(re)painting guitar ideas

[mathias]

This thing on eBayspawned some ideas for how I'd custom finish a guitar:



There's also this that someone posted here awhile back:


Now just to find the right cheap guitar to use as a canvas..

Played a Fender Cyclone once that I liked but didn't buy. Those are hard to come by (the single-hum version, not the weird comp stripe one). Maybe one of the Dano reissues with the metal bridge..

[McSpunckle]

Those are freakin' cool! I love wacky painted guitars like that.

*cough*stillwantdevitopaintmymoser*cough*

[effetebomb]

i've got a silvertone strat copy that i want to repaint. it has a sunburst on it now that is just making it look more like a cheap knock off than it already is. I normally like sunburst, but this one has no class. I was thinking of probably going one color or possibly two. one problem i'm having is with the guitar itself (i don't like the look of the strat much at all, but this thing was free). i do know i want to replace the knobs with these http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=610 or maybe these http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=684. the cream ones are available in a larger size, but i like the colored ones. With a matching one of these on the switch http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=44. it just depends on the color scheme, but I'm having trouble coming up with one. oh i need a new pick guard too as the one i have is warped. the fretboard is rose wood. eventually want to replace the pick ups as well but the $$$ is not here now.

anyone have any color schemes they want to suggest? i like yellow, but i can't find a scheme i like.

this is pretty useful: http://www.nymphusa.com/kisekae/8.0/strat8001/base.asp

EDIT: the pickup cavity is just one big rectangle so pretty much any pickups are an option.

ugg. anyone got any good ideas?

[mathias]

I meant for this to be sort of a work-in-progress log thread, but I haven't gotten a guitar yet, so things are moving a little slowly. (It doesn't help that I'm unemployed, so money is tight. On the plus side, I've got all the time in the world right now to experiment and paint and play guitar)

I've got a handful of paint markers, but I'm unhappy with how they seem to work. Thick, goopy, rubbery paint in them. I know there's model/figurine acrylic paints at my parents' house from my Warhammer 40K/Battletech/DnD days, I just don't know which box they'd be in, as I'd have to tell my parents what to ship me.

I repainted my strat in the past with reranch paints over a Krylon lacquer primer, I might just do the Krylon primer and do my own paints over it, is my thinking. Not sure how acrylic plays with lacquer finishes though, as I'm thinking lacquer primer, acrylic paints inbetween, lacquer clear coat. unless I spray clear poly over it all. Dunno. Thoughts?

Edit: Still looking for a cheap guitar. Thinking single coils, rosewood, tremolo. Maybe short scale. Rondo? First Act? Kind of burned out on the Strat body shape, tbh, dunno how I'd eff up the Rondo to make it different.


Edit edit (double posting for-the-lose): Another idea is to strip a guitar back to the wood, stain it dark, use a blowtorch + bits of metal to 'brand'/burn it with a playing-card motif, and then use to the blowtorch to burn other parts, selective use of black ink washes, and seal it all up. Wire it up with a hot bluesy pickup (maybe a P90?) and no knobs/switch, brass pickguard, strip the neck and refinish satin or with tung oil, and rock it out with rootsy electric rock. This is the idea I think I may go with. Inspired mainly by this:

[effetebomb]

yeah strats are done... wood burning is an interesting idea

[mathias]

Anyone know if it is possible to mount a Tele-style fixed bridge in place of a Vintage-style Strat 6 screw tremolo? I've got a lead on a cheaper guitar but don't want that particular tremolo, plus I think it'd look different. Have an idea on how to take body on this cheap guitar and mix components from several different Fender styles to make a unique frankenguitar.

When I say possible, I mean, without having to shape/glue in additional blocks of wood where the screws need to go. Just as long as I get the scale length perfect and drill new holes. Don't have the woodshop to do that in. Unfortunately also means I don't have the tools/space to route out a pickup to go in the Tele bridge either.

[metalmariachi]

Filling the old holes would be pretty easy.
Go with the drill and dowel method or just use wood putty (the hardening kind)
Then sand and prime.

If you can get a hold of a router, Stew Mac sells routing templates and the bits.

MM

[mathias]

Turns out it is an American Fender tremolo. I guess I didn't look close enough. Comparing routing templates on Warmoth makes me think that the two bridge post holes will need to be filled if I go that route. Plus there's the hole through the body and (what will be) empty spring cavity in the back. Dunno if it's worth it.

[laxlover_bill369]

Never get first act good quality but its like putting you hand through a cheese grater

Those are freakin' cool! I love wacky painted guitars like that.

*cough*stillwantdevitopaintmymoser*cough*

That would be unholy

ahw ahw ahw ahw den den dengenden

[mathias]

Never get first act good quality but its like putting you hand through a cheese grater

Yeah I dropped that idea pretty quick, especially since it probably comes finished in a solid layer of plastic, the likes of which I couldn't strip off without industrial chemicals.