Official Luthiers Forum!

So, what paper are you guys using for labels? I've been using handmade paper and guitars have gotten quite a bit more responsive with incredible projection, drowned out three banjos! Seriously though I do use handmade paper but due to the uneven quality of the paper the glue can wet it out and create dark spots on the label, and it seems a waste of time putting a label in and have to redo it.
I know this seems like a trivial question, but what has a quality look to it and worked well for you?

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I have found some interesting paper at Michael's craft stores; lots of colour, texture, patina, etc.

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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

Southworth 100% cotton 24lb. resume paper.
Oh yes, and I hit it with with shellac before cutting out the label and installing...

As above, 100% cotton. I then dip the printed label in Seedlac. Gives it a slightly mottled appearance, immediate age to it.

Resumé paper as well, thicker is better IMO and the highest linen content that I can find.

If printing your labels on an i*k j*t printer a very light mist coat of lacquer or two helps fix the colors hopefully for a very long time...

A light mist of 3M spray adhesive and some careful positioning even though our arms are in the way... and I'm good to go.

High quality resume paper too. I like the parchment color/pattern. I put mine on with Titebond and then coat them with Titebond. I've good luck with that method for putting paper on wood for about 20 years.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I never really used a label since I can't seem to find anything better than regular office paper, at least ones I could print on. I figure I could make a run of professional looking labels if I had volume.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Southwell 24lb Parchment paper from Office Max.

I'm not sure what kind I use since I bought a bunch of it years ago but as mentioned it was very high quality thick paper. I print of a whole bunch with blanks in to fill by hand like the date and signature. I like to burn the edges of the paper with a lighter for an interesting I guess weathered look IDK. I don't remember where I got the idea for that but I like it.

I just use a nice grade of 25 lb bond paper. And I use goldenrod (that's a color, not a thing) It is pleasing to my eye.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Acid free paper is reputed to be longer lasting. I found some at the art store.

Some good suggestion here, thanks. I'll have to check out an office supply store.
I have also been wondering about the stock they print wine labels on, some of that seems pretty nice. Anyone have an opinion on that?
Thanks!

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Yes in deed. I do like my wine with proper labels. To my palate it just taste better.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

How do you feed heavy paper through a printer, and how do you make sure the print is durable as well (inkjets are terrible, the ink washes out and fades over time)?

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I feed mine down through the back, one at a time.
Even used card without problems. Come to think of it, it's common to print photographs for example.
Laser Printer if you're worried about it, I actually did some as a trial on a home monochrome laser.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Inkjets and their ink have improved over the years. You can obtain Archival/Pigment ink that should last a mighty long time. Put a finish with a little UV protection over it and it should last even longer, which is partly why I shellac over my labels. You can test the ink by placing a test label on a window that receives a lot of sunlight.

If you reload ink cartridges, then yes you can get various inks to do various things, but if you stick with factory inks like many people, then no way. Also I got sick of inkjets a while ago... the thing clogs if you stop printing something for 2 hours! And once it clogs, you waste 2 gallons of ink trying to clean the thing so that it works, if at all. Also printer manufacturers hate people reloading ink cartridges so they put in features that would dissuade people from doing it, from chipped cartridges to secret ink counters that cause the printer to stop working as soon as it thinks it has printed enough pages (or dumped enough ink from cleaning)

Also archival ink, at least the ones Epson uses, will not clean out once it clogs.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Not been my experience. My ink-jet labels from 2003 are just fine. They were done on an old Desk-Jet. I have found that not all ink-jet printers are created equal. As I said earlier, I put them on with TiteBond and also brush TiteBond over the top of them. Don't know what they'll look like in another 20 years. Basically a kind of a simple decoupage.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Resume paper! After signing and dating, I spray/seal with a product called "Fixatif" before gluing it into my instrument. Fixatif can be found in the art dept of your local craft store.