How do you apply a decal on the headstock? Need help and suggestions.

[gfunk333]

How to apply decal on headstock? Need help and suggestions.

Hey all.

Recently bought a model 6. It was kind of beat up so I decided to mod it, and play around with it a bit.

I am swapping out the pickups with EMG’s, and changing the floyd. Just buffed it with some scratch removing car compound, and it’s as shinny as glass (camera phone pics suck!).

I also wanted to change the headstock logo to “Jackson” … don’t ask me why it was a spur of the moment thing. Well it’s now a week later, the decal I ordered arrived and I have no idea how to put it on to cover the Charvel logo (ya I know should have thought about that when ordering).

What are my options here to make it work?

1) I was thinking ….. put a piece of vinyl over the headstock and apply the decal over the vinyl. Well I tried that and it was very difficult precision cut around the headstock.

2) Sand the headstock, repaint it, apply decal, and clear coat? I have no experience what so ever doing this kind of thing, and the only paint I would have access to or use is spray paint lol (ya once again I know).

Anyone ever tried this? How did it turn out? I mean it’s not like I spray painting the whole guitar. How bad can it turn out? Right ☹

Can someone explain the process to me. Like pointers and stuff. i.e. how to paint? what kind of paint? coats? etc.....

I know a lot of people will try to talk me out of this, but I really have my heart set on doing it. Plus the decal was a custom order and cost $30 bones.

I’m not worried about resale value, this guitar is a keeper. Just want to have some fun with it. No shame in the Charvel logo, just thinks the Jackson looks a lot cooler.

So. Any suggestions? Recommendations? Please.

[straycat]

The original logo is way cooler.I cant see bastardizing a valuable instument.These are getting harder to come by.It will be worth much more with the original logo.JMO.
I realize its a player/keeper but you may need to sell in the future and you need to keep the logo.

[spazzyone]

I agree leave that logo alone
plus you will have to paint the headstock to hide the old logo
and water slides always seem to be visible when completed
and there is no better looking logo than that charvel

[hippietim]

It'd be a shame to screw that instrument up. Those Model 6's are fantastic guitars.

[jackson1]

1) I was thinking ….. put a piece of vinyl over the headstock and apply the decal over the vinyl. Well I tried that and it was very difficult precision cut around the headstock.

This should work okay and would be the best "trade-off", if you absolutely must have the Jackson logo on there.

I would buy some very thin, high quality, black vinyl with adhesive back and put it on, without shaping it first. Large enough to cover the entire headstock.

Then I'd take a new exacto knife and hold it very angled and cut the vinyl carefully, using the perimeter of the headstock as a guide.

When mounting the tuning machines, I would pay close attention to the vinyl when tightening the nuts. Hopefully, the washers will prevent the vinyl from crumpling up.

THEN, if all looks good, I would apply the Jackson decal.

Of course, I would never do this to any of my guitars. Keep the original Charvel guitar logo

[SlasZ]

1 month later on Ebay: USA Jackson for sale

[Special-K]

1 month later on Ebay: USA Jackson for sale

Sad, but true

[Nazgul]

Henrik, does your method mean that you can always take off the vinyl and get back to the original logo/finish with no problems?

[gfunk333]

1 month later on Ebay: USA Jackson for sale

I'll let you know when the auction starts Ok?

To be fair I will even toss in an extra decal, that reads made in mother russia. Just in case you want to re auction it off as something special

[gfunk333]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I'm not gonna fuck up the guitar. I' gonna take Jackson1's advice and give vinyl a few more shots. Can't let the decal go to waste

Will post pics of how it turns out.

In all seriousness I am not planning to sell it off as a "USA" Jackson. I don't think I have the skils to make it work

Is it the "made in USA" thats pissing people off? I'm sure if it said just "Jackson" nobody would care.

[Super_shredder]

Sad, but true

I’m your dream, mind astray
I’m your eyes while you’re away
I’m your pain while you repay
You know it’s sad but true, sad but true

[jackson1]

Henrik, does your method mean that you can always take off the vinyl and get back to the original logo/finish with no problems?

Yes, that's the whole point. Depending on the type of glue on the vinyl, I'd be very careful when/if removing it again. Probably use some lemon oil to soften it up (for days) or use a heat gun (with care).

I' gonna take Jackson1's advice and give vinyl a few more shots. Can't let the decal go to waste

I would remove the vinyl under the truss rod cover before screwing it on. Either that, or poke three holes in it, for the three truss rod cover screws. You don't want a rotating screw to grab the vinyl even the slightest.

Another note: I wonder how the decal will sit on the vinyl anyway. It would be pretty fragile without some kind of clear coat. Are you planning on clear coating it? Hmm... having the tuning machines mounted and then clear coating... ah, what the hey, it's not my problem

[Sergio]

Leave the original decal, in every case it will always remain a Charvel...

[S-man]

This is silly..IMO.

[Mike]

Why would you even attempt to do this? Go buy a Soloist or a Dinky if you HAVE to have the Jackson logo.