Hi I'm repainting my first guitar its already repainted white. I need to know whats the cheapest way to finish a guitar? Right now I'm leaning towards half pint of poly its only 6.88. But i'm a broke mofo only income is returning bottles. I've used it before it gives it a good shine, but is there something cheaper? Or something around the same price that works better? Thanks ahead of time.-Andrew
cheapest way to finish a guitar
- Thread starter andrew96
- Start date
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
For such a low-income lifestyle, I'd say that the guitar itself was far too much luxury, much less refinishing one.
For such a low-income lifestyle, I'd say that the guitar itself was far too much luxury, much less refinishing one.
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
i know but i plan to be a luthier i've built a couple kits and one from scratch its my passion i spend all my time researching guitars i have 7 guitars and a bass one guitar i'm ttying to sell its a bc rich jr v standard with floyd rose special 24 frets duncan designed pickups rosewood fingerboard and maple neck problem is nobody wants to pay for gear they want to trade
i know but i plan to be a luthier i've built a couple kits and one from scratch its my passion i spend all my time researching guitars i have 7 guitars and a bass one guitar i'm ttying to sell its a bc rich jr v standard with floyd rose special 24 frets duncan designed pickups rosewood fingerboard and maple neck problem is nobody wants to pay for gear they want to trade
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
There's plenty of examples of Fender having done exactly that in the '60s.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
Plenty of people buy gear everyday. Either the market or the product is bad.
Plenty of people buy gear everyday. Either the market or the product is bad.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
Not knowing the type of paint used for the white coats, that could be a recipe for disaster. If he used enamel paint (or any of a variety of other non-solvent-based materials), then a solvent-based finish like lacquer being sprayed on top of it will soften the enamel and cause it to "crinkle." The classic old crinkle finish that used to be popular on so many old appliances, industrial machinery, and some auto tops (namely hearses and ambulances) in the '60's and prior was done with a combination of enamel and lacquer to purposefully cause the crinkle effect.
Not knowing the type of paint used for the white coats, that could be a recipe for disaster. If he used enamel paint (or any of a variety of other non-solvent-based materials), then a solvent-based finish like lacquer being sprayed on top of it will soften the enamel and cause it to "crinkle." The classic old crinkle finish that used to be popular on so many old appliances, industrial machinery, and some auto tops (namely hearses and ambulances) in the '60's and prior was done with a combination of enamel and lacquer to purposefully cause the crinkle effect.
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
Uh,
There's a bit more to being a luthier than can be learned from building a couple guitar kits.
OK, so you don't have a job (can't even support yourself, let alone a very expensive hobby), and you've got A LOT of free time to spend "researching guitars", but you don't know the slightest thing about the most basic principles concerning painting. I would recommend taking a break from this hobby and learn a skill so you can get a job. With a steady income you will eventually be able to use the proper materials (no matter what they cost) to fulfill your dream of becoming a luthier. If you have indeed done some research, the first thing that you should have learned is that people who put a few blocks of wood together and put some strings on it and call themselves "luthiers" are a dime a dozen. But QUALITY and creative know-how are the name of the game here.
First of all, like DrNewcenstein said, you can't afford the luxury of guitars...not even ONE guitar.
Secondly, as Jolly said, just get some Krylon and finish up this guitar. Then get rid of it.
What you really mean is, "...nobody wants to pay the rediculously inflated price I'm asking for the undesirable gear I'm trying to sell".
My last bit of advice...sell all of your gear for whatever you can get for it (not what you WANT for it) and get a job, any job (there actually ARE lots of jobs available out there...Walmart, McDonalds, Burger King, pizza delivery, etc.).
Uh,
There's a bit more to being a luthier than can be learned from building a couple guitar kits.
OK, so you don't have a job (can't even support yourself, let alone a very expensive hobby), and you've got A LOT of free time to spend "researching guitars", but you don't know the slightest thing about the most basic principles concerning painting. I would recommend taking a break from this hobby and learn a skill so you can get a job. With a steady income you will eventually be able to use the proper materials (no matter what they cost) to fulfill your dream of becoming a luthier. If you have indeed done some research, the first thing that you should have learned is that people who put a few blocks of wood together and put some strings on it and call themselves "luthiers" are a dime a dozen. But QUALITY and creative know-how are the name of the game here.
First of all, like DrNewcenstein said, you can't afford the luxury of guitars...not even ONE guitar.
Secondly, as Jolly said, just get some Krylon and finish up this guitar. Then get rid of it.
What you really mean is, "...nobody wants to pay the rediculously inflated price I'm asking for the undesirable gear I'm trying to sell".
My last bit of advice...sell all of your gear for whatever you can get for it (not what you WANT for it) and get a job, any job (there actually ARE lots of jobs available out there...Walmart, McDonalds, Burger King, pizza delivery, etc.).
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
Without knowing his back story I'm not going to urinate on someones dreams. While I agree with many of your sentiments I refrained from posting them cause maybe the OP is a 14 year old kid who due to labor laws cant get a job, so I wasnt going to be in a hurry to give him a dressing down.
h
The guy talks about owing money to his mom... so i am hoping that its a kid... if its a 26 year old dude he needs his arse kicked but just the feeling i get is that this is a kid who doesnt know any better.
Edit* Maybe I spoke too soon, His username is 96... I hope thats not his birth year cause if it is.. Yeah time to get a job.
Without knowing his back story I'm not going to urinate on someones dreams. While I agree with many of your sentiments I refrained from posting them cause maybe the OP is a 14 year old kid who due to labor laws cant get a job, so I wasnt going to be in a hurry to give him a dressing down.
h
The guy talks about owing money to his mom... so i am hoping that its a kid... if its a 26 year old dude he needs his arse kicked but just the feeling i get is that this is a kid who doesnt know any better.
Edit* Maybe I spoke too soon, His username is 96... I hope thats not his birth year cause if it is.. Yeah time to get a job.
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Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
actually its a $250 guitar used and i'm selling it for 200 obo with pedal and power supply. i've built a guitar from scratch when i was in school got a block of wood carved it out routed and drilled found scale length set in neck and painted and all that. i've came up with a couple of my own designs but havent done anything with it because don't have the money and i'm trying to get a job but no experience means nobodys hiring me.
actually its a $250 guitar used and i'm selling it for 200 obo with pedal and power supply. i've built a guitar from scratch when i was in school got a block of wood carved it out routed and drilled found scale length set in neck and painted and all that. i've came up with a couple of my own designs but havent done anything with it because don't have the money and i'm trying to get a job but no experience means nobodys hiring me.
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
Let's not be too hard on the guy. I read something like this somewhere:
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."
6 coats of poly, on a guitar that's already been painted white? Trying to flip a guitar that costs about $300 at best? Let's call this a "bad judgement" experience.
Andrew, IMO, no one's gonna give you what you think this guitar should be worth.
You'll likely do better getting a Warmoth kit and grabbing some nice parts.
If you want a career in guitar building, you'll need to learn woodworking, finishing, electrical wiring, mechanical engineering (of some REALLY tiny parts), etc.
There are several schools and courses available. Save up your bottle money and go for it.
Also, with 'cheap finish', you really do get what you pay for.
It's not worth the hassle of getting a low-cost can of paint, only to have to strip it down and try again.
We have seen some remarkable results here in the forum with rattle-can jobs (like this one, this one or these), but those are mostly from guys who have been in the game for quite a few years.
Don't be discouraged, just get some scrap pieces or loose boards and try some shots of various products before you commit to one... this is also good for practicing spray technique.
I'm assuming from your posts (lack of capital letters) that you're posting from a smartphone. Look up some YouTube vids, google some things, search for knowledge.
The cost of your finish won't mean squat if you don't know how to use it.
Let's not be too hard on the guy. I read something like this somewhere:
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."
6 coats of poly, on a guitar that's already been painted white? Trying to flip a guitar that costs about $300 at best? Let's call this a "bad judgement" experience.
Andrew, IMO, no one's gonna give you what you think this guitar should be worth.
You'll likely do better getting a Warmoth kit and grabbing some nice parts.
If you want a career in guitar building, you'll need to learn woodworking, finishing, electrical wiring, mechanical engineering (of some REALLY tiny parts), etc.
There are several schools and courses available. Save up your bottle money and go for it.
Also, with 'cheap finish', you really do get what you pay for.
It's not worth the hassle of getting a low-cost can of paint, only to have to strip it down and try again.
We have seen some remarkable results here in the forum with rattle-can jobs (like this one, this one or these), but those are mostly from guys who have been in the game for quite a few years.
Don't be discouraged, just get some scrap pieces or loose boards and try some shots of various products before you commit to one... this is also good for practicing spray technique.
I'm assuming from your posts (lack of capital letters) that you're posting from a smartphone. Look up some YouTube vids, google some things, search for knowledge.
The cost of your finish won't mean squat if you don't know how to use it.
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
o and i've restored a completly smashed bass that my neighbors a guitar teacher and his dad a carpenter said i'd be better off taking the neck off and buying a new body it cost me 40 including strings and i believe i was in school at the time and they let you get gift cards just for acting the way your suposed to o and i reilized i posted it in the wrong thread after i did it have no idea how to delete or mve posts though
o and i've restored a completly smashed bass that my neighbors a guitar teacher and his dad a carpenter said i'd be better off taking the neck off and buying a new body it cost me 40 including strings and i believe i was in school at the time and they let you get gift cards just for acting the way your suposed to o and i reilized i posted it in the wrong thread after i did it have no idea how to delete or mve posts though
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
thanks man yeah i'm trying to find out if i can get a grant for going to luthier school i just got in this program in my town that can help me with that and bassically just because i have a type of autism known as aspergers which is a really high fuctioning kind when i was 7 i tested as border line genius got tested again a few years later said it would probably be lower they said "no iq doesnt change" but its kind of obvious it does soon enough they found out iq changes any ways i also don't call myself a luthier because i know i'm not there yet but i've only been building for not even two years and my neighbor calls me the insiclopedia of guitars because of my autism i do whats called "hyper focus" on things
thanks man yeah i'm trying to find out if i can get a grant for going to luthier school i just got in this program in my town that can help me with that and bassically just because i have a type of autism known as aspergers which is a really high fuctioning kind when i was 7 i tested as border line genius got tested again a few years later said it would probably be lower they said "no iq doesnt change" but its kind of obvious it does soon enough they found out iq changes any ways i also don't call myself a luthier because i know i'm not there yet but i've only been building for not even two years and my neighbor calls me the insiclopedia of guitars because of my autism i do whats called "hyper focus" on things
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
I have 2 nephews with high-functioning autistic disorders. One of them is a talented artist, who works with colored pencils.
Andrew, if you keep at it, with your kind of focus, you'll do OK. Just try to be patient. Wood finishing is a science and art all by itself, and it takes time.
Lots of time. Lots and lots... like if the weather's too humid, or too hot or cold.
I moved the thread for you, look in the Guitar Shop.
I have 2 nephews with high-functioning autistic disorders. One of them is a talented artist, who works with colored pencils.
Andrew, if you keep at it, with your kind of focus, you'll do OK. Just try to be patient. Wood finishing is a science and art all by itself, and it takes time.
Lots of time. Lots and lots... like if the weather's too humid, or too hot or cold.
I moved the thread for you, look in the Guitar Shop.
Re: cheapest way to finish a guitar
You mean..."nobody is hiring you for the job or pay you'd like to get". But there are thousands of jobs out there that require NO experience at all. In your position you don't have the luxury of pride.
You mean..."nobody is hiring you for the job or pay you'd like to get". But there are thousands of jobs out there that require NO experience at all. In your position you don't have the luxury of pride.
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