Painting an electric guitar?

[kmano8]

Anyone here have experience with painting an electric guitar? I have a midnight blue telecaster with a gloss finish. I've had it for 6 years, and recently I've wanted to give it somewhat of a personal touch... nothing big. I was thinking maybe pinstriping around the pickguard, or stripes that look more like racing stripes on a diagonal across the face of the guitar.

Let me know if this is a realistic project or if I'm completely insane to want to attempt this.

[cityondown5]

There was some guy who painted his guitar to have a firedancer on it. I think it was posted on this site.

Here it is, this should help:

http://www.antsmarching.org/forum/showthread.php?t=166732&highlight=firedancer+guitar

[fresh21]

nothing big. I was thinking maybe pinstriping around the pickguard, or stripes that look more like racing stripes on a diagonal across the face of the guitar.

sounds like John Mayer's custom fender - http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0119705844

[kmano8]

sounds like John Mayer's custom fender - http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0119705844
damn, check it out. that looks nice. I don't know if I'd want them as thick, but that's definitely the style I'm looking to go for.

[fresh21]

sweet looking fender if you ask me! if i had the coin i would definitly pick up the dark blue w. white stripes version....

oh well...

keep us informed on your painting and how it goes! pics will be a must..hehe

[TheRealGuyute]

If you're wanting the racing stripes like that, you're definitely going to want to strip it and do a complete refinish.

The post about the firedancer guitar does a pretty good job of walking you through the steps he took.

Instead of going to Home Depot for supplies, you might think about going to Luthiers' Mercantile (http://www.lmii.com/) or Stew-Mac (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies.html) for the supplies. Depends on how "pro" you want the finish. I believe both these companies have books on finish, too (if you're so inclined). IMO, it's always better to take on a project like this with all the education you can get.

[SweetUp&Down40]

I got a strat painted by a kitchen maker a while back, did a fantastic job. cost bout US$75

[kmano8]

I got a strat painted by a kitchen maker a while back, did a fantastic job. cost bout US$75
I was actually thinking about bringing the body to an autobody shop to see if they'd do it. It sounds crazy, but I can't imagine they'd charge that much. I'd do it myself, but I wouldn't trust myself stripping down my beautiful tele with no knowledge of paints/lacquers/finishes.

[nufe22]

i don't think that this is what you're thinking of, but painting it all white then hand- painting your own shit on there would be sweet. Jimi Hendrix always got white strats and painted them up before shows.

[DaveHead36]

I'd recommend finding some pawnshop cheapo electric that you could practice on. That way if you screw it up somehow you're only out a little bit of money.

Also, be well educated in what you're doing. I did mine very half-assed and it looks it lol.

I used my old Fender Squire strat. The thing rarely stays in tune for more than 5 minutes. So I stripped it down and applied a chalkboard finish to the body. It's actually kinda cool cos I always draw on it and whatnot. Had I done it proper it would have looked great. But it was just a pet project for myself.

[cerpin_taxt]

Use oil-based paint. I'm currently repainting an old bass with a latex paint, and it looks like shit.

[kmano8]

Anyone know what the effects of applying dry erase marker to a gloss finished guitar would be? Say if I wanted to draw different designs on it for different gigs. Would it come off easily with no guitar damage?

[earl]

The red and white psychadelic Strat that Hendrix torched at Monterey was painted with nail polish.

http://www.guitardoctor.com/inventory_pages/hendrix_montery_pop_1965_repro_strat_ss1.htm

[kmano8]

The red and white psychadelic Strat that Hendrix torched at Monterey was painted with nail polish.

http://www.guitardoctor.com/inventory_pages/hendrix_montery_pop_1965_repro_strat_ss1.htm
I've seen that before.. it's absolutely beautiful. Maybe I should get an olympic white strat and have one of the girls I know paint the thing up with nail polish (with my guidance of course:)). THAT would be sick. I know someone who's pretty artistic that might be interested... it'd get here some exposure too, so everybody wins:)

[crozetiga]

I dont have any experiece painting guitars, but I have refinished alot of furniture and various objects around the house so I will put my 2 cents in.

First, make sure that you comfortable taking the guitar apart and putting it back together. If you can't solder, i probably wouldnt attempt it.

Next, preparation is the key! Alot of people make the mistake of not preparing the surface well enough. Though you may think you are ruining your guitar, you need to take fine grit sandpaper and scuff the surface before painting because paint will not stick to slick surfaces. Make sure you scuff every place that you are going to paint cause it will look bad if you dont. Dont forget to dust the guitar off before you paint.

Note- dont use latex paint- latex paint is for walls and thats just about it! I wouldnt brush on anything cause it is really hard to get it even and without brush strokes. I would use spray if at all possible. I dont really know but I think an automotive finish would look the best on a guitar. You can get spray cans of that at retail stores, in the auto section, or at just about any auto parts store.

When painting, hold the can 6-12 inches away, and add color a little at a time. If you try to go to fast, your paint will run and that will suck. You can put on as many coats as you want, but i would recommend at least 2. Let the paint dry pretty well between coats.

For the stripes, wait until the base coat is dry (really dry- like a day or 2) Then find out where you want the stripes and mask it off. Make sure you mask off the rest of the guitar so no overspray gets on it. Then sand the places where you are going to paint with the fine grit sandpaper so the next layer has something to stick to. Dust the guitar off and apply the color to the stripes. Do more coats if you desire.

Then to make it shine I would do a clear coat. This time get a really fine sandpaper like 500 or 1000 grit and just slightly scuff the outside. Then spray clear lacquer as you would paint.

Disclaimer: I would definately try this on a beater guitar first and not test things out on your Fender. I am by no means and expert on refinishing guitars, so dont take my word as gospel. If you mess up your guitar, that it not my fault...


Josh

[kmano8]

Thanks for your help Josh.. I appreciate it. If I were to go ahead with the stripes, could I just mask off the guitar where the stripes won't be and sandpaper down that area, or would I have to sand down the whole guitar?

It seems like I could just sand down where I want my stripes, apply stripe color spray paint (sand & repeat coats), the just apply clear coat to the whole guitar.

Yes/no?

[crozetiga]

Just sand the part where you are putting the stripes when applying stripes. Then later you sand the whole thing very lightly with tthe 500-1000 grit sandpaper before the clear coat

If you just want stripes and dont want to change the color of the guitar, then i suppose you could just mask off that part and apply the stripes then clear coat over it.

Josh

[kmano8]

Just sand the part where you are putting the stripes when applying stripes. Then later you sand the whole thing very lightly with tthe 500-1000 grit sandpaper before the clear coat

If you just want stripes and dont want to change the color of the guitar, then i suppose you could just mask off that part and apply the stripes then clear coat over it.

Josh

Wouldn't this leave the clear coat looking "unlevel"? Your first paragraph makes more sense to me even though I wish I could just sand were the stripes were going.

[DaveHead36]

Anyone know what the effects of applying dry erase marker to a gloss finished guitar would be? Say if I wanted to draw different designs on it for different gigs. Would it come off easily with no guitar damage?

I would imagine if it did stick to the body, since it's dry erase, it'll come off on your skin. You'll be multicolored by the end of the show. Unless you just draw on it and don't ever play it and have it for show. I use my chalkboard finish guitar sometimes. I've learned where I can draw on it without smudging it all up, even still I come away with chalk everywhere on me.