TomG10-7 Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Hey, I was wondering how to achieve a mirror or chrome finish on a Les Paul like on some of Matt's guitars like the Chrome Bomber or Mirror Kaoss? I cannot put an acrylic mirror like Hugh Manson did on them, as Bellamy's guitars are flat topped and the LP has a carved top. So I guess I'd be looking more into the paint or vinyl department. Can anyone help? I am in the UK, so importing from the US is a no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo57 Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Krylon make a chrome paint, and I've heard it's really good. Check that out, maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomG10-7 Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Krylon make a chrome paint, and I've heard it's really good. Check that out, maybe? Cheers, I'll look into that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Hey, I was wondering how to achieve a mirror or chrome finish on a Les Paul like on some of Matt's guitars like the Chrome Bomber or Mirror Kaoss? I cannot put an acrylic mirror like Hugh Manson did on them, as Bellamy's guitars are flat topped and the LP has a carved top. So I guess I'd be looking more into the paint or vinyl department. Can anyone help? I am in the UK, so importing from the US is a no. You could actually bend the mirror (persrex acrylic) by using a fire gun (or whatever you call it). Thats how I bent the headstock on my Mattocaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo57 Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 You could actually bend the mirror (persrex acrylic) by using a fire gun (or whatever you call it). Thats how I bent the headstock on my Mattocaster That's true... I remembered this just after I posted here. You could bend it very carefully... maybe even heat up the whole thing, then press it onto the body to get the right shape. Tom, are you thinking of doing just the front, or the back and sides as well? If you're going for the top-only thing, I would strip the finish, remove the binding, then slap the mirror on and fit some fresh new bindings (the added thickness from the perspex would most likely raise above the existing bindings). But, it wouldn't really be an easy thing to do. Personally, I would try out the paint first, because then it would just be a straightforward refinish job, and you could do the back of the neck too (would look badass!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooglebug Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 true chroming is an expensive process. even good chrome paint is very expensive. any cheap chrome paint will not look like chrome. it will look like silver coloured paint. to mirror a les paul properly would be very very difficult. even if you could bend it with a heat gun, which you probably couldnt without specialist equipment (vacuum press etc), it would add 3mm to the thickness of the top meaning you'd either have to raise the neck which isnt really feasible, or take 3mm off the top of the guitar, which, if you want to keep the carve, isnt terribly feasible either. basically, you're looking at a good few hundred pounds for half decent chrome paint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomG10-7 Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Yes I plan to just do the front of the body and headstock, and leave the sides and back the normal brown. I was thinking about bending the mirror and putting this on top, but it would be difficult fitting it exactly to the carve, and it would have to be very thin, so I could put all the hardware back on properly. I have heard from other places that chrome paint looks just like silver paint, but I do think paint would be the easiest way. I was also thinking of maybe using some mirror vinyl sheet that I could stick to the front. my only concern is that it would look to tacky or go wrong over the carved top, and when I put it on, sealing it with a clear coat would be tricky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil. Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 if money's not a problem, send it off to sims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr5025 Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 I've been wanting to do a mirror finish on a bass for awhile now. I was thinking of mirror vinyl. Anyone know any stores that carry it in the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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