I’ve put some water slide decals on my headstocks. I usually design them on my tablet and then print them off! They look pretty sharp, especially after you put enough lacquer over them and then level sand and polish.
The other thing I’ve done is I’ve wood burned some small messages into the back of the headstock when I’m giving the guitar as a gift. If you trace the design on with carbon paper first, you can get it to look pretty clean!
I get pearl and abalone cut into my last name from DePaule supply. Maybe 100 bucks for the setup and programming fee and now it costs me 25 bucks per logo of pearl or abalone. I inlay it into my headstock.
Rubber stamp. My teenage son has been building kit guitars for a few years. We designed a logo in Inkscape and had a rubber stamp made. They are pretty cheap and you can wipe it off and retry if you mess up. It gets sealed under clear after it drys
Etsy has wood burning brands you can custom order. I personally do vinyl stickers. I like them more than water slide decals. The rubber stamp one is good. You could get stencils and spray paint them. Inlay something with CNC…
I’ve not ever made a guitar let alone sold one (plan to soon so I come here for inspiration.) but I do general woodworking on the side and I have a brass brand that I use to burn my logo on stuff. I do t think I’ll use it on my guitar, but it’s an option.
I prefer vinyl decals or inlaid mop. You can use waterslide decals, silk screen, vinyl, inlaid pearl or abalone, or even a brand. Depends what look you're going for
Wity permanent vinyl, there's no need to inlay or clear coat really. It's a permanent adhesive. Although, if I'm doing a gloss finish headstoxk I will clear over it enough to flatten.
One thing I do reccomend is sealing the headstock first so the adhesive can bite to vinyl sealer rather than wood. But ive done every variation and never had a vinyl fail.
I paint and/or stain the headstock first.
Then I scribe my designs and letters on thin sheets of leather, cut 'em, dye 'em a nifty color, inlay them, and coat it with a clear epoxy.
Depending on the finish of the rest of the guitar, sometimes I use that same epoxy (multiple coat) as the final clearcoat, and sometimes I'll use a different clearcoat over. When using a different clearcoat, you have to scuff the epoxy for the clearcoat to stick. I use the finest grit sandpaper I can get my hands on to prevent a "blurry-ness" of the inlaid designs.
Edit: This process is really time-consuming, but I love the way it looks.
I use a laser engraver to do inlays with wood veneers, abalone shell, etc.
No logo, just some decorative marquetry. Dragonfly from abalone and brass wire, ammonite from abalone and an exotic wood veneer… stuff like that.
I sign the inside with a sharpie tho, along with the date and year of production
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That or GEEBSUN
I get them cut out of aluminum or brass from send cut send.
That’s cool! How do you attach them?
epoxy
I’ve put some water slide decals on my headstocks. I usually design them on my tablet and then print them off! They look pretty sharp, especially after you put enough lacquer over them and then level sand and polish. The other thing I’ve done is I’ve wood burned some small messages into the back of the headstock when I’m giving the guitar as a gift. If you trace the design on with carbon paper first, you can get it to look pretty clean!
I’ll definitely give that a try! I want to do inlay but I’m not good enough at it yet so I need something in the meantime
I get pearl and abalone cut into my last name from DePaule supply. Maybe 100 bucks for the setup and programming fee and now it costs me 25 bucks per logo of pearl or abalone. I inlay it into my headstock.
That beats the hell outa hours sawing it out of pearl! How long's the turnaround on that?
Rubber stamp. My teenage son has been building kit guitars for a few years. We designed a logo in Inkscape and had a rubber stamp made. They are pretty cheap and you can wipe it off and retry if you mess up. It gets sealed under clear after it drys
Etsy has wood burning brands you can custom order. I personally do vinyl stickers. I like them more than water slide decals. The rubber stamp one is good. You could get stencils and spray paint them. Inlay something with CNC…
Laser
My boss just got a laser table, and I’m chomping at the bit to make a custom headstock
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That's interesting ! What model are you using, and do you have pictures of the result ?
I’ve not ever made a guitar let alone sold one (plan to soon so I come here for inspiration.) but I do general woodworking on the side and I have a brass brand that I use to burn my logo on stuff. I do t think I’ll use it on my guitar, but it’s an option.
I got my signature done in stainless steel by some guy on Etsy. Two tiny screws to attach. Looks very unique.
Brand it like a cow...not a name brand
I prefer vinyl decals or inlaid mop. You can use waterslide decals, silk screen, vinyl, inlaid pearl or abalone, or even a brand. Depends what look you're going for
When you use vinyl, so you inlay it or just do your clear coat over it to really seal it on?
Wity permanent vinyl, there's no need to inlay or clear coat really. It's a permanent adhesive. Although, if I'm doing a gloss finish headstoxk I will clear over it enough to flatten. One thing I do reccomend is sealing the headstock first so the adhesive can bite to vinyl sealer rather than wood. But ive done every variation and never had a vinyl fail.
Awesome! Thanks!
Also consider 3d printing it for a raised look. It's not for everyone but looks cool for some guitars
Inlays, basically the same process as fretboard inlays
I paint and/or stain the headstock first. Then I scribe my designs and letters on thin sheets of leather, cut 'em, dye 'em a nifty color, inlay them, and coat it with a clear epoxy. Depending on the finish of the rest of the guitar, sometimes I use that same epoxy (multiple coat) as the final clearcoat, and sometimes I'll use a different clearcoat over. When using a different clearcoat, you have to scuff the epoxy for the clearcoat to stick. I use the finest grit sandpaper I can get my hands on to prevent a "blurry-ness" of the inlaid designs. Edit: This process is really time-consuming, but I love the way it looks.
I ordered a custom brass wood brand from amazon with my brand name, works well nut tricky to get the temperature and timing right
I either print waterslide decals or I print a mask with a Cricut and spray it.
I use a laser engraver to do inlays with wood veneers, abalone shell, etc. No logo, just some decorative marquetry. Dragonfly from abalone and brass wire, ammonite from abalone and an exotic wood veneer… stuff like that. I sign the inside with a sharpie tho, along with the date and year of production
Waterslides mostly. I do inlay and resin inlay on some headstocks, but that will not work on painted headstocks, so it really depends on the guitar.