Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Frazer Stockton

Frazer Stockton

New member
Hey all ... Quick question for anyone who has ever done a paint job. In all honesty, how would I go about painting a 2009 Les Paul Junior (white) to maybe a TV Yellow kinda colour? (Im finding the bright white is too clean and the yellow is much more "vintage")

Would it be difficult to do? ... Not just a masking tape, spray and varnish job?

Thoughts and advice would be MUCH appreciated, I've never done a paint job before, however I've just broken my ankle so time is not an issue!!

Frazer
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

i'd leave it stock myself...finnish work is an art form if you want it done right
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Yeah? .. I thought because it was one block colour it wouldn't be too hard to do, but i'll take that on board mate, cheers
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

is this LP Junior one of the faded white ones? how do you like it? i've been eyeing them... but since the SG and LP Tribute's were released i've been eyeing those too
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

http://a1.images6.thomann.de/pics/prod/222257.jpg

They're not really faded, and it's actually a really white-white ... as opposed to the billie joe model which is more creamy and has a humbucker.

It's just way too clean for me (appearance wise), i want something a little more dirty.

The paint is starting to peel away at the back where the guitar rubs against me or my belt buckle, and you can see it's just a very thin layer of paint covering the guitar.
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

those guitars turn yellow over time

keep playing the ever-loving **** out of it, sweating and spilling beer on it in smoke-filled rock-n-roll clubs. it'll yellow up in no time.

for an example: my Les Paul Custom used to have white binding...24 years ago.
DSC01924.jpg
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

HAH! Dude that's awesome... As much as I'm all for letting time take it's toll, in 25 year's time i'll be 44, and my future kids will most likely have ruined my guitars with jam sandwhiches and fire. :smokin:
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Ahhh, jam sandwiches and fire.

I miss being a kid...
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Frazer Stockton said:
HAH! Dude that's awesome... As much as I'm all for letting time take it's toll, in 25 year's time i'll be 44, and my future kids will most likely have ruined my guitars with jam sandwhiches and fire. :smokin:
Click to expand...

I was born in 1967

cgta.jpg


This guitar was born in 1973

73LP1.jpg


This one was born in 1979

79LP.jpg


These were born in 1998, 2001, and 2004....

DSCN0115.jpg


Me, the guitars, and the kids are all fine. What's your point?


I suspect Dominus would say sand it, seal it (if it's got open grain), prime it, paint it, gloss coat it, done. I'd agree.
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Aceman, didnt recognize you without the makeup!! Seriously, nice to put another face to a screenname. Cute kids and girlfriends!!

Frazer, First, hope ya have a speedy recovery with your ankle! Are you the frontman for panic at the disco?? :cool2:

Second, Im not sure how to advise you on the painting. Aging will come naturally. I mean you are certainly welcome to paint it, but gibsons naturally have a thin finish and painting will def give a thicker coat and may chip on the back instead of wear away. just saying think before ya spray! If you do paint it, show us some before and after shots !
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Frazer Stockton said:
HAH! Dude that's awesome... As much as I'm all for letting time take it's toll, in 25 year's time i'll be 44, and my future kids will most likely have ruined my guitars with jam sandwhiches and fire. :smokin:
Click to expand...

okay then do it the easy way...leave it where it can get a ton of sun. it'll yellow up significantly...just make sure you flip it every now and then to keep it even.

tanning beds also work...nitro bleaches out in ultraviolet light. i would just be concerned about the temperatures of a tanning bed but if you're there watching it you can regulate it.

then there's this guy's idea:


Jet-Jaguar said:
If I were to do this, I'd remove the pickups and submerge the guitar in a bathtub filled with black tea. Coffee might also work.
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i duno about that one :smokin:
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Jet-Jaguar said:
If I were to do this, I'd remove the pickups and submerge the guitar in a bathtub filled with black tea. Coffee might also work.
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I wouldn't do that with a wooden guitar. Just saying. Maybe a plastic Switch guitar, otherwise I'm thinking you'd be risking some major water damage. :D

I'm curious about the tanning booth myself. Obviously remove all the hardware and electronics first. I can't imagine that it gets *that* hot, but maybe pop it in for 5-10 minutes at a time. A tanning membership is only $25 a month.. much cheaper than a refinish if it works. :D
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

dominus said:
I'm curious about the tanning booth myself. Obviously remove all the hardware and electronics first. I can't imagine that it gets *that* hot, but maybe pop it in for 5-10 minutes at a time. A tanning membership is only $25 a month.. much cheaper than a refinish if it works. :D
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lol. . .

I have this awesome image now of someone pacing around a tanning salon in a bathrobe waiting for his guitar to finish.

images
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

I say play the snot out of it and leave it at a buddy's house who smokes. Let it age and yellow naturally.
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Leave it be. Put it in the sun whenever you can, the sun will yellow it out over time.

Unlike Acemans head.
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Hahahaha, im not the front man from panic at the disco, and regrettably not anywhere as rich :P

Loving these ideas though, i think i'll just let it age and earn it's "vintage" .. You've all convinced me :smokin:
 
Re: Painting a Gibson Les Paul Junior?

Chipping is a serious problem when overspraying. The old surface is dry and doesn't bond well with the new finish. So, with a pro job all of the old finish should be removed.
 
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