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Upgrade Plastics Comparision Thread

bk2d80s

New member
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Messages
69
Because of this thread I was FORCED to buy a DMC nut and ring. It was SO worth it too. So here is the comparison shot next to the stock historic nut and ring on my new R-9! This is the NON-aged version.
NUTS!1.JPG


Here is a larger shot of my axe.

AMANDA12.JPG
 

Brian H

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
726
Fatboy switch tip, Montreux ring and washer:
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp20.jpg
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp21.jpg

Pigtail bridge, RS steel studs:
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp22.jpg

Assorted RS, Fatboy, Montreux, Allparts, HM, Pigtail parts (first pic is labeled):
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp24.jpg
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp26.jpg
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp27.jpg

New Kluson tuners with my own aging:
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp25.jpg

Fatboy jackplate:
http://kurtsequipment.com/G0LP/lp28.jpg
 

AlexVDL

Member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
267
I see your montreux neck pickup ring is cracked too.. it won't be long or the bridge pickup ring will crack, because I see a slight bow, and these rings just cannot handle any stress :wah
 

Brian H

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
726
Well, I reinforced both but not well enough on the neck. Gordon was nice enough to send another. Had another set I reinforced and they were fine for a while.
 

Brian H

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
726
No no, the (relatively speaking) inexpensive $50 Retrovibes. Found that my bridge pickup ring cracked now, too! CRAP! I reinforced that one well. I'll live with it until a better solution comes along or I place another order with Gordon.
 

AlexVDL

Member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
267
E-mail Montreux.. they sent me a new set plus an aged jackplate after I told them my first set broke after 3 days.
 

Brian H

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
726
Gordon's been great but a replacement cracked, too. I'll live with them until a cheaper alternative comes along or I can pony up the scratch for OTP rings.

Retro-spec/Historic Makeovers posts and thumbwheels vs. Historic:

wheelpost.jpg
 
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RnB

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2004
Messages
831
Even though I have the lowly Faded Std (CV Guitars ~ LCPG #151), compared to some of these Historic beauties on previous pages...I thought I'd post the Plastics' changes I've done on mine. Other Faded Std owners might be interested? Some were done on the cheap, while other's weren't. :jim

Rings - Vintage Clone via Allparts w/ dimple
Amber Switch Tip - Blue Collar Parts
Aged Reflector Knobs & Toggle Switch Nut - RS Guitarworks
Pickquard, Poker Chip, & Jack Plate - Blue Collar (WD)
Tuner Buttons - Double Rings via eBay's Islandfunhouse
The 2 unmounted guards: far right-Gibson Historic / bottom-orig Faded Std pinkish guard

The only downside to the WD pkgd is that it's not quite as thick as other pkgds, but I favored the 'yellower' coloring it has over the others!

LesPaulCVFadedStd021.jpg

LesPaulTunerTips003.jpg

LCPG151002.jpg

LCPG151005.jpg
 
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Noel Grassy

New member
Joined
Jun 23, 2005
Messages
23
AlexVDL, Your knobbish tutorial is truly a bit of genius. Plus those pics are really top quality too!
Question #1; To shoot your pigment on the backs, did you just use an airbrush or equally tiny spray rig?
To any & all; Have any of you DYI types sussed out a convincing method for applying that Green "patina/oxidation" that occurs on the lower back portion of a Gold knob? I'm wracking what remains of my brain for what to even begin experimenting with. Apparently I need a product/method that will kind of "glom" on to the Gold [which seems opaque] and still transfer almost transparently through to the clear plastic. From the suppliers who have tried duplicating this they either get the Green effect to occur way to far up from just the lowest edge of the knob or miss the boat entirely.
LPtophatsw-Greening004.jpg

LPtophatsw-Greening001.jpg

LPDMC_HatTopTrickKnobs.jpg
 
Last edited:

LPNick

New member
Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Messages
435
Question to AlexVDL: the stew mac poker chip you bought, is it the same thickness as the original pink chip or is it super thin like most cheap ones that I've seen?
 

buyusfear

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
2,951
Retrospec truss covers with accurate roll markings and bevel.

RolledtrussrodcoversRetro-spec01.jpg


RolledtrussrodcoversRetro-bevelcopy.jpg


RolledtrussrodcoversRetro-burr.jpg


RolledtrussrodcoversRetrospecedge.jpg


RolledtrussrodcoversRetro-spec02.jpg


RolledtrussrodcoversRetro-spec08.jpg


RolledtrussrodcoversRetro-spec14.jpg


RolledtrussrodcoversRetro-spec15.jpg


And here's a real vintage '57 trussrod cover. Note the obvious roll marks and the not so obvious little burr
IMG_9737.jpg
 

AlexVDL

Member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
267
I used a brush to apply clear nitro. I then dipped the knobs in a bucket of bronze powder. I blew off the excess and let it dry. So the bronze is not protected by a layer of clear, so I guess it could get green from sweat or other fluids. I'll try to apply some acid or ferric chloride or something. I'll let you know.

As for the pokerchip, it's the same size I've seen on most gibsons, except for some 90's gibsons with very pinkish and thick washers with rounded edges. It's definately not as this as the cheap white ones.

AlexVDL, Your knobbish tutorial is truly a bit of genius. Plus those pics are really top quality too!
Question #1; To shoot your pigment on the backs, did you just use an airbrush or equally tiny spray rig?
To any & all; Have any of you DYI types sussed out a convincing method for applying that Green "patina/oxidation" that occurs on the lower back portion of a Gold knob? I'm wracking what remains of my brain for what to even begin experimenting with. Apparently I need a product/method that will kind of "glom" on to the Gold [which seems opaque] and still transfer almost transparently through to the clear plastic. From the suppliers who have tried duplicating this they either get the Green effect to occur way to far up from just the lowest edge of the knob or miss the boat entirely.
LPtophatsw-Greening004.jpg

LPtophatsw-Greening001.jpg

LPDMC_HatTopTrickKnobs.jpg
 

PixelBurst

Active member
Joined
Apr 11, 2002
Messages
4,094
I finally decided to suck it up and take on some extra jobs to pay for some Over The Pond M69 rings for my two R9's. Here are some pics:

OTP_rings_01.jpg


OTP_rings_02.jpg


OTP_rings_03.jpg


OTP_04_R9.jpg
 
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