Painting a guitar...

[Rogue]

I'm getting a body and neck from USACG. I'm going to paint it. I have to friend who knows how and has all the tools. However, I know little about it.

Can someone recommend a good instructional book and/or DVD that covers all the processes from untouched wood guitar to finished guitar? DVDs would be nice so I can see how they work when applying sealer, paint, sanding and polishing. I'm going to take my old guitar and test and practice on it.

I've looked around online, but nothing was really presenting itself as the definitive book or dvd. Any suggestions?

 

[droptrd]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Video,_DVD/ ... shing.html

 

[Gainzilla]

There is loads of info on the net Jamie. There are even books on how to get quality paint jobs with spray paint cans. Im involved with one myself but it isnt tradtional. Im going to paint a body with alternating layers of black and purple( 2 coats each layer/color, 6 layers) and then relic it it by kicking around in the street with my son for an hour or so and then see what I can do with some heavy sanding and blowtorching LOL. taking a page from the Tyler burning water technique and then adding my own demented touch..

Good Luck!!

Kage

 

[glpg80]

this topic would be worth reading - alot of good info you cant really find on the net

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=79555&p=927371

 

[gbsmusic]

Both of these were done with good old Rustoleum. If you take youre time wet sanding you'll never know it was rattle can!

 

[stratotone]

www.reranch.com

 

[Rogue]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Video,_DVD/Finishing,_repair/Spray_Finishing.html

I saw those, but the reviews lead me to believe it wasn't "complete". So I'm not entirely confident that is what I'm looking for.

There is loads of info on the net Jamie. There are even books on how to get quality paint jobs with spray paint cans. Im involved with one myself but it isnt tradtional. Im going to paint a body with alternating layers of black and purple( 2 coats each layer/color, 6 layers) and then relic it it by kicking around in the street with my son for an hour or so and then see what I can do with some heavy sanding and blowtorching LOL. taking a page from the Tyler burning water technique and then adding my own demented touch..

Good Luck!!

Kage

Sounds like a fun project. Let us know how that turns out. I'd advise against kicking it down the street though.

I have looked around and I've found a lot of info, but looking for a presentation a little more "pro". That isn't a knock to those out there that have put things up, but you know, I'd like to be able to kick back and watch a DVD one night and get a complete overview of things...if such a DVD exists.

Oh, yeah, the paint your guitar with spraypaint thing does have some instructional videos and that is on my list of possibilities.

this topic would be worth reading - alot of good info you cant really find on the net

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=79555&p=927371

Cool. Where did you learn from?

Both of these were done with good old Rustoleum. If you take youre time wet sanding you'll never know it was rattle can!

Those look nice. Alas, I'm looking for something instructional that I can see the order of business and techniques.

 

[Rogue]

http://www.reranch.com

Been there too.

What'd I'd like to see is something more visual with description of the process. A book is cool, but a video would be even cooler. I know a lot of these techniques is an art onto themselves, and I'd like to see people actually doing them and discussing them. That's what I'm after.

 

[dstroud]

http://www.reranch.com

+1 - I'm repainting a guitar and a guy that's built a couple guitars for me turned me on to these guys.

 

[Gainzilla]

Sounds like a fun project. Let us know how that turns out. I'd advise against kicking it down the street though.

Im making 2 YJM clones with scalloped necks, one will be HSS with floyd, the other will be SSS with a trad trem bridge. Both will have scalloped maple necks with reverse fathead fender headstocks.

One of the bodies was black and my son and I kicked that around the street and after some steel wool and sanding , it came outincredible, the thing looks more beat up than an old porn stars va jay jay. Th eother one is Poly so I have to strip it with a heat gun and thats the one that Im going to have to primer and layer. Im still going to kick it around a bit but Im going to be a tad more gentle with it( but not much LOL)

I have very high hopes for both of these guitars in sound, playability and looks

 

[glpg80]

Cool. Where did you learn from?

a few months of research, books, a friend who paints cars (watched him a few times), a little common sense, and the biggest of them all trial and error.

i recommend getting a piece of shitty wood and practicing on it. once you get it painted, take pictures. strip it, start over. mainly to get the feeling for different techniques, different paint bases, primer bases, clear bases, the feel for proper sanding (sanding blocks) and how much sanding to do, trying different paints (flake, base, mixing colours, etc) and mixing layers for base and overtone colors.

start out with rattle cans - krylons are where its at if i remember correctly. move on up into a spray gun and different tip widths for flake sizes or paint spread. experience with different brands to see what clears you like most or research what others are using and their results.

just like anything it takes practice and knowledge. as long as you get both of those your guitars will come out great over time. just how quick depends on how much you know.

 

[Rogue]

a few months of research, books, a friend who paints cars (watched him a few times), a little common sense, and the biggest of them all trial and error.

i recommend getting a piece of shitty wood and practicing on it. once you get it painted, take pictures. strip it, start over. mainly to get the feeling for different techniques, different paint bases, primer bases, clear bases, the feel for proper sanding (sanding blocks) and how much sanding to do, trying different paints (flake, base, mixing colours, etc) and mixing layers for base and overtone colors.

start out with rattle cans - krylons are where its at if i remember correctly. move on up into a spray gun and different tip widths for flake sizes or paint spread. experience with different brands to see what clears you like most or research what others are using and their results.

just like anything it takes practice and knowledge. as long as you get both of those your guitars will come out great over time. just how quick depends on how much you know.

Yeah, I should probably do some stuff to a plain board of wood first. I was going to strip my old guitar (it's most likely going to be junked anyways), but perhaps some simpler would be better.

That said, the things you mentioned is why I'd like to find a DVD, so that I can watch someone actually do it so I can see the techniques. There are a few out there, but I'm not sure they are "complete". There is a good youtube video that steps through the entire process, but it's just pictures of stills put together and not of him actually doing it. There is a few of people sanding. I guess that will have to do. There is a good book from Stewmac that people seem to like, so I'm going to pick that one up.

Sooo, I've decided I need to learn this quickly, and do a DVD.

 

[Rogue]

You could always go here:

I have no desire for a swirl guitar, but that was pretty neat.

 

[Gainzilla]

You could always go here:

That was awesome!!

LMAO!!! I just got done saying that after watching!!

 

[The Hoff]

Ohh man that was unbelievably awesome. It was like watching a magic trick