Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

I had left a "lip" as a precaution, but it wasn't necessary in the end.

That was the first-ever guitar I have painted, so many, many things I could have done better. The largest flaw with that job is the base coat. The two paints were not compatible, so the glitter coat does not adhere very well.

Towards the last post in that thread has a link to a YouTube channel with tons of helpful info on rattle can paint jobs. The biggest thing is to use compatible finishes and take your time.
 
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Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

Does anyone have experience with fluorescent colours over time? Apparently Warmoth stopped offering them as a finish because they faded and became less vibrant after a few years . . . and they would have been covered with a good UV blocking poly finish. I don't want to go to the effort of doing a flouro finish if it's going to fade away in a few years. Is there any way I could ensure this doesn't happen with neon pink?
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

I clear-coated mine with poly urethane. First one I did was about 7-10 years ago. I haven't noticed any fading. Still just as vibrant as the day I finished it. Like I said, they have to be done right! Apparently Warmoth didn't know how to do it right if theirs faded.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

GuitarStv said:
Does anyone have experience with fluorescent colours over time? Apparently Warmoth stopped offering them as a finish because they faded and became less vibrant after a few years . . . and they would have been covered with a good UV blocking poly finish. I don't want to go to the effort of doing a flouro finish if it's going to fade away in a few years. Is there any way I could ensure this doesn't happen with neon pink?
Click to expand...

Yaaassss....
3103580_orig.jpg
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

I am guessing quality of paint is critical. That and limiting uv exposure? (And a good quality uv-blocking clear.)

Find out what products doc used and use them
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

Obsessive Compulsive said:
Yaaassss....
3103580_orig.jpg
Click to expand...

I've always liked the colour scheme on those guitars. But you can see that the flourescent pink is pretty faded there . . . it doesn't have the 'burn your eyes out' harshness that I'm looking for.




Dave Locher said:
I am guessing quality of paint is critical. That and limiting uv exposure? (And a good quality uv-blocking clear.)

Find out what products doc used and use them
Click to expand...

How would one determine quality of paint? I was originally just planning on using the flourescent Rustoleum stuff from the hardware store. Do you have a particular recommendation that would be better?
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

Use car paint by manufacturers like 3M or Spies Hecker, not some hobbysts stuff like Duplicolor popular over there in the US. Have an auto body shop do it or learn how to use a compressor and do it yourself.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

I've been reading about it a lot . . . it seems like there are no flourescent paint colours made that are colour fast. They will all fade with exposure to light.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

Ayrton said:
Color

https://www.testors.com/product-catalog/testors-brands/createfx/specialty-paint/fluorescent-spray/

Clear

https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/watco/lacquer-clear-wood-finish-spray
Click to expand...

You really don't want to use lacquer over enamel. It CAN be done if your first 3-4 coats are "dry", but even then you have to be very careful so that the lacquer doesn't "crinkle" the enamel.
I would just use a polyurethane clear coat.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

How hard is it to grain fill swamp ash? Would it look bad if I don't?
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

GuitarDoc said:
You really don't want to use lacquer over enamel. It CAN be done if your first 3-4 coats are "dry", but even then you have to be very careful so that the lacquer doesn't "crinkle" the enamel.
I would just use a polyurethane clear coat.
Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but reading the SDS for the Testors made me think they are compatible.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

Whelp, I ordered a neck and body. Two months and they should be here. :P
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

If you want a gloss finish you will most certainly need to grain fill. Ash grain varies a lot from piece to piece, but most are pretty porous and need to be filled. I've made several guitars with ash tops and no grain filling, but finished them in a satin finish and they looked fantastic with the grain visible.

It's not difficult to grain fill with the right filler.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

Ayrton said:
I could be wrong, but reading the SDS for the Testors made me think they are compatible.
Click to expand...

A "wet" coat of lacquer over enamel will crinkle the finish. If the enamel coat is completely cured you can get away with several "dry" coats of lacquer on top, but you have to be very careful and very patient.

It's much easier to use a less volatile clear coat like poly.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

GuitarDoc said:
If you want a gloss finish you will most certainly need to grain fill. Ash grain varies a lot from piece to piece, but most are pretty porous and need to be filled. I've made several guitars with ash tops and no grain filling, but finished them in a satin finish and they looked fantastic with the grain visible.

It's not difficult to grain fill with the right filler.
Click to expand...

So, what do you use as a filler then?
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

So, I bought a jazzmaster body with a regular heel. My plan is to evenly reduce the heel thickness by about 1/4 inch to make upper fret access easier. I'd also like to recess the trem plate.


Some work with a small trim router should be able to handle both of these tasks easily, right?
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

I'd also imagine there would be either some tutorials about it online, or some other people have done the same mod. I'd poke around a bit before I got out the grinder.
 
Re: Help me build a guitar monstrosity!

StewMac has a good grain filler. But you need to apply it in very thin coats and sand between each coat.
 
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