sharkfin position

[toejam]

If you flip the standard fins upside down, that would be like the middle neck. The reverse fins upside down would be the point by the bass strings. At least that's how I see it. I don't know what Jackson calls it, though.

[ August 05, 2003, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: toejam ]

[AlexL]

Re: sharkfin position

Well, according to the custom shop quote form, there are 4 options:

Sharkfin Regular;
Sharkfin Reversed;
Sharkfin Mirrored, and for those who can't make up their mind;
Sharkfin Alternating Zig-Zag

Referencing Jim's photo, the top neck is alternating zig-zag, the middle neck is mirrored, the bottom neck is regular, and not pictured, where the point would be towards the bass strings, would be reversed.

Now, technically, there should be another option called "mirrored reverse", but I haven't seen that offered, though no doubt the custom shop could do it.

Going off on a tangent here, I haven't ever understood why the "standard sharkfin" is wide at the top and pointy at the bottom. I would think the reverse sharkfin, with the point being at the top, would be considered "standard". The way it stands now, I would consider it more of a sharktooth than a sharkfin.

- E.

[toejam]

Re: sharkfin position

Actually, I think the mirror option is just mirror inlay (like actual mirror you look into) instead of MOP or Abalone. Though, I could be wrong.

[Inazone]

Re: sharkfin position

I'm pretty sure you're wrong, only because I think this came up on the old board and mirrored was determined to be in reference to the position of the inlay. I would think that actual mirror inlay material would be listed as a material option, although it currently is not from what I can tell.

Or maybe I'm wrong!

[AlexL]

Re: sharkfin position

According to the custom shop form:

"Fingerboard Inlays (Mother of Pearl, except where noted)"

... and it didn't specify "mirrored glass" as the material for the "Sharkfin, Mirrored" option. So, I stand by my original statement.

Besides, wouldn't mirrored glass get all scratched up if it were used as inlay meterial? [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

- E.

[toejam]

Re: sharkfin position

I don't think it would get all scratched up, since it would have some type of coating on top of it. I guess it would be like the same as the top used on the bodies for mirrored guitars (Paul Stanley Mirrorball Iceman, etc.) Brad Kelley has this mirrored Kelly, and I believe the inlays are also mirror; though, they are zig-zag, so you're probably right about your original statement.


[ August 05, 2003, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: toejam ]

[Sinistas]

Re: sharkfin position

mirror finishes are made using foil and a clear coat on top, aren't they?

[toejam]

Re: sharkfin position

Not sure how it's done now. I know the original Paul Stanley guitar was made with actual pieces of cut mirror. I forget exactly how it was done, but I remember reading about the process somewhere online.

[Newc]

Re: sharkfin position

Vince once said Davve Mustaine's Cracked Mirror V was made with real mirror, and that it deadens the tone.

And the "SharkFin" look is named for the exposed wood, not the inlay. The inlay masks off an area of the wood, leaving a convex curvature from tip to bottom.
You have to look at it like JAWS swimming from right to left, not left to right (you'll go crazy trying to see JAWS' fin in the inlay going left to right [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] )

Newc

[diablomozart]

Re: sharkfin position

paul's was a cut mirror with the edges sanded down...but apparently not quite enough as you'll see his blood on parts of it [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] ...i think the majoriy of mirrored tops today are cut and glued onto the face of the guitar...otherwise the cracked effect wouldn't look right...d.m.

[toejam]

Re: sharkfin position

Jackson at one time did call it a sharktooth inlay. I remember that in an old Charvel ad back in GW magazine years ago. Don't know when they changed and started calling it a sharkfin.

[diablomozart]

Re: sharkfin position

*hint* look at the ebony next to the inlay...there's your sharkfin...d.m.

[Hyperfuzz]

Re: sharkfin position

Hey all, I saw an advertisement on the Discovery Channel today that Shark Week is coming up soon. I don't remember exactly when but soon. I had the day off and I was a little hung over when I saw it so the details are a bit fuzzy. Maybe they will uncover this mystery for us....

[AlexL]

Re: sharkfin position

Originally posted by Newc:
And the "SharkFin" look is named for the exposed wood, not the inlay. The inlay masks off an area of the wood, leaving a convex curvature from tip to bottom.

Newc

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

You sir, are a genius.

- E.

[Easyrider7467]

Re: sharkfin position

Hello,
NEWC is the winner!! 21 responses later. That is correct, the wood is the area that is intended to appear as a sharkfin. Many, understandably too, look at the inlay. Nice job NEWC. John. [img]graemlins/toast.gif[/img]