Elite TRC Question

[Curmudgeon]

While changing strings on my new Elite, I noticed that what I thought was just a plain TRC has "Gibson" faintly visible under the finish. Just curious whether these were "guide" letters for the engraver, or old stock that was filled in with something, or what? Not that it makes a difference, but I'm just curious.

 

[Barcham]

It's possible that the Gibson lettering just faded off with cleaning over time. Checking mine, I could see how that could happen. I am always very careful when cleaning the TRC on my Elitists so not to damage the text.

 

[msvsdoj]

I don't think so on this one Barcham. I've posted before but one of mine is exactly as he describes, I believe. The other 2 say Elitist.

Curmudgeon, is this what you're talking about? Notice the N is faintly visible in the picture...it was hard to capture but it looks like Gibson was painted over in gloss black.

 

[Barcham]

The TRC on my GT says 'Gibson' and it really wouldn't take that much to wear off the white writing leaving behind a ghost image. Anything is possible with a TRC though, some say nothing, some say Gibson and others are marked Elitist like on my SG.

 

[msvsdoj]

From someone with experience using a paint gun, I can say this is definitely underneath the paint...

 

[Barcham]

There should be no paint on a TRC other than the lettering. It's just black plastic.

 

[msvsdoj]

There should be no paint on a TRC other than the lettering. It's just WHITE plastic.

Fixed it for you...seems like a silly thing to debate really.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I don't think so on this one Barcham. I've posted before but one of mine is exactly as he describes, I believe. The other 2 say Elitist.

Curmudgeon, is this what you're talking about? Notice the N is faintly visible in the picture...it was hard to capture but it looks like Gibson was painted over in gloss black.

Yep, that's it exactly, Tom. The letters are raised ever so slightly. Almost appears that the lettering was filled in & then covered with an ultra-thin veneer.

 

[Mr Teeny]

The lettering appears to have been heat impressed on the trc's it's not engraved like some trc's you see, it's just plastic lettering on top of a blank two ply black/white trc. It's likely someones just rubbed/buffed it off and you're seeing the slight impression. They'd be little need to fill it in or paint it as it comes off easily enough, rub your finger over one and you'll see the letters sit slightly proud not idented.

 

[Curmudgeon]

The lettering appears to have been heat impressed on the trc's it's not engraved like some trc's you see, it's just plastic lettering on top of a blank two ply black/white trc. It's likely someones just rubbed/buffed it off and you're seeing the slight impression. They'd be little need to fill it in or paint it as it comes off easily enough, rub your finger over one and you'll see the letters sit slightly proud not idented.

Yeah, the letters are raised ever so faintly.

 

[Skit]

Fixed it for you...seems like a silly thing to debate really.

And yet you went there. It is black and white plastic. Do you wear a mask when you're spraying?

 

[msvsdoj]

And yet you went there. It is black and white plastic. Do you wear a mask when you're spraying?

Hopefully you wear a respirator when you paint, especially when you're putting black paint on white plastic.

 

[Mr Teeny]

Those trc's are two ply plastic with a printed white GIBSON, no one is going to go to the trouble of masking the white edges and spray painting them when the letters can be rubbed off. Even things like brasso or nail varnish remover can be used to take them off with no damage. I've 4 of them and each is the same and seen plenty where the letters have now faded from being overcleaned.