Mica Source?

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 16 Nov 2005 9:45 am

If you just needed enough of a specific color for one guitar... where would you look?

I'm trying to locate a really pretty gloss rosewood.

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings

John Fabian · Post by **John Fabian** » 16 Nov 2005 11:24 am

The Wilsonart brand of Rosewoods was discontinued. You will have a tough time buying any gloss laminate (most manufacturers of laminates now require a minimum order of 7 - 10 sheets of gloss finish). Laminart makes some nice looking rosewood and other wood grains but requires a large minimum order.

You may be able to find some at one of the steel builders but they probably will be reluctant to sell you any without it being attached to one of their steels.

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 16 Nov 2005 1:27 pm

Oh man... I can see it now.

"psst... hey mister, I got some preemo brazillian glossy. ya want just a little taste?"

Thanks John... that is pretty much what Bob Rains told me.
.. btw, You and Ann sure are a good looking pair.... and so intelligent as well! And what a wonderful company! Just some great folks

(hey amigo.... dat's sum primo looking glossy rosewood mica on your site...)

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 17 Nov 2005 6:45 am

Steve- I think some pool table mfg.s still use glossy rosewood laminate. You migh try them for cut offs.

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 17 Nov 2005 6:55 am

I may have found something really special. I will post pics of it after the guitar is built. It is not Rosewood and is not something I see offered by any current maker.
I will know for sure in the next day or so.

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 17 Nov 2005 7:08 pm

What do you guys think of this?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 17 Nov 2005 7:50 pm

That should look very nice!

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

[This message was edited by Lee Baucum on 18 November 2005 at 06:29 AM. Originally, the photo showed the grain running vertically.][This message was edited by Lee Baucum on 18 November 2005 at 06:31 AM.]

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 17 Nov 2005 7:56 pm

Lee... I went to my phot album and rotated it. Are ya happy now?

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 18 Nov 2005 6:52 am

Steve--Have you considered putting some real wood on it?
I like what you've chosen as laminate goes but I guess I just don't care for wood grain plastic on instruments.
I should probably keep this to myself but to me it's like the difference between a varnished mahogany bar and the lunch counter at a diner.They'll both do the same job but which one do you want to look twice at.
I love GFI steels. I'd buy one in a minute if I could afford it.Gene does a spectacular job with the machinery, but thats what they look like ,machines.I don't see a lot of folks posting closeups of the wood grain laminate on the bodies.
I'm not sure how well protected the laminate will be on your steel but if it eventually shows scratches and wear you can't just sand it and give it another coat of finish.It needs to be totally replaced.
As a woodworker and lap steel builder I'd be very interested to hear what others think about this subject.Do the advantages of woodgrain laminate outweigh the,in my opinion, contrived appearance?

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 18 Nov 2005 7:52 am

Mark,
Are you talking about lacquer finished wood bodies or wood inserts? I've owned multiple lacquer finished guitars from Emmons, Shobud,and Mullen. I've never seen a guitar with real wood inserts that I am aware of.

I like lacquer guitars. They are beautiful. I prefer a mica finished guitar for a working guitar though. I think they are more durable on a day to day basis.

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)

Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 18 Nov 2005 8:09 am

Steve....if you're happy with what you have, that's fine by me. If you want to find your original choice, it should be a fairly simple matter. Having owned a countertop shop, all of us had "remnants" that could be had for a song. Any countertop shop or interior design place can turn you on to local sources. Seriously.

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 18 Nov 2005 11:39 am

I been thinking about this.
It occured to me that I never see any laminate on regular guitars.Least not that I remember.They are most all lacquer.They get a lot more handling, whangin' and bangin' than most steels.
How come lacquer's the accepted norm for a six string and not a steel?
I guess in part it may be due to the shape of a guitar.It doesn't lend itself to laminate(although I expect they could laminte onto about any shape).Can't imagine it would sound that great either.
Is it that steel builders as primarily machinists and not woodworkers?They concentrate their efforts on the metal parts and try to avoid working with a medium that can be expensive, fussy,variable and tough to get looking great.Smart guys these steel builders.
It may also have to do with the amount of time a steel spends set up, exposed to potential damage, as opposed to a guitar that gets put in a case.

Eddie D.Bollinger · Post by **Eddie D.Bollinger** » 18 Nov 2005 11:56 am

I think you can get sheets or 1 sheet of mica at Home Depot or Lowe's. Your selection
might be slim. I really like the Mica you
found. Nice.

Eddie Bollinger
"New owner of a Martin Dread."

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Eddie Bollinger
1998 Carter D-10 8&5, Nash 1000, Hilton Volume at the Bollinger Family Theatre in Bruce, MS msm@tycom.net

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 18 Nov 2005 12:00 pm

Mark V., all your thinking makes great sense, but I believe the tradition of mica finishes on steels stems from the fact that Buddy Emmons first introduced it on the early Emmons guitars because he wanted a cigarette-burn-proof finish.

[This message was edited by Jody Cameron on 18 November 2005 at 12:01 PM.]

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 18 Nov 2005 12:11 pm

Well there you go!!---Guess I'll stop scratchin my head about this.
Come to think of it maybe that's the reason they started laminating plastic onto the headstock of guitars.

Jeremy Moyers · Post by **Jeremy Moyers** » 18 Nov 2005 1:16 pm

I have a friend that owns a custom cabinet shop here around Atlanta. I can get mica from him in any color by the sheet. He does so many sets of cabinets with varying mica countertops that he has arranged to be able to by colors by the sheet with no large order. You may look into ordering through a cabinet shop.

Jeremy

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 18 Nov 2005 2:02 pm

Mark,

Call me crazy but I'm convinced that Mica guitars generally have a different sound than wood lacquer guitars. Yes of course I love the look of a beautiful wood body, but I prefer the sound of laminate on rock maple...Don't want to start a debate here..it's all good, but anyone else feel the same?

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 18 Nov 2005 2:06 pm

Steve,

The sample looks good. What is the pattern called? Who is the source? I might need some for my other (not black) Hybrid...Thanks JW

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 18 Nov 2005 4:19 pm

It is the opinion of a lot of PSG~Builders that it takes the Mica~Finish on the body to reap the full benefit of an Aluminum~Neck! I tend to think their opinion is correct!

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“Big John” Bechtel
Soon to be: New Burgundy D–10 Derby (w/6 &

’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 18 Nov 2005 8:33 pm

Jeramy. could you e mail me a number for your cabinet guy. I sure would like to talk to him about some formica.....Thanks for your help.

Wayne[This message was edited by W Franco on 18 November 2005 at 09:07 PM.]

norm mcdaniel · Post by **norm mcdaniel** » 19 Nov 2005 6:05 am

Dr Steve, That is some really good looking rosewood. If you ever get a chance to see Bill Staffords Excel he has a beautiful Mica about the same color. I sure would like to have one that color

Norm McDaniel
Sierra U12
Various Peavey amps

norm mcdaniel · Post by **norm mcdaniel** » 19 Nov 2005 6:08 am

Dr Steve, That is some really good looking rosewood. If you ever get a chance to see Bill Staffords Excel he has a beautiful Mica about the same color. I sure would like to have one that color. You might talk to Mark Giles. He might have some suggestions. He builds bodys for a lot of steel mfgs.

Norm McDaniel
Sierra U12
Various Peavey amps

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 29 Nov 2005 6:17 am

The laminate came today. This stuff is absolutely gorgeous. Much prettier in person than the pic.

The Mica is a new premium Wilsonart laminate.
Empire Mahogany 7122T-7
Finish 1
Clear Overlay Option.

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
D10 8x10 Emmons (Black Beauty)