Bill's Custom Further

[rraymond]

I love the hare raising humor here! BTW, awesome guitar, too!

[lbpesq]

Mica:
 
I just saw the thread about colored pickups.  Can I get a choice of colors?
 
Bill, tgo

[Bradley Young]

Bill,
 
Good minds must think alike.
 
Mica,
 
PTBO mode on:
pics, pics, pics, pics
 
 
Bradley

[lbpesq]

Mica:
 
See 2 posts above.  Can I, can I, can I?
 
Bill, tgo

[tbrannon]

Bill-
 
Let me guess- you're wondering if a nice herbal green would be possible?

[mica]

There are colors available. These are all in the cast polyurethane compound, which isn't near as durable as the black ABS plastic shells.  
 
All the colors of polyurethane change over time. The lighter the color, the more noticeable the change.  
 
It just so happens that I recently got a smaple kit of the original BSB color of the pickups. Here is the first test pouring:
 

 
As was true in the past, lighter colors show some inconsistencies. What color did you have in mind?

[lbpesq]

I really didn't have a particular color in mind, I just never thought of it until it came up in another thread.  You know me, I like stuff that's a little different.  I don't think green would work too well with the amber tint, but the above color might be cool.  What colors are available?
 
Bill, tgo

[Bradley Young]

I think that it'd be cool to have two or more colors mixed together (like a tie-dye-sort-of effect) would be great.  Like brown and white, or gold sparkles, or black and red.
 
The goal wouldn't be to have them mix, but sorta swirl together.  Apropos of Alembic's roots?  
 
Could you do a metal flake, or would that freak out the magnets?  You could use a non-ferrous metal.
 
Alternately, what about patterns-- put a shape in the bottom of the mold, and pour another color over it?
 
Or how about lasers?  Everybody needs more lasers.
 
Bradley
PS- the last suggestion was a joke, but for the rest I'm really serious.

[mica]

Here's our splash finish, affectionately called clown vomit:
 

 
This is how the different colors of the polyurethane look as Bradley described. Remember I said the colros get darker over time? This was originally a cream color background, and after about 15 years, it's sort of a nicotine stained putty color.  
 
I don't have a photo of it, but Tony has made some rising sun designs in red and white that looked pretty cool.  
 
My uncle Bob does incredible artistic finishes, including cool stuff with gold particles. I'm sure it can be applied to a pickup. Keep in mind, that the pickup is in an area that will likely wear, so over time, you may lose parts of your painted on design.

[lbpesq]

Mica:  You have me thinking.  We'll talk next time I'm up that way.  Thanks.
 
Bill, tgo

[bigideas]

There is a picture of one of Henry Kaiser's guitars in the Warmoth strat gallery that has a Clown Vomit pickguard with matching Alembic activators.  
 
http://www.warmoth.com/gallery/guitar/strat/henry_kaiser.htm
 
I think they look brilliant.

[adriaan]

Hm, anyone for paper marbling patterns?

[lbpesq]

It was hard to pass up the clown vomit (my 11 year old was lobbying for this choice), but I'm going with cocobolo covered pickups.  I may live to regret this!  LOL
 
Bill, tgo

[foth]

They're both excellent choices for covers, Bill.  The cocobolo matched with the headstock will nicely frame the art work on the fingerboard.

[mica]

Here's the material mock up of the line art I emailed you earlier today:

 White mother of pearl for the engraved ring, black mother of pearl and golen mother of pearl inside. The orientation matches the rest of the inlays (stand perspective).   Here it is, scaled on a regular Further guitar: