Painting guitar

A

AWILLIAMS64

New member
i was at a garage sale today and bought a les paul copy guitar that has had most of the paint removed from it. I am pretty sure it is an epiphone, it says it on the pickup selector switch, has bolt on neck with all gold hardware. I was thinking about repainting it and fixing it up for my daughter. What are some good steps to take to paint this thing? i also thought of maybe just taking it down to the bare wood and staining it with wood stain i already have. I have never done anything like this so looking for suggestions. I only gave $5 for it so i am not out much if it doesnt work out.
 
Re: Painting guitar

yeah, pretty much on the money, take it down to bare wood.

if the grain is very open, put in a grainfiller, then stain, stain again if necessary, clear coat with a compatible finish.

that pickup route looks kinda funny, almost like it might be a semihollow of sorts!

also, I'd get a new neck plate if possible, I wouldn't want my daughter playing with a rusted thing like that.
 
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the neckplate is not actually rusted at all, the pic just looks funny. it is kinda semi-hollow. I am sure it is just a cheap epi of some kind, but for $5, hey it plays! well it did before i tore it apart.
 
Re: Painting guitar

ah cool

In any case, yeah, with a nice new finish, it should make a fairly nice starter :)

maybe redo the finish on the neck as well?
 
Re: Painting guitar

It's plywood right? I didn't think Epiphone did plywood LPs but I might be wrong.

Whatever, if the sizes are the same as Epiphone you'll have no problem sourcing parts for it.

It looks like it maybe a cheaper import than an Epiphone but might be a decent cheap base to start from.
 
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Re: Painting guitar

Keep it simple and remove the rest of the paint, maybe stain it, and finish it with a few coats of clear. (I'd use auto acrylic for ease of use, quick drying time and the ability to sand out any runs and blemishes and touch it up again). Let it harden for a month or two before you cut and polish the finish.
 
Painting guitar

If you decide to paint it a solid color then I would recommend using Duplicolor paint and clearcoat it with Spraymax 2k poly. I've also read that lots of people have good luck with the Reranch nitro. If you want to stain it then I've heard good things about using Deft spray lacquer (you can get it at Home Depot) as a clearcoat, as long as it's complatable with your stain. Good luck.
 
Re: Painting guitar

$5, nice score for any guitar project. :D

You could go either way.. finish sanding the rest of it and stain it, then clearcoat over it.

OR, take your daughter up to an auto supply store and have her pick out a color of Duplicolor that she likes. Then prime it, sand it smooth, and then lay down a few coats of that, then clearcoat over it. I've been able to get one can to cover a Strat body with a little left over, but I'd get two cans to be on the safe side. Truck/Van/SUV works great, as does the Perfect Match line. For a few bucks more, the Metal Specks works as well. I've used Minwax Polyurethane over them for clearcoat, although I'm going to try their lacquer clearcoat next.

Another good one is the Testors One-Coat lacquer, but that one isn't as forgiving, and it's more expensive to experiment with.. about $5 for a 3 oz can. One can was enough for me to do a Strat, but you'd want 2 cans if you want to practice beforehand.
 
Re: Painting guitar

dominus said:
$5, nice score for any guitar project. :D

You could go either way.. finish sanding the rest of it and stain it, then clearcoat over it.

OR, take your daughter up to an auto supply store and have her pick out a color of Duplicolor that she likes. Then prime it, sand it smooth, and then lay down a few coats of that, then clearcoat over it. I've been able to get one can to cover a Strat body with a little left over, but I'd get two cans to be on the safe side. Truck/Van/SUV works great, as does the Perfect Match line. For a few bucks more, the Metal Specks works as well. I've used Minwax Polyurethane over them for clearcoat, although I'm going to try their lacquer clearcoat next.

Another good one is the Testors One-Coat lacquer, but that one isn't as forgiving, and it's more expensive to experiment with.. about $5 for a 3 oz can. One can was enough for me to do a Strat, but you'd want 2 cans if you want to practice beforehand.
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The only answer that matters in this thread.
 
Re: Painting guitar

Oh yes - you have to tell people it's a Les Plywood with Tone Chambers!
 
Re: Painting guitar

Aceman said:
Oh yes - you have to tell people it's a Les Plywood with Tone Chambers!
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WTF is that supposed to mean? I was trying to help the guy out so he could make sure any parts he needs fit before assuming Epiphone parts WILL fit.

Most people on here probably know I only have fairly cheap guitars, including a couple of plywood ones. WTF's the problem?
 
Re: Painting guitar

Sounded like a joke to me....unless I missed something. Kool project, I know I'd go nuts and spend way more on paint than what it was worth.:eyecrazy: Have fun.
 
Re: Painting guitar

butnut said:
Sounded like a joke to me....unless I missed something. Kool project, I know I'd go nuts and spend way more on paint than what it was worth.:eyecrazy: Have fun.
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For the $5 he spent on the project, even one can of spray paint will double his investment. :D
 
Re: Painting guitar

Diocletian said:
It's plywood right? I didn't think Epiphone did plywood LPs but I might be wrong.

Whatever, if the sizes are the same as Epiphone you'll have no problem sourcing parts for it.

It looks like it maybe a cheaper import than an Epiphone but might be a decent cheap base to start from.
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I could see Epiphone doing something like that in the 80s. Bolt-on neck, and plywood body, and then a decent piece for the top for the transparent finish. It'd be the entry-level model. From what was sanded on the back, it looks like a solid piece for the back as well. My only concern with staining it is what the sides would look like.
 
Re: Painting guitar

That's a pretty weird ass construction going on there. Then again some of those early far east guitars were a bit odd, reminds me a bit of my old satellite LP, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't get into the pickup cavity from the neck pocket... but
Listen to Dominus, I don't think there are many people in the world who know more about refinishing cheap guitars than he does :)
 
Re: Painting guitar

Uk Ant said:
That's a pretty weird ass construction going on there. Then again some of those early far east guitars were a bit odd, reminds me a bit of my old satellite LP, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't get into the pickup cavity from the neck pocket... but
Listen to Dominus, I don't think there are many people in the world who know more about refinishing cheap guitars than he does :)
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:firedevil
 
Re: Painting guitar

Diocletian said:
WTF is that supposed to mean? I was trying to help the guy out so he could make sure any parts he needs fit before assuming Epiphone parts WILL fit.

Most people on here probably know I only have fairly cheap guitars, including a couple of plywood ones. WTF's the problem?
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Dude - need to make sure you wait until the meds kick in before posting. Stop hitting the hateraid so hard!!!

I think reconstructing cheap honking guitars into players is an awesome sport. I say slap a serious pup in there, and play it like you mean it. I have LP's from $150 to 3k and all points in between. My tag line is "If it feels good and sounds good it is good." Same with wine - a GOOD $10 dollar bottle beats a decent $100 bottle everytime.

I would totally intro it as Les Plywood and be proud to do so.

whuss amadda wid me? whuss amadda wid YOU!

Let's go over to the soundoff and talk a little about anger management....
 
Re: Painting guitar

wow! what did i get started! lol. the reason i thought it was an epi, the p/u selector switch looks like it is original soldered wires on it says epiphone right on it. and the p/u's look just like the ones from my epi lp. i could be wrong though
i just took the tuners off and they say made in jin-ho by r1. have no freakin idea what that means.
 
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