Guitar Refinishing?

[metalmm785]

Hey guys,
I have this Jackson that i really like, it sounds and plays awesome, however, i never really liked the colour/finish on it from the get go (tobacco burst, got it in a trade). If i was to have the guitar re-painted, where would you guys recomend me to get it done at?

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Digital Jams]

What type of paint job you looking for?

If a solid color I would take it down myself and flip the local auto body joint $50 to shoot it.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

I would ask around and try and find a luthier in your area that does alot of finish work and does it well. I am sure there is atleast one in any major town.

You would be better off spraying it yourself than having it painted by a body shop.

 

[Ayrton]

All are recommended painters...

http://www.martybellfinishing.com/

http://www.mikelearn.com/

http://www.paintbydave.com/

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I would ask around and try and find a luthier in your area that does alot of finish work and does it well. I am sure there is atleast one in any major town.

You would be better off spraying it yourself than having it painted by a body shop.

Why this??

I run an autobody shop and have painted dozens of guitars.

Dont start the Poly vs. nitro stuff either.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

Why this??

I run an autobody shop and have painted dozens of guitars.

Dont start the Poly vs. nitro stuff either.

Well, unless he wants to strip it himself, I wouldn't trust an auto body shop to do that. I also wouldn't trust them to paint it properly unless they had worked with guitars in some way. There are extra considerations when painting a guitar that they are not used to dealing with.

Car paint also doesn't belong on guitars.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Why this??

I run an autobody shop and have painted dozens of guitars.

Dont start the Poly vs. nitro stuff either.

Well, unless he wants to strip it himself, I wouldn't trust an auto body shop to do that. I also wouldn't trust them to paint it properly unless they had worked with guitars in some way. There are extra considerations when painting a guitar that they are not used to dealing with.

Car paint also doesn't belong on guitars.

Well I figure if it's good enough for a $4k PRS it's good enough for my stuff.

 

[Digital Jams]

I can understand why one would not really dig having an autobody shop shoot a guitar but I know this much about my auto guy.......he has 35 years experience shooting paint.

I am will to bet far more experience than 99% of the guys at gibson or prs.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Good point... I guess if I can do repairs and paint work on a $200,000 Bentley I can probably be trusted to paint a guitar body.

 

[gbsmusic]

Good point... I guess if I can do repairs and paint work on a $200,000 Bentley I can probably be trusted to paint a guitar body.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

Well I figure if it's good enough for a $4k PRS it's good enough for my stuff.

Uh, I seriously doubt you use the same paint on your cars that PRS uses on their guitars. There isn't just one kind of poly.

I can understand why one would not really dig having an autobody shop shoot a guitar but I know this much about my auto guy.......he has 35 years experience shooting paint.

I am will to bet far more experience than 99% of the guys at gibson or prs.

Good point... I guess if I can do repairs and paint work on a $200,000 Bentley I can probably be trusted to paint a guitar body.

Would you trust a guy who restores 200k+ guitars all day to finish your bentley?

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Well I figure if it's good enough for a $4k PRS it's good enough for my stuff.

Uh, I seriously doubt you use the same paint on your cars that PRS uses on their guitars. There isn't just one kind of poly.

I can understand why one would not really dig having an autobody shop shoot a guitar but I know this much about my auto guy.......he has 35 years experience shooting paint.

I am will to bet far more experience than 99% of the guys at gibson or prs.

Good point... I guess if I can do repairs and paint work on a $200,000 Bentley I can probably be trusted to paint a guitar body.

Would you trust a guy who restores 200k+ guitars all day to finish your bentley?

From the PRS website.
"We finish our instruments with a polyester basecoat and acrylic urethane topcoat. We feel acrylic urethane looks and feels the closest to the old nitro-cellulose finishes but without the finish checking."


Who makes a basecoat/clearcoat system with metallics and pearls for wood?

Who would refinish a 200K guitar?

 

[Strat+Marshall]

From the PRS website.
"We finish our instruments with a polyester basecoat and acrylic urethane topcoat. We feel acrylic urethane looks and feels the closest to the old nitro-cellulose finishes but without the finish checking."


Who makes a basecoat/clearcoat system with metallics and pearls for wood?

Who would refinish a 200K guitar?

I think you're missing the point, it was not originally made for wood but that doesn't mean it doesn't have drastically different properties from other finishes used to coat cars. Nitro lacquer was extensively used on cars back in the day.

To prolong the life of a guitar with a deteriorated finish that is still being played. Again, you are missing the point. You wouldn't trust a master luthier to refinish your high end car just like he wouldn't trust you to refinish his high end guitar. The actual spraying of the paint is only a fraction of whether it is a good or bad finish. Prep work on wood and especially something as delicate as a guitar is way different than sheet metal on a car.

I am not saying someone couldn't be good at both but your average joe autobody guy knows nothing about properly refinishing a guitar.

 

[metalmm785]

Even though taking it to an auto body place would probably be cheaper, i would feel more comfortable taking it to a dedicated guitar place.
Please keep the suggestions coming guys! Btw, what do you guys think of http://www.simscustomshop.com. I did a search on google and his prices aren't too bad.

 

[Ayrton]

what do you guys think of http://www.simscustomshop.com.

PM sent...

 

[Digital Jams]

Even though taking it to an auto body place would probably be cheaper, i would feel more comfortable taking it to a dedicated guitar place.
Please keep the suggestions coming guys! Btw, what do you guys think of http://www.simscustomshop.com. I did a search on google and his prices aren't too bad.

Not very good reviews of his customer service, I was going to do business with him until I heard the stories.

That said his finishes look beautiful, just tough to get them.

 

[Ayrton]

I used Sims for a couple of guitars, and now I use Marty Bell.

Much, much happier.

 

[* velcro-fly *]

Who would refinish a 200K guitar?

Dave Johnson. The Best. Period. People send him their Murphy's to be "fixed" while they wait for him to restore their real 58/59/60's Bursts.

http://www.davejohnsonrestorations.com/index.html

 

[Ayrton]

I have seen much of Dave's work over on the MLP forums.

Fantastic work!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Who would refinish a 200K guitar?

Dave Johnson. The Best. Period. People send him their Murphy's to be "fixed" while they wait for him to restore their real 58/59/60's Bursts.

http://www.davejohnsonrestorations.com/index.html

I guess I was asking, if once a vintage guitar is refinished, is it still "vintage" / worth as much as original? And what guitar is worth 200K?