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Location: Le Havre (France) | Hello,
Do you know if it is possible to remove the traditional epaulets from the top of an Adamas ?
How epaulets are attached to the carbon top ? Are they glued ? Are they originally attached with a particular process (hot temperatures / pressure) ?
Perhaps my question will shock some people here, but it is a serious question.
I wonder to know if it is possible to change the epaulets for other ones (different design, like the ones on Kaki King's Adamas).
Thank you. |
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| Good question Dude! Hey I get to say Dude! I have a set of epaulets that are carved in the shape of leaves, done in birdseye maple, walnut, cherry and some old pieces of rosewood. I have put off finishing this project because any tampering with a guitar may end up looking great! but it destroys the value. I figured if I can attach these with a flexible glue that is removable perhaps I will try it.
Randy |
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Location: Le Havre (France) | Hi Randy !
Your work should be great and beautiful !
Changing original epaulets certainly destroys the value, but concerning my project, it is not a problem as far as I intend to keep the guitar.
Attaching the new epaulets with flexible glue could be a good idea.
But the main problem is to remove the old ones without scratching the top... And I don't know how they've been fixed on it. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Dude,
The definitive answer needs to come from Customer service, John or Kim.
I know that the Epi's on both Ovations and Adamas' guitars have been changed out before but only on a one-for-one basis. |
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Location: NJ | I remember a post here a couple/three years ago where someone had removed the ep's from a red Elite-style guitar with relative success. There were even pictures posted.
Can't remember who it was tho, . . . sorry. |
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Location: Le Havre (France) | Thank you both for your answers.
Mike, I'll try to contact John or Kim.
Cliff, I found the topic you were talking about.
Unfortunataly, there is no more pics... |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Didn't xnoel use an iron to work the epaulets off of a viper? yes, here\'s the thread |
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Location: Le Havre (France) | Thank you DVD !
On an Adamas, is there any risk that the carbon fiber top "moves" or "dilates" while using an iron to warm epaulets ?
Another question concerns the painting. I guess top is painted before epaulets are glued on it. But while removing the rest of the old glue on the top, is there any risk that a "print" of the old epaulets remains ? |
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Location: Paris/France | Dude,
I sincerely thought you were joking when you asked if I know how to remove the epaulets of an Adamas!!!
Now, I know that you were serious... :eek:
Before to do something that you could regret during all your life and before to lose a good friend like me by wrecking such a nice guitar :D , maybe could you ask to the factory if they can change the original epaulets to Kaki's model.
I'm sure it would be a wise decision...
You're crazy my friend but without such ideas, you would not be Edouard... ;)
J :) |
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Location: Le Havre (France) | Originally posted by paulmac:
Before to do something that you could regret during all your life Life is too short for regrets !
Originally posted by paulmac:
before to lose a good friend like me by wrecking such a nice guitar :D Life is too short for loosing a good friend !
Originally posted by paulmac:
maybe could you ask to the factory if they can change the original epaulets to Kaki's model.
I'm sure it would be a wise decision...
You're crazy my friend but without such ideas, you would not be Edouard... ;)
J :) I'll follow your wise advice...
But I'm still thinking of this crazy project :D :D :D
;) |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Keep what you have and have a custom Adamas made to whichever spec you wanted. |
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Location: closely held secret |  |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Well, I thought of the same thing. Not changing epaulettes, but get rid of them (like Dave had on his Stealth Adamas). Take a look at my Adamas W597 (the link below to Jerome's page), I think, this thing would have a killer look without the wooden epis, black binding with MoP, black hardware.
But i am not sure what the surface would look like after removing them. And I am not interested in a paint job!
By the way: I would never take of the epaulettes on a textured top! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Personal opinion here ...
What I would do is 1) mask off the surface of the guitar exposing only the epaulets, 2) sand down the epaulets somewhat but not too far, 3) stain them or paint them black, 4) gloss and buff the new epaulets, 5) remove the masking.
Just an idea. |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Yes, Dave, I was thinking about the same thing, after seeing the pics of the Namm's Custom Shop 1680 with black maple epaulettes.
But your Stealth Adamas had this special bad boy touch, that I liked very much. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Kurt, I was thinking of your W597. Would look cool with black epaulets. Dave |
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| I think the solution to my project is easier because of the depth I still have to work with on the wood pieces I have made. Once I am done I will simple make them a fraction larger than the original eapulets and flex glue them to the current ones. This way I can remove them. and deminish the value of my Adamas's. When I get the done I will post a photo or two. I can tell you what I hve now looks outrageous! Perhaps there are others who would like a custom carved set in the hard woods like mine (expensive) or I can cast these and make a resin leaf eapulet set you can finish in the color or colors of your choice and attach yourself fairly reasonably?
Just thinking out loud. |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Thanks Dave,
I noticed that after writing, But the edit button was not that fast.
Yes, I have thought about this option as well - especialy after seeing the pictures of Namm's Custom Shop 1680. I think black or transparent black epaulettes would look cool on my W597.
But somehow I liked that pure, bad boy look of your Stealth Adamas. But sanding down and painting would be the first way to try. If it does not please me, i could take them off anyway.
Thank you! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Yes I regret selling that stealth adamas. That was certainly a great look. Johnny Cash would have loved it.
What do you think about the NAMM custom shop 2080 black glossy shiny bowl guitar? I think that one was a great looker as well.
Dave |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Yes, I remember that you fell in love with this one. I do not like the cateye and the nike swoosh, but apart from this that guitar looks great. I always like a clean, pure look. That guitar has all of it. And the blackburst gave it that extra special.
By the way, when did you sell the Stealth? I remember this guitar showing up on the american bay in 2003.
And yes, this would have been a guitar for Johnny Cash. Even more because the only picture I have seen him playing a Ovation he had to be comfortable with a Sunburst Elite. The Man in Black - with nearly the rainbow he would have loved to wear. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Sold the stealth in 2003. The ebay posting you saw was probably me selling it. It went to a guy in Ohio. Dave |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Well, I have to stop this now. Looking at the pictures of the Custom Shop 2080 makes me think about exactly this guitar, with bass side holes only, without epaulettes. But I bought this year four guitars already - and it is just two months old.
Other than you, I could never part with any of my guitars. That is my problem!
Best regards,
Kurt |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Well, sometimes things go their own way.
After being inspired by Dave to paint or stain the epaulettes of my W579, I took it from the wall to asure myself again what a great sounding guitar it was, when I recognized that the bass side epi was lifted up a little. I pushed it up, just a little bit, to see the surface under it - when it broke. Okay, I said to me, this must be a sign. I took my wife's iron and ironed it, took the epis off - what was very easy to do - and now I am polishing the hell out of my right arm to get the glue off. Looks good to me - and makes me aware again how good it feels to have a wife :D
Pics will follow for those who are interested. |
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Location: Le Havre (France) | Thank's everyone for your answers !
Kurt, I'me very interested in the pics you could take of your "removal epaulets operation" !
And what kind of stuff you use to get the glue off.
Dave, do you still have a pic of the stealth Adamas ? |
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Location: Le Havre (France) | Originally posted by Dude:
Dave, do you still have a pic of the stealth Adamas ? I found the pics in your gallery Dave.
Very very nice !!! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | There's pics of the stealth on my website. But that guitar was a bugger to get good photos of. Like trying to take pictures of a mirror. Dave |
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Location: Munich, Germany | 
Okay, it's done.
Dude, I started polishing it with Clover Nr.3 (I think it is a german brand ?), but it was too smooth. I should have taken Nr. 1 or 2, but I didn't have them. So I took car polish (for metallic colors) and dremeled the glue away. Now it is quite perfect, but I will polish again with Clover Nr. 2 for the small sratches.
I like the look of the guitar much better now.
But again, I would think about doing this to a textured top. The question is, how to polish it without changing the look of the normally semi matte surface? The top is not glossy, with a lot of 'holes' were the glue will stick in. I don't think it is too easy to get that job done perfectly.
Kurt |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | WOW. That looks REALLY NICE !!!! |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Thamks Dave! A new Stealth Adamas in the OFC! |
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Location: NJ | I like it.
GoodJob! |
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Location: Orange County, California | Another expample of "less is more".
Very nice guitar and and inspiration for the ACS (Adamas Custom Shop) to make a D-scale slothead. |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | That looks very cool. I want one in cobalt! Wonder if this is one of those things where the custom shop would charge more to leave off the ep's than to include them! ;) |
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Location: SoCal | That looks ssssooooo much better than the same guitar with epaulets. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Good job!
That is a nice effect. |
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Location: Paris/France | Wonderful guitar Kurt !!! ;)
J :) |
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Location: closely held secret | I'm with Moody. I think certain Adamii look very cool like that. |
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Location: France | Well done Kurt! I like it!
Can you send close pics of the epaulets?
Tom |
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Location: Le Havre (France) | Waouh Kurt !!
It's fantastic !!!
What a job !
And what a look !!!
I was sure those black Adamas look like killer guitars without epaulets !
But you're right, on a texture top (which would be the case if I do that), the risk is high to make painting off.
I wrote to John. He kindly answered me. But the bad news is that for him there's a 50-50 risk that the epaulets will scrap painting...
I don't know what to do... |
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Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Drop dead gorgeous!! Now, if the Mothership made them like that in a lighter silvery gray, I might think about it.
--Karen |
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Location: Munich, Germany | My Advice: Leave them as they are! Even if you'll get them off without hurting the paint, it will be a awful job to remove the glue. It is not easily polished away. You first have to scratch carefully away the bigger glue pieces. Then polish, polish, polish. And this will be the next problem: The textured tops don't have a high gloss finish. After polishing it, these areas will be glossy. Not, if you polish them at last with a very rough polish. But I won't take the risk to ruin the guitar if I were you.
With my W597: If I had ruined it, I would have gave her a new Clear gloss finish. No big deal, that every good luthier could have done. But with an old textured top - I doubt that it would have the same appearance (gold flitter, burst etc.)
As somebody mentioned: Order one as a Custom Order. The good thing about this - you will have two Adamas guitars then ;)
Kurt |
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Location: France | That's a good advice Kurt! Two adamas guitars is always better than one.
Tom |
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Location: NW NJ | Kurt - Drop dead gorgeous. Man, I LOVE that look!! |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I wonder if that could be done on a wood top 1768? |
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Changing epaulets