Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm at the point of gluing in a label. I thought it would be interesting to see the Labels you all are using.

Would you post a picture?

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Labels were quite the frustrating issue here for me for a very long time. I just hated everything that I came up with and what I hated the most was seeing any white on the paper through the sound hole......

Recently it occurred to me that I could photograph each individual back and print the label paper with a shot of the actual wood that each individual guitar is made of........ This is done is layers and then the brand/model info is layered on top of that.

So now I like my label and I have yet to see anyone else use this technique of printing the label on an actual shot of the specific guitar back.

This is the design I've used since around 1982. I designed it using the old style letraset stuff, though now i have it on a disk.
I hand sign and fill in number year and style.

I use 2 labels on my guitars. Sorry I don't have a close up at hand....

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Hesh, that's brilliant. Can I shamelessly steal that idea?

Steve buddy - sure, I am very glad that you like it!

Here is what I use... I tried to keep it simple.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Even though I don't sell guitars, having the added aesthetic value of a finished design is something I want for myself. Some people will probably think that's silly, but to each their own. I've been working on these lately. My headstocks have a unique design to make them recognizable, so they don't feature any inlay. Making these labels the only feature of my guitars with a word mark.

I have four designs, and they're all just a bit larger than a Border's Rewards keychain card. They don't feature serial numbers or any additional text, and that's just a reflection of my direction. Just the logo, a thin border, and my name. Each label is located to the right of the back strip.

They're being laser-etched into mahogany this week by http://www.lasercrafters.com.

Congratulations on so recently reaching the milestone of your 100th! The customer will certainly be happy receiving a guitar with that serial number.

Here's what I've been playing around with. I'm not quite settled on the font. On a purely visual level, it seems OK, but that style of font inside an oval has some conflicts. I haven't built 107 guitars, by the way. I'm thinking of incorporating the year into the number. This one was #1 of 2007, completed in September.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Congratulations on so recently reaching the milestone of your 100th! The customer will certainly be happy receiving a guitar with that serial number.[/quote]

Thanks, Anthony

It does feel good to have reached 100 !!
It took me 16 years ! Ten of which were full time.

This guitar was not a custom order.
I wanted the freedom of making all the decisions on this one.
I just finished taking pictures of it and it will be on my web site soon.
It is available for sale.

Mark

Here's ours.

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Hesh, great idea!

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Mine was created by OLF's Michael Payne with my artwork. The background photo is of my shop. First two digits are construction sequence and last two are year made, pretty standard I guess.
So Chuck, we don't seem to see your label here!!!

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

You all have beautiful labels and all have very unique ideas. I like everyone of them as each one reflects a part of you and the love of your craft.

John, oh how I wish I could post a picture. I am on my first guitar and getting the bracing glued to the back. I wanted to see you labels to give me some idea as what to make, but what I have learned is this. I can't copy or combine any parts of these to make one. It appears that making labels is an art in itself. These are images that are bourne inside our hearts and minds.
There is indeed a dim shape stirring in the foggy mist of my mind. It will soon manifest itself with time and render the love it was given as it rests so peaceful in my heart. One shall not be given The Label until the Master has forged it in our soul.

Someday I hope to proudly display a Master Luthier stamp to my guitar. But then, that's when BILLY T will have alien heads and guitar sunglasses with a talking computer named HAL in some crazy Space Odyssey as he renders our labels Looney Tunes with his Photoshop program. Love ya Billy T

Thanks for the Labels guys.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

What paper do you guys use and how do you keep them moisture resistant?
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

I trim mine just a hair outside the outermost line.



I've just bought paper that I liked the look of at an art supply store. Nothing special about it, and haven't worried about moisture resistance. Haven't had a problem yet. And I would venture that if I haven't had problems with them living in the wet tropics, then it's probably not an issue.

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia

I use parchment. I print on a laser printer.... much more water resistant than inkjet printing.
After I write on them I spray on a thin coat of lacquer.

Mark

I do what Mark does, only I DO use an inkjet.
And moisture is an issue, so I lightly mist a coat or two of lacquer before gluing it on to the back.
It adds an interesting look to the label, by the way.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I've just been working on the first real version of mine. This is basically it, except that the box and lettering are supposed to be blue instead of black. The K inside the circle is also the pattern for headstock inlays on SS's, which would either be a circular inlay in two materials, or I would leave the K as the original headstock material and inlay the blocks around it.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

My label:

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Love all the labels - you can really tell that they were agonized over in certain cases, and just came naturally to others,,, all are very well done!!!
Im personally planning on branding the name of my guitar co into the backwood or the headblock, (ala Martin I believe?)
Lee valley has customizable branding irons for just such purposes... I figure that this way theres no way for the label to fall off... and it would make it difficult for thieves to obscure without drawing suspicion,,,
As for the model and date Im still figuring on how to do that, perhaps with individual stamp dyes.. Im sure Ill figure something!
Cheers
Charlie