If you are bored with the old look of your electric guitar, refresh it and rejuvenate it by repainting it to your liking. However, painting a guitar is not just rubbing paint all over the body. Before painting your guitar, you'll need to disassemble and scrape off the old paint. From there, you'll need to apply a layer of sealing, a base color, and finally a layer of clear gloss to make it look shiny. If done correctly, you can change the old color of your guitar to a whole new one.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Scrape Old Paint
Step 1. Remove the strings and screws on the guitar body
Use a screwdriver to do this. If so, remove the screws and knobs on the front of the guitar body. Remove the screws on the guitar pickup and bridge.
If there is a plate above the volume knob, you will need to remove the plastic part of the knob before lifting the plate
Step 2. Disconnect the electrical components connecting the bridge and pickup
Once all the screws are removed from the face of the guitar, you can lift the bridge and the wired pickups. Cut and re-solder later when assembling the guitar. If you have any doubts about disassembling your guitar, take it to a guitar shop to have it done by a professional.
Make sure all power cords are disconnected from the guitar before starting to paint
Step 3. Heat the old paint with a hairdryer or heat gun
Set the heat gun or hairdryer to the lowest setting and shoot back and forth all over the guitar. The heat from a hairdryer or heat gun will soften the guitar finish and make peeling easier. Continue to heat the paint and use a putty knife to poke the paint. If the paint feels soft, move on to the next step.
Don't let the heat gun heat a single spot on the body of the guitar for too long as it can burn the wood behind the paint
Step 4. Remove the old paint with a putty knife
Start by scraping a small section of the softened paint. Use a putty knife to remove the used paint and don't worry about the coating cracking. Continue scraping off the paint and removing the former layer without damaging the wood behind it. If it's still hard to scrape off, reheat the paint to soften it. When the paint has been peeled off, you should see the wood grooves behind it.
Step 5. Sand the guitar body
Use 100 grit sandpaper and rub it against the body of the guitar in the direction of the wood grain until it is as smooth as possible. Sand all the defects so that the guitar body looks smooth. Follow the contours of the guitar and sand the edges and edges. If you've smoothed it out using 100 grit sandpaper, switch to 200 grit to remove any blemishes.
Use a sanding block if the sanding paper hurts your hands
Step 6. Fill all the holes with automotive putty
When sanding the guitar, you will find bumps or divots on the body of the guitar. Purchase automotive putty online or at a repair shop and follow the instructions provided to create a sticky looking material. Use a plastic scraper to scoop out some of the putty and apply it to the guitar body divot. Once the divot is filled with putty, allow it to dry for at least 20 minutes.
Bondo is a popular brand of automotive putty
Step 7. Sand the automotive putty so that it is even with the surface of the guitar
Once you've filled in all the divots and the guitar body is fairly smooth, do a final sanding with 100 grit sandpaper. Continue sanding until the automotive putty is evenly distributed to the guitar body.
Step 8. Wipe off the dust with a dry cloth
Don't wet your guitar wood so it doesn't get damp. Use a clean microfiber cloth or rag and wipe the surface of the guitar while making sure that no sawdust or debris remains on the guitar.
Dust or debris left on the guitar will also be sealed when painting
Part 2 of 3: Sealing the Guitar
Step 1. Lay the guitar on a flat surface
Spread an old cloth under the guitar so that the paint doesn't stain the work surface. Place the guitar on the cloth with the back side up.
Step 2. Choose a wood sealer
You can buy wood sealers online or at a hardware store. Purchase a water-based sealant that is sufficiently glossy. Use white sealer if you are going to use a bright color paint. Instead, use a gray sealer if you're going to use dark paint.
Step 3. Apply wood seal to the guitar
Dampen a dry washcloth with the sealer. If so, rub it along the grooves on the surface of the guitar. Use long strokes and do not concentrate the sealing rub in one area of the guitar. Once sealed, allow to dry for 10 minutes, then turn the guitar over and finish sealing the front and sides of the guitar.
Once the rag looks dirty, throw it away and get a new, clean rag. Remove the shield on the guitar electronics case. Apply seal to all pickups, electronic cavities, and neck pockets while keeping seals from pooling. This area is often neglected and leaves the wood damp
Step 4. Let the guitar dry and apply 3-5 layers of sealing
Allow the sealer to dry for 1-2 hours and then apply an additional layer of sealing evenly again. The seal will keep the colored paint layer from sticking more easily to the guitar body. Keep adding more layers of sealing until you've applied 3-5 layers on the guitar.
- Don't forget to let the sealer dry for 1-2 hours between each application.
- Once the guitar is properly sealed, the wood grooves will appear darker.
Step 5. Let the sealer dry for three days
Feel the sealing layer to make sure it is no longer wet or sticky. Dry the guitar in a well-ventilated area so the sealing vapors don't hurt anyone.
Step 6. Sand the shiny sealing part
Use 200 grit sandpaper to smooth it out so it doesn't reveal any wood grooves behind it. If so, reapply the sealer and let it dry before continuing. When you're done, the guitar should appear white or pale gray.
Part 3 of 3: Painting the Guitar
Step 1. Choose a paint for the guitar
Guitar paint is usually made from polyester, polyurethane, and nitrocellulose. Polyurethane and polyester paints typically produce a tougher, plastic-like feel, while nitrocellulose is lighter and thinner. If you are confused about choosing, look for a spray paint specially made for guitars
Step 2. Cover the neck pouch leaving 0.15 cm from all edges of the pouch
This will prevent the paint from settling and make it easier to reattach the neck. The neck joint is an important part of a guitar. Make sure you attach it properly.
Step 3. Spray the base coat on the guitar
Position the nozzle on the spray can 30-45 cm from the guitar body. Don't forget to cover the edges of the guitar. Press and hold the spray button, and spray in a back and forth motion along the body of the guitar.
Step 4. Let the paint dry for 10 minutes
Touch the surface of the guitar to make sure the paint doesn't transfer to your hands. The paint may still feel sticky and you can see the seal behind the base coat that was just sprayed.
Step 5. Flip the guitar over and spray the other side
Once your guitar is dry, turn it over and spray the other side of the guitar. Now, the front and back of the guitar have been covered with a base coat of paint.
Step 6. Spray some additional base coat on the guitar
Allow each coat to dry for 5 minutes before spraying the next coat. Continue flipping the guitar so that all the layers are even. Continue spraying paint until the color gets darker and richer. Usually it takes 3-7 layers to get the ideal color.
Step 7. Let the paint dry
After you've finished spraying the base coat, the guitar needs to be left to dry for 1-2 days in a well-ventilated room. Once it's completely dry, you can move on to the next step.
Step 8. Sand the paint using 400 grit sandpaper
Once your guitar is dry, run your finger over the surface, sides, and back of the guitar to make sure the paint is smooth. If the paint is rising in one area or sticking out a little in one spot, scrape it off with sandpaper. Wet the sandpaper in water overnight, then rub it over the rough parts of the guitar while it's still wet.
Wet sandpaper will not scratch the guitar's surface
Step 9. Spray clear varnish on the guitar
Clear paint varnish will give your guitar a shiny look. You can buy them at home supply stores or the internet. Spray the product in the same way with four separate coats of primer, 90 minutes per coat to allow it to dry.
Step 10. Leave the guitar for 3 weeks to dry
Don't touch the guitar for 3 weeks for the paint to dry. During this time, the paint will harden and have a rich color, but it will still lack the polish that is usually seen on guitars.
Step 11. Polish the guitar with a car polish
Wet a washcloth with car polish and wipe the surface of the guitar in small circular motions. This will increase the luster of the guitar and make it appear shinier. Finish the guitar by wiping off the remaining polish with a rag.
Step 12. Put the guitar back in
Replace the cover on the guitar electronics case. Solder the wires from the bridge and pickup back into place in the guitar body and install the screws that were previously removed. After that, reattach the neck of the guitar and reconnect all the knobs on the guitar. By now, your guitar should be back in shape.
