ZZ Top Costumes - New Pics 10-31-2010
- Thread starter mrsmartypants
- Start date
mrsmartypants
Well-Known Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - Pic Update 9/30/2010
Thanks!
Ran into a couple of snags....first, the hardware that came with the guitars is chromed. We've tried several times to paint the hardware gold, but it looks like someone just spray painted the pieces gold and flakes off when assembling. So, we ended up buying new machine heads and tune-o-matic bridge assembly already done in gold. They look much nicer than what we've done!
Also, I found a better pic of Billy Gibbons' guitar and our fur just isn't quite right:
Billy's:
Ours:
So, I found a better piece of fur...a little thicker and coarser with better body to it. The original piece I bought is just too soft...it's lamb's fur. I found an article about the guy who built the originals and they are sheep fur (from Billy's sheep!), so we are switching to that instead.
Here's a nice slab I found on ebay:
Thanks!
Ran into a couple of snags....first, the hardware that came with the guitars is chromed. We've tried several times to paint the hardware gold, but it looks like someone just spray painted the pieces gold and flakes off when assembling. So, we ended up buying new machine heads and tune-o-matic bridge assembly already done in gold. They look much nicer than what we've done!
Also, I found a better pic of Billy Gibbons' guitar and our fur just isn't quite right:
Billy's:
Ours:
So, I found a better piece of fur...a little thicker and coarser with better body to it. The original piece I bought is just too soft...it's lamb's fur. I found an article about the guy who built the originals and they are sheep fur (from Billy's sheep!), so we are switching to that instead.
Here's a nice slab I found on ebay:
mrsmartypants
Well-Known Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - Pic Update 9/30/2010
Small update: the necks are done! Got the vinyl logo stickers from the printer on Monday and got them all put on tonight....was a real mother getting them over the frets nice and tightly! But, they look pro! The vinyl is so paper thin, it looks like they were just painted on.
The new fur arrived yesterday and the gold hardware will be here tomorrow, so the guitars will be totally done before the weekend is over. Can't wait!
Here's a few shots of the finished necks:
Small update: the necks are done! Got the vinyl logo stickers from the printer on Monday and got them all put on tonight....was a real mother getting them over the frets nice and tightly! But, they look pro! The vinyl is so paper thin, it looks like they were just painted on.
The new fur arrived yesterday and the gold hardware will be here tomorrow, so the guitars will be totally done before the weekend is over. Can't wait!
Here's a few shots of the finished necks:
DS Operative
Sr Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - Pic Update 10/07/2010
Amazing job so far! I just saw ZZ Top in concert a few weeks ago and they put on an awesome show. I hadn't seen them since 1984.
I love the attention to detail you're putting into these. I think 99.99% of the people wont be looking that closely at them to notice the gold details or type of fur, but there will be no doubt in anybody's mind how accurate they are. I can't wait to see the finished products!
Amazing job so far! I just saw ZZ Top in concert a few weeks ago and they put on an awesome show. I hadn't seen them since 1984.
I love the attention to detail you're putting into these. I think 99.99% of the people wont be looking that closely at them to notice the gold details or type of fur, but there will be no doubt in anybody's mind how accurate they are. I can't wait to see the finished products!
mrsmartypants
Well-Known Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - Pic Update 10/07/2010
Thanks everyone! I'm real happy with how these are turning out so far. I agree that most people won't notice a lot of the small details, but we're still trying to make them as accurate as possible down to the nth degree.
Thanks everyone! I'm real happy with how these are turning out so far. I agree that most people won't notice a lot of the small details, but we're still trying to make them as accurate as possible down to the nth degree.
mrsmartypants
Well-Known Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - Pic Update 10/07/2010
First guitar is complete!! Here are some photos and a new video testing the spin action:
New Test Video: Spinning Test 2
First guitar is complete!! Here are some photos and a new video testing the spin action:
New Test Video: Spinning Test 2
tubachris85x
Master Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - First Guitar Completed! New pix and Video Page 2
LOL Nice
LOL Nice
mrsmartypants
Well-Known Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - First Guitar Completed! New pix and Video Page 2
Thanks guys, appreciate the comments on our work!
Funny side note: I sent the video link to a good buddy of mine who happens to be ZZ Top's production manager....he said our guitar looks better than the original! :thumbsup
Thanks guys, appreciate the comments on our work!
Funny side note: I sent the video link to a good buddy of mine who happens to be ZZ Top's production manager....he said our guitar looks better than the original! :thumbsup
freebirdforever
New Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - First Guitar Completed! New pix and Video Page 2
Wow...just wow. those are AMAZING! I might have to do this.....
Wow...just wow. those are AMAZING! I might have to do this.....
mrsmartypants
Well-Known Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - First Guitar Completed! New pix and Video Page 2
New update: the guitar and bass are completed! They turned out even sweeter than I'd hoped for:
Here's just an indvidual shot of the guitar and the bass (which originally started out as a guitar):
Last shot is "Dusty" doing a dry run with the beard, glasses and hat. The hats and jackets will be weathered and the beards have to be trimmed and shaped a bit, but this gives a good idea of how they will look. We have mustaches to go with them as well, but "Dusty" already had a small one going, so that gave us a ballpark idea how it will look all put together:
We'll be doing a full-on "dress rehearsal" early next week and we've been practicing the standard ZZ Top moves. We also have a red leather box with a ZZ Top keychain and key inside (I'll post a pick of that later. I still have to apply the ZZ gold logo to the top of the lid) and we got our hands on some ZZ guitar picks and backstage passes from their current tour to hand out to the ladies. LOL
New update: the guitar and bass are completed! They turned out even sweeter than I'd hoped for:
Here's just an indvidual shot of the guitar and the bass (which originally started out as a guitar):
Last shot is "Dusty" doing a dry run with the beard, glasses and hat. The hats and jackets will be weathered and the beards have to be trimmed and shaped a bit, but this gives a good idea of how they will look. We have mustaches to go with them as well, but "Dusty" already had a small one going, so that gave us a ballpark idea how it will look all put together:
We'll be doing a full-on "dress rehearsal" early next week and we've been practicing the standard ZZ Top moves. We also have a red leather box with a ZZ Top keychain and key inside (I'll post a pick of that later. I still have to apply the ZZ gold logo to the top of the lid) and we got our hands on some ZZ guitar picks and backstage passes from their current tour to hand out to the ladies. LOL
Last edited:
DaJudgeinator
New Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - New Pics 10-21-2010
Just wondering....are you also going to use the rig for acoustic guitars and drum ala Back to the Future 3?
Just wondering....are you also going to use the rig for acoustic guitars and drum ala Back to the Future 3?
mrsmartypants
Well-Known Member
Re: ZZ Top Costumes - New Pics 10-21-2010
We could, but don't have any use for that scenario right now.
We could, but don't have any use for that scenario right now.
