Painting Humbuckers Chrome....Help/Advise

Show members what you're up to! Get tips, tricks and advice.
User avatar
mozz
Reactions:
Posts: 1042
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 1:37 pm
Location: NE-PA.

I have silver foil tape in 3 different varieties i use (interchangeably) on the backing of tube amps to reflect heat and provide some shielding. I've also used it on the back of strat pickguards. Usually called duct tape for sealing duct work. I can bet it would work fine for a bobbin cover, more satin than gloss.
20220902_181631.jpg
AGF refugee
User avatar
glasshand
Reactions:
Posts: 708
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:53 am

Maybe this would work? No experience with it, but their promo materials make it look cool.
"For the first time EVER it’s now possible to brush apply (or spray) a truly realistic mirror/chrome."
https://www.culturehustleusa.com/products/mirror

Image
User avatar
Lamf77
Reactions:
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 11:56 pm

Floridian FX wrote: Fri Sep 02, 2022 10:58 am
Buddha Pickups wrote: Fri Sep 02, 2022 10:30 am
Floridian FX wrote: Fri Sep 02, 2022 8:00 am

as long as nothing comes in contact with it. Clearcoat won't work. You can literally rub it off with your fingers.
Wonder if using neatly cut clear tape or seran wrap over it would seal it without messing it up.?
Since it is lacquer based it will continue to gas off and eventually react with the saran wrap. Tape might be an option.

Honestly I have spent the last 20+ years trying to figure out a way to apply a chrome finish to plastic parts. There isn't a way to do it cheaply/cleanly/effictively from a DIY perspective.

The best bet would be to spring for the chrome pickups, or do chrome pickup rings, and chrome covers.
Your experience is good enough for me to avoid the disappointment. Gonna just go with white hexbuckers with chrome poles....or just grab Super Distortion Chrome Open Bobbin if I can get them on sale. Thanks for the help.
User avatar
glasshand
Reactions:
Posts: 708
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:53 am

Also ran across these lately in case they might be useful to someone:

Molotow LIQUID CHROME markers

Markerszone "Mirror chrome marker"
SamIV
Reactions:
Posts: 279
Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 5:52 am

58375379-AB11-43FC-AD47-E972168CEAC1.png
User avatar
Lamf77
Reactions:
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 11:56 pm

SamIV wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:23 pm 58375379-AB11-43FC-AD47-E972168CEAC1.png
Saw those...they only fit DiMarzio Super distortion and Seymour Duncan Pickups. Do not fit all brands unfortunately.
Buddha Pickups
Reactions:
Posts: 421
Joined: Fri May 29, 2020 6:13 pm

Lamf77 wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 7:47 pm
SamIV wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:23 pm 58375379-AB11-43FC-AD47-E972168CEAC1.png
Saw those...they only fit DiMarzio Super distortion and Seymour Duncan Pickups. Do not fit all brands unfortunately.
Dimarzio sometimes uses weird spacing but the Duncan ones would work fine for most standard or f spaced pickups 👍
User avatar
Lamf77
Reactions:
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 11:56 pm

Buddha Pickups wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 8:21 pm
Lamf77 wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 7:47 pm
SamIV wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:23 pm 58375379-AB11-43FC-AD47-E972168CEAC1.png
Saw those...they only fit DiMarzio Super distortion and Seymour Duncan Pickups. Do not fit all brands unfortunately.
Dimarzio sometimes uses weird spacing but the Duncan ones would work fine for most standard or f spaced pickups 👍
The Ace guitars all use Super Distortion aka hex screws. I got a set of inexpensive ones from eBay to "attempt" to paint because the stickers wont fit. After reading here....may ust install them as is.
The chrome DiMarzios are $50 more than the cream too! What a racket!
Buddha Pickups
Reactions:
Posts: 421
Joined: Fri May 29, 2020 6:13 pm

Lamf77 wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:41 pm
Buddha Pickups wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 8:21 pm
Lamf77 wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 7:47 pm

Saw those...they only fit DiMarzio Super distortion and Seymour Duncan Pickups. Do not fit all brands unfortunately.
Dimarzio sometimes uses weird spacing but the Duncan ones would work fine for most standard or f spaced pickups 👍
The Ace guitars all use Super Distortion aka hex screws. I got a set of inexpensive ones from eBay to "attempt" to paint because the stickers wont fit. After reading here....may ust install them as is.
The chrome DiMarzios are $50 more than the cream too! What a racket!
What I mean is it doesn't matter if the sticker is intended for this pick up brand or that pick up brand, the only thing that matters is the Pole spacing. Dimarzio uses 49mm and 51mm spacing sometimes which is not normal.
Duncan uses 50 or 53mm spacing though, which is standard and f spaced. So, if u want to use the stickers, measure E to e on your pickups to get the pole spacing of each pickup and order accordingly.
Be careful buying screws as some may not be able to carry a magnetic charge.
User avatar
Lamf77
Reactions:
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 11:56 pm

Buddha Pickups wrote:
Lamf77 wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:41 pm
Buddha Pickups wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 8:21 pm Dimarzio sometimes uses weird spacing but the Duncan ones would work fine for most standard or f spaced pickups Image
The Ace guitars all use Super Distortion aka hex screws. I got a set of inexpensive ones from eBay to "attempt" to paint because the stickers wont fit. After reading here....may ust install them as is.
The chrome DiMarzios are $50 more than the cream too! What a racket!
What I mean is it doesn't matter if the sticker is intended for this pick up brand or that pick up brand, the only thing that matters is the Pole spacing. Dimarzio uses 49mm and 51mm spacing sometimes which is not normal.
Duncan uses 50 or 53mm spacing though, which is standard and f spaced. So, if u want to use the stickers, measure E to e on your pickups to get the pole spacing of each pickup and order accordingly.
Be careful buying screws as some may not be able to carry a magnetic charge.
I see.....thanks!

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

Post Reply