Painting pickups?

[DeltyVQ]

Can you paint the pickup bobbins of a pickup? If so what sort of paint would you use?
I was going to order a custom purple JB TB-4 from SD but strangely enough, they don't offer any sorta purple colour?
This is a shame because a black-purple zebra pattern would look beastly on my Warmoth strat build.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Painting pickups?

I don't see why not–just no that you will probably kill the resale value. Also, I would remove the bobbins before painting as well as use something very thin (just my 2 cents, nothing to base it off of.)

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Painting pickups?

Look up Mike Learn on FB. I've asked him questions about this and he's very helpful.

Granted, he's using an airbrush and painting them as part of an overall graphic...but he should be a good place to start.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Painting pickups?

I have down it with spray paint and car touch up paint. Be careful not to use too much.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Painting pickups?

Meh,I'm a BobbinTopper fanboi...

Sue me.

 

[vinnie1971]

Painting pickups?

Nooooo!!!!
Paint will look like crap and scratch off.
Use bobbin toppers:
http://www.universaljems.com/cart/bobbin.htm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DeltyVQ]

Re: Painting pickups?

Hmm. I might check out bobbin toppers but I'm gonna look up Mike Learn when I get back from work. Maybe if I use the right paint it won't scratch off or look bad.
Thanks for the feedback guyss ^^

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Painting pickups?

I painted the stock V7/V8 pickups in my Ibanez RG3EXFM1 a few months before I swapped 'em out. Came out pretty good, but then too I work at a paint store and I used a specialty production acrylic specifically designed for sticking to plastic.

Didn't make the $#!+ stock pups sound any better, but it looked good!

Before (black plastic covers & screw pole pieces removed):


After (topcoated both coils with a translucent gold & silver flecked glaze, even though you can't really see it in the pic):

 

[Aceman]

Re: Painting pickups?

Meh,I'm a BobbinTopper fanboi...

Sue me.

The only Bobbin Toppers I see on Ebay are from Japan. Why no American production?

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Painting pickups?

Check the link above,dude's in FL.

Dunno about the eBay ones...

Mornin' Ace!
:wave:

 

[DeltyVQ]

Re: Painting pickups?

I painted the stock V7/V8 pickups in my Ibanez RG3EXFM1 a few months before I swapped 'em out. Came out pretty good, but then too I work at a paint store and I used a specialty production acrylic specifically designed for sticking to plastic.

Didn't make the $#!+ stock pups sound any better, but it looked good!

That does looks pretty good! Seeing results like that makes me more confident in trying to paint it

 

[Mincer]

Re: Painting pickups?

Have you contacted the factory? Just because it isn't listed, doesn't mean we can't do it. We've done all kinds of colors and graphics on the pickups for years. Check this out.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Painting pickups?

There are paints especially for painting plastic. Sand the plastic lightly with about 400-800 grit sandpaper first.

 

[DeltyVQ]

Re: Painting pickups?

Have you contacted the factory? Just because it isn't listed, doesn't mean we can't do it. We've done all kinds of colors and graphics on the pickups for years. Check this out.

I have contacted you guys about it. I have not received a reply yet however.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Painting pickups?

Be patient, they will get to you.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Painting pickups?

OK, here is the official response:


MJ, being the awesome lady that she is, also has a process for creating custom colored bobbins, which is not simply painting the tops of the bobbins. I know for a fact that she has done purple bobbins before, so it is possible in the custom shop, though not as an option for a shop floor custom order



So you can get them, and they look awesome. But it is a Custom Shop thing.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Painting pickups?

I built a Frankenstrat a few years ago and I used an EMG-81 in it. I sanded it and paint it red with black&white stripes to go along with the guitar and it turned out pretty cool. I'm trying to find pictures, but I think they are on my old computer..
I used Duplicolor if I remember correctly, then I wet sanded it and clear coated it with lacquer.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Painting pickups?

doing that on an 81 is easier since the whole thing is enclosed and its epoxy dipped to protect everything. on a typical humbucker the coil is much more exposed

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Painting pickups?

doing that on an 81 is easier since the whole thing is enclosed and its epoxy dipped to protect everything. on a typical humbucker the coil is much more exposed

Yea for sure Jeremy.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Painting pickups?