How to fix uneven guitar finish?

['59]

So I'm in the process of trying to refinish a guitar to look similar to the black and yellow Van Halen bumblebee guitars. I sanded the guitar down and got a nice yellow enamel finish on it, then I taped it off and painted black enamel over it. Here's the issue I've gotten so far, the yellow is smooth, but the black stripes are bumpy and actually a bit higher than the yellow. It almost feels like I have a yellow guitar with thin black tape over it. What do I do to fix this?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: How to fix uneven guitar finish?

Aren't you supposed to feel the different layers of paint? I can feel it on my EVH Striped. (In spots. -Edit)

 

[Chistopher]

Re: How to fix uneven guitar finish?

Have you put a clear coat on it yet? From your post it doesn't sound like you have. Adding a clear coat will make the difference less noticeable, then you could sand and polish it. I can't think of any way to lower the black without risking damage to the yellow.

 

[AlexR]

Re: How to fix uneven guitar finish?

Well yes, if you add paint over the top in stripes, you will have a ridge of paint in a stripe.

As mentioned, either clear over the top and a lot of sanding to even out the top, or live with it.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: How to fix uneven guitar finish?

Thick enough clear should mitigate it

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: How to fix uneven guitar finish?

It's not quite as easy as it sounds, but yes, clear coat it.

Since you have used enamel for the color coats, 2-3 coats of fast-set urethane about an hour or two apart. After it is set, lightly wet-sand with 600 grit and then 2-3 more coats of clear. Lightly wet-sand up through 800 grit to 6000 grit and polish to a smooth and shiny finish.