Painting a guitar

domrush

I've got an old guitar ( An old strat to be exact) hanging around the house and was thinking of painting it. What are costs and mateirals needed? Also is there specific methods of doing this? Is it best left to professionals?

ArthurGuinness

What do you mean by paint exactly, do you mean paint on some grphics pictures or do you mean re-finishing the whole guitar. Either way id leave it to the pros.

68 lost souls

There are a few threads on here already that might be able to help you out. Many of them suggest giung to a site called guitar rerance and also they recommend some books. It can end up being quite expensive as you willl need many grades of sandpaper, many cans of paint and laquer and also some sand and sealer and a few other things.

User2

it's really not that expensive I am just finishing a project at the moment and it hasn't cost me much really.. A pro will charge you a fortune to do it..

Read the other threads, when you are finished the feeling will be worth it

stevosham

I would well advise you to stay clear of this....i ve seen a few guys doing it and it never works out fully successful!!

To do it right you must strip down the wiring and take out the pick ups...and then the bother will start!

My advice is if your axe sounds good and you like the action on it..leave it alone...old looking guitars are more rock n roll looking...and thats what we are all lookin for!!!!:D

Alanstrainor

stevosham wrote: »

I would well advise you to stay clear of this....i ve seen a few guys doing it and it never works out fully successful!!

To do it right you must strip down the wiring and take out the pick ups...and then the bother will start!

My advice is if your axe sounds good and you like the action on it..leave it alone...old looking guitars are more rock n roll looking...and thats what we are all lookin for!!!!:D

But on the likes of a strat, removing the pickups and electronics simply involves desoldering two wires and removing the pickguard complete with all the electronics. It's not exactly a big deal. I suppose on the likes of a telecaster or les paul you'd run into some difficulties though.

FruscianteFan

I build and finish my own guitars and its no that hard!
What type of finish is on the guitar you have? Poly or nitro? If it is a cheapo guitar it will have poly which is bitch to remove! You will need to burn it off or sand for AGES!! If you are doing a solid colour though you could just rough up the existing finish with sandpaper and put a primer on it, followed by the colour you want and if you want a gloss finish put a clear laquer over it!
Lacquer can be expensive and it VERY hard to get in Ireland, it is flammable so most places wont chip it!!
I would recommend going to Woodies and getting projekt paint for a tenner a can, its an aerosol acrylic laquer! comes in various colours and also clear.
Works just fine. Here is a pic of a guitar I made and finished! This was from raw wood and doesnt have a clear gloss on it! It is still glossy but isnt the glass like gloss! I think it looks good, dont know if you will though!
BTW it sounds UNREAL!! I put all custom vintage 62' Fender parts it it!!


That website that was mentioned is reranch not rerance!! :P There is alot of info there though most of it is about Nirto laquer.
Conor

domrush

ehh its a usa strat and i was only thinking of doing it because i bought it second hand and the previous owner repainted it ... only problem is the paint is peeling off in some places!! any ideas ?

aurin07

User2 wrote: »

A pro will charge you a fortune to do it..
it

erm.... no.

domrush wrote: »

ehh its a usa strat and i was only thinking of doing it because i bought it second hand and the previous owner repainted it ... only problem is the paint is peeling off in some places!! any ideas ?

you looking to get a solid coat done or some sort of graphics too??

domrush

a solid coat.. olimpic white probably... does sunburst cost more?

aurin07

domrush wrote: »

a solid coat.. olimpic white probably... does sunburst cost more?

a solid coat is easy... where are ya based??

domrush

galway

domrush

any idea what a sunburst coat would cost? + is there any guitar techs in galway?