Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 Restoration Project!

[Morbid]

Sorry guys. busy busy busy!

No real update on the guitar. Money has been going other places.
HOWEVER, I've been waiting on a call back from my local luthier. I'm going to show him my paint idea and see if he thinks he can handle it. Things will go from there.

When I find a person who can handle my paint scheme, I'll post the mockup.
For now, does anyone know how I can get a decent deal on some black poles for the original Petrucci pickups?

DiMarzio said they were $15 per set plus $5 shipping. $35 for black poles seems outrageous, and it's part of my grand paint scheme!

[e.mate]

(...)
For now, does anyone know how I can get a decent deal on some black poles for the original Petrucci pickups?

DiMarzio said they were $15 per set plus $5 shipping. $35 for black poles seems outrageous, and it's part of my grand paint scheme!

First of all, Morbid, let me take a deep bow. This thread is absolutely fascinating and your work is absolutely amazing......RESPECT!

35 bucks for the DiMarzio poles is a lot....yet, still I would take them. A couple of years ago there have been coloured poles on offer through ebay here in Germany......unfortunately they didn't fit in all the pups that were mentioned in that offer. And pretty sure, there are a couple of luthiers (there's a PU specialist very close to the town I live in) who would be able to create stuff like that, but I am damn sure you would pay even more.

To have your axe individualized I would spent the money....and I know exactly how you feel about

Go ahead, brother....this is the most trilling thread I have seen on the WWW in a while. I'll definitely stay tuned!!!

[Morbid]

e.mate, thanks a lot! Much appreciated words. It's always inspirational to see how interested everyone is in my project.

With that, I've been promising you guys a tease for a while.
Tomorrow I'll be picking up one of my other guitars from a local luthier. I need a lot of fret work done and I'm not yet comfortable doing that on my own. While I'm there, I'll be bringing the still bare wood EBMM to him to see what he thinks of my paint idea. The majority of the guitar is glass smooth, because it's still got the nitrocelly on it. Certain areas though, I've managed to sand past it and it's a little powder feeling. I want him to scope it out for himself to see if he thinks it's ready for paint, and also if he thinks he'll be able to pull off my paint idea. If not I'll be trying to find someone else.

Anyway, I never had any luck finding a black/gray mystic dream type finish. Several different colors, but not that (not surprising). So I decided to go for the next best thing.

My favorite color on the older EBMMs like this one was the Graphite Pearl (pewter). My idea, is a black, to pewter fade at a 90degree angle (it looks like a shadow in the mockup, but it's not, it's a paint fade).
Encompassing the black pickup poles and even John's signature instead of the Ernie Ball logo, I think it looks quite fine. Although, I'll probably have John sign it with a Gold Sharpie instead of a silver one. Unless I can find a nice white one.

So here ya go guys...
Let me know whatcha think!!

[ScoobySteve]

That is going to be unbelievable. John would be proud!

[DrGonzo5150]

Dude, that is cool!

[marduke]

have you looked into a black with a gray pearl?

[Morbid]

Thanks gang, glad you approve.

have you looked into a black with a gray pearl?

I tried looking up several similar paint schemes, but really had no luck. In the end I decided this was good enough.

The only thing I'm not 100% sure on, is whether I want to make the black paint 'flecked'. Like how the Graphite Pearl looks like it has metal flecks, should I do the same with the black, or just make it a straight nice gloss black. Thoughts?

[ScoobySteve]

Thanks gang, glad you approve.


I tried looking up several similar paint schemes, but really had no luck. In the end I decided this was good enough.

The only thing I'm not 100% sure on, is whether I want to make the black paint 'flecked'. Like how the Graphite Pearl looks like it has metal flecks, should I do the same with the black, or just make it a straight nice gloss black. Thoughts?

My vote would go for the metal flakes. EBMM's under the spotlight just shine so vibrantly.

[Morbid]

-bump-

Made the picture bigger. Didn't realize how small it was before, lol

[the24thfret]

My vote would go for the metal flakes. EBMM's under the spotlight just shine so vibrantly.

Yeah my old Subaru had gold flakes in black and it looked green i some situations. Morbid, take notice!

[browndog]

It looks great, nice work. Is it too late to go stealth.

[Morbid]

It looks great, nice work. Is it too late to go stealth.

It's not too late, no, but I picked this scheme because it's unique to the Ernie Ball colors. While Stealth would certainly be easier, I'd prefer something truly one of a kind.

[Coffeemug]

I'd prefer something truly one of a kind.

...and you truly deserve that! Outstanding project, it was a lot of fun following you up to that point!

[e.mate]

The only thing I'm not 100% sure on, is whether I want to make the black paint 'flecked'. Like how the Graphite Pearl looks like it has metal flecks, should I do the same with the black, or just make it a straight nice gloss black. Thoughts?

Yo Morbid, this is a great color scheme...go for it.

As far as the flecks, flakes, whatever are concerned, I guess the black color should have the same 'grain' as the graphite pearl does. Unfortunately I have never seen Graphite Pearl in real life, but I guess the metallic flakes are really very small 'grain', so it might be hard to find a type of black that matches that grain.

Actually, I have the colour you need on my Godin Detour They call it black sparkle, but it doesn't have those huge huge metallic flakes that you might know from EBMM (one of the first Lukes of Luke hast that big flake sparkle colour). On the Godin, you can hardly see the sparkle, you can just see that it is different from the ordinary high gloss black, as there is is this visual sensation of very small 'grain'. Actually, I tried to make a photo of that, but you cannot even see it on the pics, sorry

And one last thing - if you have JP finally sign your wonderful guitar, DO NOT TAKE A GOLD PEN, PLEASE You don't have any other gold parts on it, why take a gold signature down??? Make it a silver pen, you will regret the gold....or take both pens with you and let John decide

[jamminjim]

Graphite Pearl would be super on a JP. Love the way it has some color changing to it, very subtle.