it to them.Having seen the detail that many custom autobody spray shops - even small project garages - have put out, I'm confused why a few of you seem to believe a neck-through guitar would be *that* complicated for a competent auto painter / corrector / detailer?
They do infinitely more complex work daily than your average guitar finish...
With Japan's big auto scene, I would be curious as to whether any of their domestic customisation shops have done guitars on the side...
---
regardless of correctness, this color came out stunning and I'd kill for an MII or MV in this finish
Firstly, nice axe and love the idea of the Kwaka green.
But you're right, reproducing colour from printouts is a way to guarantee a mismatch. Not only do ink repros of photos rarely fully match colours, or fail to take full account of the effect of pearlescents, but unless you've got a high end digital sensor, the camera won't capture some colours properly.
It reminds me of when I used to follow F1: first time I went to a GP, I was shocked to see that James Hunt's Marlboro McLaren was very far from Marlboro red: it was fluorescent orange! A photojournalist explained that this was done to make sure that TV and film cameras rendered the correct colour (red) on TVs and in photos and films.
What ESP should be doing is using the manufacturer's paint codes, which has a single number representing a foolproof recipe - including metallics and perlescent additives - to produce a near perfect match. It'd be easier for them too, so I can't understand why they don't.
If ESP never gets it 100% right for you why do you keep going to them
Do you think there's someone better equipped to do the work he's requested better than the people who originally built it?
A reputable automotive shop could do it, but a lot will turn it down. Sheet metal, fiberglass, and other automotive mediums paint differently than wood. Higher end shops also don't need the work, there's very little incentive for them to agree to it.Obviously, yes. Any reputable automotive shop falls into this grouping. Clearly refinishing is not ESP's core competency.
True, and they're also usually significantly more expensive, if they’ll even agree to take it on. If they do, the wait list is often very long.No it isn't. Think about the person who needs the ding in their Ferrari or Lambo fixing. They are far more exacting when it comes to paint matching.
In some circles, Sims is regarded as reputable. In actuality, he's a bottomfeeding scumlord. Livewire was reputable until he wasn't. Neither of them are/were "lowest bidder" refinish options. Most, if not all refinish operations are small teams. If one guy gets sick/has a life emergency, the whole thing is at risk.Strange statement. Very few reputable luthiers or car paint shops are a bad bet. Maybe you're giving too much work to the lowest bidder?
The idea here is that the custom shop does the whole restoration, including fixes that can be difficult. They have the expertise and the knowledge to do these interventions on their own models. For example in terms of fretwork, ESP is one of the best, if not the best, in the world.
Could an experienced luthier perform these fixes? Maybe but then good luck finding them, then find a very good car shop to agree to do the refinish and all these in the same area.
On top of that, the guitar gets extra value as all this is performed by the original manufacturer’s custom shop.
Personally, I would treat this as having a higher value than a restored guitar by other unrelated shops
Interesting theory, and yet I know shops that do take this and other work on (kitchen cabinet doors are a popular sideline right now).A reputable automotive shop could do it, but a lot will turn it down. Sheet metal, fiberglass, and other automotive mediums paint differently than wood. Higher end shops also don't need the work, there's very little incentive for them to agree to it.
More expensive than who? FWIW, I think prices quoted by shops here are both reasonable and very competitive with luthiers, who don't mix their own paints, don't have a huge range in stock and have to order them in...from spray shops. Contrast that with spray shops that'll typically have a whole mix system and range of pigments and base colours in stock. Here's an example:True, and they're also usually significantly more expensive, if they’ll even agree to take it on. If they do, the wait list is often very long.
I know nothing of these shops, so I'll take your word for their reputation. But I suggest a shop that does nothing but spray booth work is likely to have depth on the bench.In some circles, Sims is regarded as reputable. In actuality, he's a bottomfeeding scumlord. Livewire was reputable until he wasn't. Neither of them are/were "lowest bidder" refinish options. Most, if not all refinish operations are small teams. If one guy gets sick/has a life emergency, the whole thing is at risk.
I don't use spray shops myself as I'm comfortable doing my own. However, for solid colours on simple non-bound bolt-on bodies (e.g. Strat, Tele, RG) I have referred on people who've asked me to respray their guitar bodies (I don't want or need to be in that business) to spray shops, recommending they mask-off key areas (mainly the base of the neck pocket) themselves. Results have been great.FWIW every guitar I've dropped off with binding has needed some sort of binding repair and cleanup. With the horizons, as I mentioned, the side dots need to be painted back on. I don't think any automative shop is going to be able to or willing to bother with that sort of thing.