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Barbie tuners

Posted by Bluesheart on November 19, 2010 at 2:43pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion
I bought a Barbie guitar at the thrift shop a while back. It had a set of fully functional tuners on it, a nut, bridge and a nice straight neck. I guess it is 1/2 size kids guitar. Not bad for 1.00! Thing is the tuners have bright pink buttons. I have spray painted one of them black for a d-bow and that seems to work ok but now I'm thinking. Sorry for rambling.
I'm wondering how I can convert them from just pink, to psychedelic! Gonna make a CB dulcimer for a hippie friend. She is a Deadhead, but I don't want to do a full on Grateful Dead build.
Anyone know what would be a good way to alter the tuning buttons?

barbie.JPG

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Replies

  • petey twofinger January 2, 2011 at 1:43pm

    the psychedelic tuners look amazing ! they remind me of adrian belews album cover for "op zop too wah" .

     

    they do sell some special paint (it has acid in it i think) that works well on plastic . spray paint , they do have it at wal mart as well . but if i remember correctly its like 6 bucks a can .  nice find on the dollar barbie guitar , although i had a pretty tough time with barbie so far . i have messed with 2 barbie units , one karoake machine with echo for an amp . it was demonic , i gave up i think . another mini karoake barbie thing with echo that had a bad trace , wasted at least three hours on it , trying to mod the timing resistor for long delay . gave up , gave it to my niece , she LOVED that thing .

  • 3 String Blues January 1, 2011 at 2:36am

    I Like what matt said..."Pank tuners"!!!! 

     

    man those are priceless..i would keep them pant too....dont paint the pank thangs!

  • Raymond L December 31, 2010 at 8:15pm
    You can soak them in a strong solution of RIT fabric dye.  The dye will not stick or turn the metal.
  • Mark Bliss December 13, 2010 at 1:30am

    Here ya go:

  • Bluesheart December 12, 2010 at 9:15pm

    Thanks for the interest. I use Testors model paints floated on water in a plastic cup. Mixed dish soap with the water to break the surface tension( Borax seems to be the soap of choice, but I just used what I had in the kitchen). Taped the tuners to protect the steel parts from the water and paint.(I used electrical tape). Driped paint onto water with toothpicks, swirl it around to create a nice pattern. Dip tuner button into paint with a zig-zag motion. Once submerged in the water, I blew on the surface to disburse the rest of the paint and pulled the tuner out. Sorry, I can not seem to get the pic to attach open so you can see it.

  • Craig Cox December 12, 2010 at 2:18pm

    here's a link to the psychedelic tuner thread

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/swirljob-1?xg_source=activity

    I agree, don't paint those pink tuners, get some cheapos from Gitty!

  • Don Thompson December 12, 2010 at 12:46pm

    Wow dude, totally far out and groovy.

    Bluesheart said:

    Here is the pic, I think!?

  • MichaelS Country Boy Guitars December 12, 2010 at 12:18pm

    Hey really cool, now how did you do it! Inquiring minds want to know. ps, good to see you did not use the already cool pink tuners. 

    Bluesheart said:

    Here is the pic, I think!?

  • Diane in Chicago December 11, 2010 at 7:25pm

    That Turk is a stealthy guy. What was his paint recipe before he deleted his post?  Was that Testors model paints floated on water?

  • Bluesheart December 11, 2010 at 7:06pm

    Here is the pic, I think!?

    swirljob.jpg

This reply was deleted.