Painting a Jazzmaster?

Benny

Joined: Dec 21, 2009
Posts: 154
Burbank, Ca.
5 Link Pins

Posted on Jan 05 2011 02:49 AM

I'm seeking advice on painting my sunburst jazzmaster olympic white. I have never painted a guitar let alone disassemble one. If anyone has some pointer and what I should expect send them my way. Thanks for your help.

Benny

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fenderizer

Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 8
Stuttgart / Germany

Posted on Jan 05 2011 06:37 AM

Take a look at http://www.reranch.com/basics.htm and read their tutorials. Make sure that you understand those before starting and you'll probably achive pleasing results. good luck

Greetings - the Fenderizer

—

they're coming to take me away, hahaaa ...

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da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Jan 05 2011 06:53 AM

In my experience it's very very hard/time consuming to get a home finish on a guitar that will match a manufacturer's quality. I'd recommend taking it apart and take the body to a guitar shop and get it done professionally. Or maybe a car bodyshop will spray it next time they have some white paint left over? Preparation is the secret, and plenty of it. It's a good winter project!

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

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MrBill

Joined: Sep 29, 2009
Posts: 80
Bucks County, Penna., USA

Posted on Jan 05 2011 09:00 PM

Hi Benny,

That reranch stuff can give really nice results but its a time consuming
ordeal to get that factory type finish but then again, there is the
satisfaction factor of "I did it myself". On the easy end I went over to a local autobody shop with a primed Mex Strat body. A week later and a
hundred bucks lighter in the wallet picked up a fine Polyurethane
painted guitar so easy I doubt I'll ever paint finish color again.
Also I wasn't charged for any paint cause I chose a color he was
gonna paint, well best of luck with your project.

Cheers.

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dboomer

Joined: Jan 05, 2009
Posts: 262
Port Hueneme, CA
1 POTD Pin

Posted on Jan 05 2011 11:27 PM

I see that you are in Burbank ... too bad. You can't buy real nitrocellulose lacquer in So Cal since 2001. The stuff they sell anymore is only 27% (where it used to be 60-70% solids before then) and you can't buy it mail-order because it can't legally be sent into So Cal. Now if you are planning a little out of state trip ... hummmmm?

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morphball

Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
United States

Posted on Jan 06 2011 08:01 AM

dboomer
I see that you are in Burbank ... too bad. You can't buy real nitrocellulose lacquer in So Cal since 2001. The stuff they sell anymore is only 27% (where it used to be 60-70% solids before then) and you can't buy it mail-order because it can't legally be sent into So Cal. Now if you are planning a little out of state trip ... hummmmm?

Wow, I didn't know about that, damned environmentalists. You could also just send the body to someone that can properly strip it and apply a 100% nitrocellulose lacquer, if a good paintjob, and not a learning experience, is the goal. I can totally dig the DIY ethic myself- I did all the wiring and setup for my most recent partscaster and I do feel great about it, but striping, priming and finishing were not things I was equipped to do and gladly had Matt Jenny at MJT do that for me.

I just bought the body from him new, so thankfully I didn't have to do any striping, but I think he charges $150 to remove poly or $95 for non-poly, and about $300 for a 100% nitro finish, closet clean, aged or even relic'ed if you're into that type of thing, at no extra cost. Yes, it's pricey, but they do a professional job, and will redo it until you're happy. (I sent my first body back because the degree of yellowing of the Oly White was not enough for me; they exchanged it and made sure I got exactly what I wanted.)

—

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Jan 06 2011 09:16 AM

Buying a pre painted body is an option i'd consider. With two bodies you can always return to the original color scheme or sell and get some cash back in the account!

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WoodyJ

Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1547
Bethlehem, GA
United States

Posted on Jan 06 2011 10:52 AM

crumble
Buying a pre painted body is an option i'd consider. With two bodies you can always return to the original color scheme or sell and get some cash back in the account!

Or, you can send your body to Mario at the Guitar Mill and he will strip/refinish it in the correct nitrocellulose lacquer. He also sells nice prepainted Jazzmaster bodies if you'd rather go that route.

Mario's prices are very reasonable for what he does. He is a former Fender Custom Shop luthier. Here's a link to his website: http://guitarmill.com/

And a pic of a lightly reliced Dakota Red Nash '57 P-bass he refinished for me a couple years back:

—

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

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Fady

Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2272
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Jan 06 2011 11:55 AM

Woody - you also chimed in about Mario in Stacktone Dave's thread about his Jag projects where he used Mario too.

Just adding the link for the benefit of others who may have missed that one; additional beautiful pictures showing his work.

—

Fady

El Mirage @ ReverbNation

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Jan 06 2011 03:14 PM

dboomer
I see that you are in Burbank ... too bad. You can't buy real nitrocellulose lacquer in So Cal since 2001. The stuff they sell anymore is only 27% (where it used to be 60-70% solids before then) and you can't buy it mail-order because it can't legally be sent into So Cal. Now if you are planning a little out of state trip ... hummmmm?

Olympic White was never nitrocellulose lacquer; it was acrylic. Quite often it did not have a nitrocellulose clear coat, either, as nitrocellulose can yellow rapidly with with exposure to UV. Honestly, I would spray it a nice matching white with acrylic or enamel and be done with it. Check out any Olympic White auto spray paint.

The bigger question is what sort of finish is on the guitar now? If it is polyester, then you might want to use a heat gun and a scraper (and a 12-pack of beer and several nights some upcoming week) as this appears to cause the least amount of mess. If it is a nitrocellulose finish now, the situation is easier. Either you can apply the new finish over the top of the (finish sanded) old one. Or you can strip the old one with a variety of chemicals, lacquer thinner, for one.

Here is a dude who did the exact same thing you want to do: http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=19942

—

SSIV

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Benny

Joined: Dec 21, 2009
Posts: 154
Burbank, Ca.
5 Link Pins

Posted on Jan 09 2011 01:48 AM

Thanks for all the options guys. I was thinking of sanding to just below the sunburst and matching the olympic white paint and then painting it. I want to replace the pick guard and all the screws. I'm too busy playing the guitar to take too much time on it. I have just always felt that the olympic white is the sweetest of all the jazzmasters. Being a lefty my options are somewhat limited.

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Benny Joined: Dec 21, 2009 Posts: 154 Burbank, Ca.	Posted on Jan 05 2011 02:49 AM I'm seeking advice on painting my sunburst jazzmaster olympic white. I have never painted a guitar let alone disassemble one. If anyone has some pointer and what I should expect send them my way. Thanks for your help. Benny Top
fenderizer Joined: Nov 15, 2008 Posts: 8 Stuttgart / Germany	Posted on Jan 05 2011 06:37 AM Take a look at http://www.reranch.com/basics.htm and read their tutorials. Make sure that you understand those before starting and you'll probably achive pleasing results. good luck Greetings - *the Fenderizer* — they're coming to take me away, hahaaa ... Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Jan 05 2011 06:53 AM In my experience it's very very hard/time consuming to get a home finish on a guitar that will match a manufacturer's quality. I'd recommend taking it apart and take the body to a guitar shop and get it done professionally. Or maybe a car bodyshop will spray it next time they have some white paint left over? Preparation is the secret, and plenty of it. It's a good winter project! — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
MrBill Joined: Sep 29, 2009 Posts: 80 Bucks County, Penna., USA	Posted on Jan 05 2011 09:00 PM Hi Benny, That reranch stuff can give really nice results but its a time consuming ordeal to get that factory type finish but then again, there is the satisfaction factor of "I did it myself". On the easy end I went over to a local autobody shop with a primed Mex Strat body. A week later and a hundred bucks lighter in the wallet picked up a fine Polyurethane painted guitar so easy I doubt I'll ever paint finish color again. Also I wasn't charged for any paint cause I chose a color he was gonna paint, well best of luck with your project. Cheers. Top
dboomer Joined: Jan 05, 2009 Posts: 262 Port Hueneme, CA	Posted on Jan 05 2011 11:27 PM I see that you are in Burbank ... too bad. You can't buy real nitrocellulose lacquer in So Cal since 2001. The stuff they sell anymore is only 27% (where it used to be 60-70% solids before then) and you can't buy it mail-order because it can't legally be sent into So Cal. Now if you are planning a little out of state trip ... hummmmm? Top
morphball Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 3324 Pittsboro, NC	Posted on Jan 06 2011 08:01 AM dboomer I see that you are in Burbank ... too bad. You can't buy real nitrocellulose lacquer in So Cal since 2001. The stuff they sell anymore is only 27% (where it used to be 60-70% solids before then) and you can't buy it mail-order because it can't legally be sent into So Cal. Now if you are planning a little out of state trip ... hummmmm? Wow, I didn't know about that, damned environmentalists. You could also just send the body to someone that can properly strip it and apply a 100% nitrocellulose lacquer, if a good paintjob, and not a learning experience, is the goal. I can totally dig the DIY ethic myself- I did all the wiring and setup for my most recent partscaster and I do feel great about it, but striping, priming and finishing were not things I was equipped to do and gladly had Matt Jenny at MJT do that for me. I just bought the body from him new, so thankfully I didn't have to do any striping, but I think he charges $150 to remove poly or $95 for non-poly, and about $300 for a 100% nitro finish, closet clean, aged or even relic'ed if you're into that type of thing, at no extra cost. Yes, it's pricey, but they do a professional job, and will redo it until you're happy. (I sent my first body back because the degree of yellowing of the Oly White was not enough for me; they exchanged it and made sure I got exactly what I wanted.) — Mike http://www.youtube.com/morphballio Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Jan 06 2011 09:16 AM Buying a pre painted body is an option i'd consider. With two bodies you can always return to the original color scheme or sell and get some cash back in the account! Top
WoodyJ Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1547 Bethlehem, GA	Posted on Jan 06 2011 10:52 AM crumble Buying a pre painted body is an option i'd consider. With two bodies you can always return to the original color scheme or sell and get some cash back in the account! Or, you can send your body to Mario at the Guitar Mill and he will strip/refinish it in the correct nitrocellulose lacquer. He also sells nice prepainted Jazzmaster bodies if you'd rather go that route. Mario's prices are very reasonable for what he does. He is a former Fender Custom Shop luthier. Here's a link to his website: http://guitarmill.com/ And a pic of a lightly reliced Dakota Red Nash '57 P-bass he refinished for me a couple years back: — Jack Booth (aka WoodyJ) The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005) The Hula Hounds (1996-current) The X-Rays (1997-2004) The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012) Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990) Top
Fady Joined: Mar 07, 2010 Posts: 2272 North Carolina	Posted on Jan 06 2011 11:55 AM Woody - you also chimed in about Mario in Stacktone Dave's thread about his Jag projects where he used Mario too. Just adding the link for the benefit of others who may have missed that one; additional beautiful pictures showing his work. — Fady El Mirage @ ReverbNation Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Jan 06 2011 03:14 PM dboomer I see that you are in Burbank ... too bad. You can't buy real nitrocellulose lacquer in So Cal since 2001. The stuff they sell anymore is only 27% (where it used to be 60-70% solids before then) and you can't buy it mail-order because it can't legally be sent into So Cal. Now if you are planning a little out of state trip ... hummmmm? Olympic White was never nitrocellulose lacquer; it was acrylic. Quite often it did not have a nitrocellulose clear coat, either, as nitrocellulose can yellow rapidly with with exposure to UV. Honestly, I would spray it a nice matching white with acrylic or enamel and be done with it. Check out any Olympic White auto spray paint. The bigger question is what sort of finish is on the guitar now? If it is polyester, then you might want to use a heat gun and a scraper (and a 12-pack of beer and several nights some upcoming week) as this appears to cause the least amount of mess. If it is a nitrocellulose finish now, the situation is easier. Either you can apply the new finish over the top of the (finish sanded) old one. Or you can strip the old one with a variety of chemicals, lacquer thinner, for one. Here is a dude who did the exact same thing you want to do: http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=19942 — SSIV Top
Benny Joined: Dec 21, 2009 Posts: 154 Burbank, Ca.	Posted on Jan 09 2011 01:48 AM Thanks for all the options guys. I was thinking of sanding to just below the sunburst and matching the olympic white paint and then painting it. I want to replace the pick guard and all the screws. I'm too busy playing the guitar to take too much time on it. I have just always felt that the olympic white is the sweetest of all the jazzmasters. Being a lefty my options are somewhat limited. Top

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Painting a Jazzmaster?