How to Paint a Guitar Without Taking the Pickups Out
One way to personalize your guitar is to create a unique design or image on the guitar. Some guitarists accomplish this by placing stickers on the guitar. Another option is to paint the guitar with brushes or spray paint. Painting images or designs on the guitar can be done without removing the pickups, as long as they are protected. If the goal is to completely remove the old finish and repaint the guitar, then the pickups need to be removed. However, if you are satisfied with the color and finish of the guitar, and simply want add some more decorative elements, then removing the pickups isn't necessary.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Wire clippers
- Phillips screwdriver
- Soft cloth
- Guitar cleaner
- Blue painter's tape
- Newspaper
- 320-grit sandpaper
- Paint brushes
- Spray paint/stencils
- Polyurethane
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove the strings from the guitar. Turn the tuning pegs to loosen the strings, and remove the strings from the tuning peg holes. Clip off the curled up ends that were wrapped around the post with wire clippers, and then remove the strings from the guitar.
-
2
Determine if it is possible to remove the pickguard. The pickups on Fender-style guitars are mounted to the pickguard. If this is the case with your guitar, don't worry about removing the pickguard. If the pickups are not attached to the pickguard, then the pickguard may be easily removed with a Phillips screwdriver.
-
-
3
Wipe the guitar down with a soft cloth and guitar cleaner. Guitar cleaning products are available at guitar stores.
-
4
Cover the pickups, volume and tone knobs with blue painter's tape. Press the tape firmly around the edges of the pickups so that it is secure.
-
5
Protect the parts of the guitar that will not be painted with newspaper and blue painter's tape. This is an important step if you intend to use spray paint. The newspaper protects the guitar from over-spraying. If you intend to paint the guitar with small paint brushes, this may be an unnecessary step, depending on how carefully you are able to manipulate a paintbrush.
-
6
Sand the areas that are to be painted lightly with 320-grit sandpaper. The goal is to scuff the finish up a little bit so that the paint adheres better to the surface of the guitar. Guitar finishes are usually protected by a polyurethane clear coat. Avoid sanding areas of the guitar that will not be painted. Another option is to mask off the borders and edges with blue painter's tape.
-
7
Paint the design, image, or logo on the guitar. The customized paint job can be applied with paint brushes or a spray paint/stencil combination. Secure the stencil to the guitar with blue painter's tape so that it remains firmly in place as the paint is applied. Shake the can well and hold the nozzle 8 inches above the guitar when spraying the stencil. Apply a light coat and allow it to completely dry. Apply several more coats, allowing drying time between each coat.
-
8
Apply a clear coat of polyurethane to the new paint job. Polyurethane is available in aerosol form. Apply one light coat. Lightly sand it after it is completely dry, until it feels smooth to the touch.
-
9
Remove the tape and newspaper from the guitar and hardware carefully. Screw the pickguard back onto the guitar.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
