Sound Hole Labels?

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Nathan Ashmore
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Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Nathan Ashmore »

What do you all use to make your sound hole labels... type of paper/inked or printed.Just looking for ideas
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Michael A Shelley
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Michael A Shelley »

I use inkjet printed on regular, but not lightweight, paper. Cut it out with a new X-Acto blade, sign and date it, and a quick spritz of clear lacquer once the handwriting is dry. Then glue it in with either hide glue (okay, unflavored gelatin) or white glue. It works well enough for me.

I think the printer I have (a Canon) uses a pigment-based black ink. This might help prevent smearing if it gets damp, but I couldn't say for sure.

Using an old X-Acto blade is just asking for a fuzzy edge.

I don't have any decent photos of any of my labels installed, unfortunately.
Nathan Ashmore
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Nathan Ashmore »

That was my first thought except for spraying it with lacquer. Does that seal the ink?
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Woodrow Brackett
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Woodrow Brackett »

I use resume paper printed on my inkjet printer. (Epson, but probably doesn't matter). I glue them in with hide glue, but I've never sealed them with anything.
I need a signature here.
Steven Smith
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Steven Smith »

Parchment color resume paper on inkjet printer. Cut it out with scissors. Glue them in with titebond. I take a brush and coat the top of the label with thinned titebond to seal it. So far, I know they last at least 8 years that way.
Randy Roberts
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Randy Roberts »

Whether you print with laser or inkjet or write on it with marker, etc., it's a good idea to test it out beforehand with the glue you use and anything you might seal the surface with. Some inks dissolve with alcohol (shellac) some in water (glues).
Steve Senseney
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Steve Senseney »

Also look for acid free paper. It will not yellow or deteriorate as quickly. You don't want your label to look like newsprint in a few years.
Nathan Ashmore
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Nathan Ashmore »

Thanks all, this has been very informative. Much appreciated! I should have my design done today. Going for a vintage look.
Nathan Ashmore
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Nathan Ashmore »

Here's the design I made.

Image
Dave Stewart
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Dave Stewart »

Looks great!!......very "old west". Do it "sepia" tone & you're there.
(Might want a bit more space for model / serial #/ signature though.)
Dave
Milton, ON
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Bryan Bear
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Bryan Bear »

That looks great! What software did you design it with?
PMoMC

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Nathan Ashmore
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Nathan Ashmore »

Used illustrator and photoshop. I like to use the strengths of both.
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Charlie Schultz
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Charlie Schultz »

I just happened to run across one of StewMac's old "Trade Secrets" newsletters (#129) on "Make custom labels for your guitars". You can find it on their site.
Karl Hoyt
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Karl Hoyt »

Nathan... that's outstanding!

kfh
Nathan Ashmore
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Nathan Ashmore »

Thanks... I decided on using heavy weight acid-free drawing paper. I'll glue it down with a thin wash of wood glue, let it dry and shellac it for a vintage look. In other news I've edge banded the back of the body now.
Randy Cordle
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Randy Cordle »

Here's one I did for fun on a recent project. I imported a background image and added the lettering and scaled it in my CAD program. When I was happy with how it looked then I just did a screen capture and savedit as a jpg image. It actually looks much better than what the photo shows. Printed on standard inkjet, cut out, and added with double back carpet tape. It was easy and fun!
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Nathan Ashmore
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Re: Sound Hole Labels?

Post by Nathan Ashmore »

Looking good Randy! I'm still building my guitar so I haven't glued it in yet. Working on the fingerboard now. Almost there.
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