How to Paint an Electric Guitar Body
Refinishing an electric guitar or applying paint to a brand new axe is a great way to personalize your instrument, but there is a great deal to consider. It's a dirty job and you need to have a workspace that can stand up to the mess. Ideally, you'd have access to a spray booth, but few people do, so a well-ventilated workshop, garage or basement will do the trick. You can paint outside, but be sure to do so when the weather is nice with little wind because dust or any other debris can wreak havoc upon your efforts.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Various small screwdrivers
- Soldering Iron
- Paint Thinner
- Wire Brush
- 50-grit sandpaper
- 100-grit sandpaper
- 180-grit sandpaper
- 400-grit sandpaper
- Primer
- Paint
- Well-ventilated workspace
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove all hardware. Everything from the tuning pegs to the bridge, pots and pickups need to be removed so you have a clean slate to work with. When disassembling the electronics, be sure to use a soldering iron to loosen the connections so as not to damage the wiring. Remove the neck as well so you can paint the body and the neck separately. Be sure to put everything away in an order that will allow you to reassemble the guitar once your paint job is complete.
-
2
Strip off the original finish with modest amounts of chemical paint thinner, following the instructions closely. A fine wire brush or a wood chisel can be used to remove some paint, but be careful not to damage the wood. Sanding your heart out can remove the finish without using a chemical thinner, but it takes time and effort. You can use a belt sander or a hand sander to begin with, but as you get close to the original wood, it's best to use straight elbow grease. Start with 50-grit sandpaper and move higher as you get closer to the original wood finishing with 180-grit.
-
-
3
Wipe the wood free of dust and let it dry completely before applying your primer. Cover any areas, such as the fret board, with masking tape and bolt something into the neck slot in the body to allow you to hang your guitar as it dries--ideally this will be on a swivel so the guitar can be painted as it hangs. The neck can lay with the fret board down on a soft surface, such as a rag towel on a work bench.
-
4
Apply your primer per the instructions and let it dry for minimum of 24 hours. Once it dries, gently sand the primed guitar with 400-grit sandpaper to remove any imperfections. At this point, paint your guitar and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours between coats. Before applying each coat, lightly sand the surface with 400-grit sandpaper. When you're happy with the paint coverage, repeat the process with lacquer.
-
5
Reassemble your guitar after the final coat of lacquer has dried for at least 48 hours and you're ready to play your own, custom-finished electric guitar.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Don't be discouraged if you make a mistake while painting your guitar. The beauty of sandpaper is that it always allows you to go back to the beginning and start again.
References
- Photo Credit electric guitar image by Jeffrey Zalesny from Fotolia.com
