POSSIBLE telecaster project

Robbmonster

I've always hated the colour of my Telecaster (black) and I am thinking that with summer approaching, I might attemp to repaint it.

What's the best way to go about it? I've never painted anything, so I know nothing about paints, coats, drying times, laquers, sealers, anything, but I'm willing to give it a try.

The way I imagined the process is to sand back the current finish, spray, allow to dry, repeat process several times. How long to dry, how many coats? Is spray paint a good idea?

Two other things are, suggestions for colours (I really have no thoughts on colour yet), and I would also like to add a comp stripe (just for fun). How is this done?

Losta question marks in there, I know, but if I don't ask, I won't learn...

By the way, I am not massively concerned if I wreck the guitar, because I strongly suspect Santa is bringing me another Telecaster for Christmas...

JaguarOW

Green

sorry i dont know any of the other stuff

Robbmonster

Green was on my shortlist, either a dark British Racing green, or a kind of Pine Lime green.

Mustang-Pete

I'm not sure about the whole laquering and painting process... But I do kinda know how to do the comp. stripes. You put on the base colour (the colour you want the stripes to be), then mask out the area you want to be the colour of the stripes. Then spray the main colour over the top of it, and peel off the masking (being careful not to peel the paint with it. It might be worthwhile laquering or sealing it before you mask it)

Aug

Ok.

Disassemble the guitar, and block sand with 320-400 grit sandpaper until the thing shines no more. (Note: I made no mention of stripping the old finish) Then, you'll want to use a high-quality primer from an auto paint supplier. You don't "need" to wet-sand until after the finish coat is on, so you can just lay down a few coats of primer and blocksand with 400/600-grit until you are satisfied. Since you'll need to wetsand after the finish coat, you are gonna HAVE to fill in any and all screwholes, including the neck pocket holes, as the water will invade and cause the wood to expand. I suggest toothpicks and wood glue for the screwholes and superglue inside the neckpocket holes. I don't think you can have aerosols shipped by air, so ordering your paints from StewMac or ReRanch isn't feasible. However, you can certainly use automotive paints, as that is what all the guitar manufacturers use. Personally, I think you should avoid single-stage paints and go with three-stage. Most paint stores can mix the paint for you in an aerosol for around $20 or so, and you can buy the gloss clear with the hardener injection system for about that, too. To fully answer your questions, I'd have to practically write a fricken novel here, so you really might consider going to your local paint supplier and ask them questions. Hope this helps.

tragictravisty

listen to aug. also think about gloss/satin

Robbmonster

The paint store is certainly on my list of places to consult, but I really wanted to get kind of "guitar specific" opinions first.

Also, you mention leaving the old paint on... the finish is rather chipped - right through to the wood in a couple of places - How do I go about smoothing these chips on the repaint?

Trav, as for gloss/satin... I have seen great examples od satin here and there, but for me it would depend on the colour I end up with. I'm still undecided.

By the way, Aug, it helped A LOT. While I still don't fully understand the process, I know that it is certainly within my abilities to do this.

melvin-man

A lot of effort if it all goes wrong! Firstly, regarding the colour and the stripes, photoshop! If you've not got it there are free trials out there, or someone will do it for you. I would be willing but its finding the time...

secondly, take your time and You'll be fine!

good luck!

Aug

Robbmonster said: The paint store is certainly on my list of places to consult, but I really wanted to get kind of "guitar specific" opinions first.
Also, you mention leaving the old paint on... the finish is rather chipped - right through to the wood in a couple of places - How do I go about smoothing these chips on the repaint?
By the way, Aug, it helped A LOT. While I still don't fully understand the process, I know that it is certainly within my abilities to do this.

Well, to be honest, this is gonna make the job quite a bit harder, as sanding the chips down will alter the shape of the guitar, and might be noticeable once you are finished. You seem to be inexperienced, but capable, so you'll have to decide whether or not to fill or strip the guitar. If it were me, I'd purchase a small fiberclass kit, and (without using the cloth), mix the fiberglass filler with the epoxy resin and fill the chips/dents and then blocksand to finish, as the fiberglass filler and fullerplast are essentially the same thing.

Oh, and remember, mistakes are *gonna* happen, so just take your time and have fun with it.

Robbmonster

I kind of abandoned this project in favour of sinking the money into some new pickups for my Jagmaster. But I still hate the colour of the Tele.

Anyways, sitting here listening to Albert Collins, when the idea comes to me... natural finish! Just like the Albert Collins Signature Telecaster.

http://www.fendercustomshop.com.au/cust ... 108800.php

Yes, the Tele is alder, not swamp ash, so I am not sure it will look quite so good stripped, but does anyone have any ideas on varnishing and finishing?

Cymastar

Alder Tele w/ Pickguard via Warmoth... Doesn't look too shabby 😁 ...

Robbmonster

Funny you post that...

At this moment, my Tele has a white pickguard, so it would look just like the Albert Collins tele (except minus the PAF at the neck).

But waiting for me at my luthier is a 3-ply black pickguard that I haven't been able to afford to pick up. These were the guys that needed 12 weeks make said pickguard and swap the neck on my 51.

I like it with the black, but if I do strip it, I might stick with the white. A good thing about Telecasters is that you can swap the pickguard any time you like without messing with anything else 😀

JaguarOW

i thought albert collins used a gold tele 😕

oh well the natural looks good, make sure youre careful stripping it though

Robbmonster

Yeah, I'm gonna be careful alrite. I'm not gonna do it unless I am confident I can do it properly.

funtoosh

yep, be careful, with a poly-finished body, it should be quite some work to get the whole body stripped ...

Mustang-Pete

It should look good. If you have both black and white pickguards, you could swap them every so often until you decide which you like best 😉

Robbmonster

Mustang-Pete said: It should look good. If you have both black and white pickguards, you could swap them every so often until you decide which you like best 😉

That's the plan mate 😉

At this stage I think I will like the white pickguard better (how ironic). It reminds me of the Tele's played by Albert Collins and Frank Black

Cymastar

FRANK BLACK / BLACK FRANCIS FTW!!! 😁

yoreel

Aug said: Ok.
Disassemble the guitar, and block sand with 320-400 grit sandpaper until the thing shines no more. (Note: I made no mention of stripping the old finish) Then, you'll want to use a high-quality primer from an auto paint supplier. You don't "need" to wet-sand until after the finish coat is on, so you can just lay down a few coats of primer and blocksand with 400/600-grit until you are satisfied. Since you'll need to wetsand after the finish coat, you are gonna HAVE to fill in any and all screwholes, including the neck pocket holes, as the water will invade and cause the wood to expand. I suggest toothpicks and wood glue for the screwholes and superglue inside the neckpocket holes. I don't think you can have aerosols shipped by air, so ordering your paints from StewMac or ReRanch isn't feasible. However, you can certainly use automotive paints, as that is what all the guitar manufacturers use. Personally, I think you should avoid single-stage paints and go with three-stage. Most paint stores can mix the paint for you in an aerosol for around $20 or so, and you can buy the gloss clear with the hardener injection system for about that, too. To fully answer your questions, I'd have to practically write a fricken novel here, so you really might consider going to your local paint supplier and ask them questions. Hope this helps.

See what I mean - I knew you were a legend !

Aug

Aug said: Ok.
Disassemble the guitar, and block sand with 320-400 grit sandpaper until the thing shines no more. (Note: I made no mention of stripping the old finish) Then, you'll want to use a high-quality primer from an auto paint supplier. You don't "need" to wet-sand until after the finish coat is on, so you can just lay down a few coats of primer and blocksand with 400/600-grit until you are satisfied. Since you'll need to wetsand after the finish coat, you are gonna HAVE to fill in any and all screwholes, including the neck pocket holes, as the water will invade and cause the wood to expand. I suggest toothpicks and wood glue for the screwholes and superglue inside the neckpocket holes. I don't think you can have aerosols shipped by air, so ordering your paints from StewMac or ReRanch isn't feasible. However, you can certainly use automotive paints, as that is what all the guitar manufacturers use. Personally, I think you should avoid single-stage paints and go with three-stage. Most paint stores can mix the paint for you in an aerosol for around $20 or so, and you can buy the gloss clear with the hardener injection system for about that, too. To fully answer your questions, I'd have to practically write a fricken novel here, so you really might consider going to your local paint supplier and ask them questions. Hope this helps.

lozzlez! Not a legend, dude... I just don't mind sharing my experience.