Frankie Front Pickup Color

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allenc5150
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Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by allenc5150 » Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:58 pm

Perhaps this information is floating around out there somewhere but I cannot seem to find it, and this place is where the truly hardcore Ed heads dwell, SO...does anyone know what color that Mighty Mite front pickup cover is? I'm going to be painting a black one to match and I'm going for that dull, brick red-looking, but not really, color. Has anyone attempted to paint one of these things? My current red pickup is not very convincing.
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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by azazael » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:17 pm

It's not paint.

It's phenolic/bakelite and so is the base.

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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by allenc5150 » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:24 pm

Hi azazael, I figured the original Mighty Mite was - but barring making a convincing replica cover of bakelite somehow, the rest of us are going to be using paint. Your SSL-7 cover doesn't look black, what did you use?
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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by vanhalen5150 » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:25 pm

A good way to fake those is with red/rust colored primer. Take your regular pickup cover and cut/sand it so only the top surface is left. Paint that and the base with the primer and epoxy the top back onto the pickup base. Looks pretty close.
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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by azazael » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:33 pm

allenc5150 wrote:Hi azazael, I figured the original Mighty Mite was - but barring making a convincing replica cover of bakelite somehow, the rest of us are going to be using paint. Your SSL-7 cover doesn't look black, what did you use?
I used phenolic/bakelite.
You can buy them and dead authentic relic pickups from a member on here, dont know if he is still doing it though.

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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by vanhalen5150 » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:35 pm

I think it's YMIG5150
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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by allenc5150 » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:39 pm

Thanks, guys. Love this place. Vanhalen5150, if I go the DIY way, looks like Rustoleum 7569838 - Red Primer might be the way forward.
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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by vanhalen5150 » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:49 pm

It works. Cheap single coils are a dime a dozen. You'll also notice there is a small hole in the middle of the 3 and 4 pole pieces. Drill that first. Cut around the top of the cover leaving about a mm or so below the top. Lay it flat on some sandpaper and sand it down so there is a little bit of a lip left, but don't go to far or the top shape will distort.
To mimic the top phenolic take a rough grade of sandpaper and sand the top a few times in 2 direction at 90 degrees. This will also mimic the real look of the original phenolic when you add the primer. Tap over the middle of the pickup as well as the slugs and paint the base. Epoxy the top piece back on top.
Just an easy cheap way to fake it.
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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by YMI5150? » Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:23 am

I've got a handful of caps and bases left. much better than just using primer.

my plate's pretty full these days so I'm "selling" my little business to Kyle. I've always supplied him with nonfunctional MM lookalikes as well as selling directly. I just dont have time to do it any more. after a month or so he'll be the source for these parts.

cheers

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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by azazael » Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:48 am

Does that not mean we will be waiting 6 months to get the things now??

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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by YMI5150? » Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:02 am

I've provided him with 15 built pups, and will be providing him 15 sets of components for him to build out so there should be minimal lag due to waiting for parts.

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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by leadguy » Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:08 am

How many Mighty Mites did Ed buy.
I think I can come up with 3.
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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by spcv » Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:14 pm

azazael wrote:Does that not mean we will be waiting 6 months to get the things now??
Well, if one is waiting on a body or neck, he'll probably ship them together... But, if I know a thing or two, prices will more than likely go up...

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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by azazael » Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:43 pm

Probably would have been better offering the business to Mitch at Mean Street.
Kyle has such a bad name these days that I would never even consider buying anything from him.

I've got a few projects that I plan to start in future too but I think I will either be using Musikraft or KNE again.

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Re: Frankie Front Pickup Color

Post by spcv » Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:14 pm

Well, his Franky body is more accurate than KnE's... and his Franky neck is more accurate than Musikraft's... at least the one I have. But yes, Mitch at Axcessories is probably the best person to deal with, the best I've dealt with so far!!!

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