GregM
Member
I'm looking to paint a Les Paul (it will be a fresh body rather than a repaint or strip). The color will be cream/aged white. Does anybody have a recommendation for or against certain paints and clear coats?
Thanks!
Thanks!
RJF
Active member
Automotive paint. Honestly, unless you have the experience and equipment shooting difficult to apply products, it's probably best to find a professional if pro results are your goal. I just refinished an early Jackson myself and it turned out great, but it's not easy to do either. I think brokenfusion on here is really good with paint too, and did a Les Paul himself.
RJF
Active member
This is what I just finished. If you have the experience painting and have a small HVLP gun, you can get some pretty decent results.
F
fretout
Active member
Of you're painting a Gibson Les Paul, do NOT use modern automotive paints! Most modern automotive paints are some sort of polyurethane. This is the type of paint that is normally used on Asian-made guitars including Epiphones. The benefit to using poly is that it is extremely tough-wearing, meaning after the paint has cured, it's almost like a layer of plastic covering anything you painted. It's a durable, long lasting solution, but its not what most high-end guitars are painted with.
The paint that Gibson has always used is called Nitrocellulous paint. These types of paint were used on cars back in the 1950s, but they were restricted due to their environmental impact. The Nitro-based paints are her best option for refinishing a music instrument, such as a guitar, because the paint after its applied is usually pretty thin in comparison to other options. And, Since Nitro is thin and pourous, it allows the wood underneath the paint to breathe, and allows the wood to age at a more natural rate. Some say this has a beneficial impact on the tone of he guitar, while others scoff at the idea that paint could have any impact on the tone of a guitar. Another benefit of Nitro is that if you ever get a chip or a scratch in the guitar's finish, it's much easier to fix it using Nitro, and most times, you can't even tell when a repair has been made.
If I had any guitar stripped down to wood, I would choose to refinish with Nitro over anything else. I don't really care for how poly makes a guitar neck feel, plus, I tend to prefer the way Nitro finishes look opposed to poly.
As for where to look for Nitrocellulous paint, check out companies like Reranch or even Stewmac sells Nitro paints. They're pretty easy to apply...just remember...thin coats...
The paint that Gibson has always used is called Nitrocellulous paint. These types of paint were used on cars back in the 1950s, but they were restricted due to their environmental impact. The Nitro-based paints are her best option for refinishing a music instrument, such as a guitar, because the paint after its applied is usually pretty thin in comparison to other options. And, Since Nitro is thin and pourous, it allows the wood underneath the paint to breathe, and allows the wood to age at a more natural rate. Some say this has a beneficial impact on the tone of he guitar, while others scoff at the idea that paint could have any impact on the tone of a guitar. Another benefit of Nitro is that if you ever get a chip or a scratch in the guitar's finish, it's much easier to fix it using Nitro, and most times, you can't even tell when a repair has been made.
If I had any guitar stripped down to wood, I would choose to refinish with Nitro over anything else. I don't really care for how poly makes a guitar neck feel, plus, I tend to prefer the way Nitro finishes look opposed to poly.
As for where to look for Nitrocellulous paint, check out companies like Reranch or even Stewmac sells Nitro paints. They're pretty easy to apply...just remember...thin coats...
D
Distored
New member
Pay someone to do it. Unless you have experience with mixing paint, cleaning guns, applying finishes in a massive multi-state, let alone masking and hanging.
Use all of that time to practice guitar while someone else can do it better with there tools.
Unless your EVH, of course
Use all of that time to practice guitar while someone else can do it better with there tools.
Unless your EVH, of course
messenger
Well-known member
Check out the reranch forum
souldigger
Member
Check out reranch.com. You can also get nitro lacquer custom mixed at most Sherwin Williams paint stores. This option will require you have your own spray equipment.
D
dirtyfunkg
Well-known member
If you're going to spray Nitro yourself, make sure you handle the stuff properly and have a well ventilated spray area. It's extremely flammable/explosive (higher detonation velocity than TNT!) and toxic to breathe.
Edit: also, I think there are some misconceptions about poly worth considering. First off, you really don't need a thick coat of poly to get the protection (and color) you desire. In fact, you end up spraying much more nitro than you would poly, but more nitro evaporates than does poly (more solids to liquid/vapor in poly). A thin coat will, tonally, get you to a similar place as Nitro but will offer more durability and protection. Poly's bad reputation is a result too much being used on finishes.
I've done Tru-Oil on my neck and body with a very thin coat of poly for waterproofing/protection to great result. I'd measure that finish, tonally, to anything. I could stand to polish/buff it out a bit more, but tonally, it does not sound like my guitar is covered in plastic.
I would say my kit build Les Paul sounds every bit as good (if not better, IMHO) than my equivalent scale/wood Gibson Les Paul counterpart which is a nitro finish.
Edit: also, I think there are some misconceptions about poly worth considering. First off, you really don't need a thick coat of poly to get the protection (and color) you desire. In fact, you end up spraying much more nitro than you would poly, but more nitro evaporates than does poly (more solids to liquid/vapor in poly). A thin coat will, tonally, get you to a similar place as Nitro but will offer more durability and protection. Poly's bad reputation is a result too much being used on finishes.
I've done Tru-Oil on my neck and body with a very thin coat of poly for waterproofing/protection to great result. I'd measure that finish, tonally, to anything. I could stand to polish/buff it out a bit more, but tonally, it does not sound like my guitar is covered in plastic.
I would say my kit build Les Paul sounds every bit as good (if not better, IMHO) than my equivalent scale/wood Gibson Les Paul counterpart which is a nitro finish.
GregM
Member
I appreciate all the input. I did spend some time on the reranch and stewmac yesterday. I have a friend with a mobile auto paint repair business and another that owns a body shop, so I do have those options open.
The sites say that 3-4 cans is necessary, is that accurate? I know the wood would need to be sealed and primed before shooting the color. If it's going to take 3-4 cans of color plus the same in clear coat then it's approaching the cost of having it professionally done anyway.
The sites say that 3-4 cans is necessary, is that accurate? I know the wood would need to be sealed and primed before shooting the color. If it's going to take 3-4 cans of color plus the same in clear coat then it's approaching the cost of having it professionally done anyway.