Labels for DIY gear?

[Drumstruck]

Howdy,

What do you good t'rockers use for fascia labels on your DIY gear?

I have some vintage doovers with those plastic stick-on dymo labels that look.... well, like dymo labels .... and I'd like to put something a bit classier on them to signify what the switches and knobs do.... I'm sure there's something obvious that I haven't seen.....

thoughts? recommendations?

[astrovic]

Welcome to hell.

I've tried and struggled on any number of approaches, including lazertran, inkjet printing on to the smooth side of sticker sheets in reverse and rubbing them on (oh matron!), and ultimately the best approach I have found short of sending stuff off to professionals (like trophy makers) to do is to print on to heavy duty mailing labels, stick them on and then cover in a couple of clear coats of clear coat goop (known in the trade as CCG).

For example, an amp I did:



Better than dymo labels, not a patch on sending off to professionals, but at least it is darn cheap - just the cost of the label and the ink and the CCG. One problem is, you're limited by the fact that you can generally only print to A4 size and 19" is well, 19"

I have been keen to try etching an enclosure, a la http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/i ... ic=85803.0 - some really awesome stuff here.

At the end of the day, I find that you get what you pay for, in which case it becomes a case of what you are trying to achieve. If you're trying to impress clients, you invest in sexy faceplates. If it's strictly personal use only, then it's a case of whatever works for you.

Good luck! (Muahahahahaha)

[mylesgm]

I get my stuff done by a trophy engraver and for 1 19" panel that is pretty simple its about $20-30. They look great whilst still looking custom. You can fill the engraving with paint if you like though I haven't done this. You do want to make sure the engraver knows exactly what you want so either make up a mock faceplate on paper or draw want you want with pencil directly on the faceplate. Usually its done within an hour so I just go and get a coffee whilst I wait.

You could also use a letter/number punch which I haven't done but have meant to. Looks great and industrial.

Neither of the above matter whether the panel is aluminium or steel or whether the faceplate is coated or not, large or small etc.

[Drumstruck]

Thanks Chris and Myles - I thought that would be the answer....

For reworked gear with a modern fascia I think the engraving and paint fill is the way to go. (As a side note I applied for a job as an engraver / keycutter when I was a young dude - got knocked back because I'm left handed and all the tools are right handed - amazing....

The units I want to re-label actually have original grey vintage facias too, so I'm not keen to engrave them....

The modern dymos can use metallic tape with a choice of fonts - that would have to look better than the basic "old-style" stamped dymo tape that's on my units, though it does look vintage (vintage dymo omg) ..... whether it's worth spending $100 on a dymo and tape is the thing I'm pondering until someone else drops the obvious and beautiful answer on us.

[rick]

betterer solution..?

try this

you were excited enough to buy them as is
leave em as is !

i hate that look , but the kids with ironic moustashes think dynmo is way old school
and way cool !

i am betting your things are conveted domestic tape recorder preamps anyway and your going to find the dynamo
covers up whatever the box was labeled with and did in its first life

you have waited long enough ian

dynamo ? .. now your a hipster !

enjoy it !

[Drumstruck]

You're solution is likely to be the one that sticks Rick (dymo - stick - getit? - it's early, indulge me...)

Those "old" dymo labels are the right vintage too so it looks strangely authentic.....

and, yes, I did wait long enough (like 30 years daddy-o)....and I'm old enough to be a hepcat too


fyi converted Ferrograph 4 units are the fascias and may well be the innards - 5 valve line preamps w/ 2 x EF86, 1 x ECC83, 1 x EZ80, 1 x EL84. The red, orange and blue glows..... the smell.... and though I did buy them for the sound the old fascias, big knobs and VUs add to the appeal..... am I talkin' your language there?

[rick]

I think if one has to explain his jokes ,
one is not offically a hipster !