Frankenstrat Finish

[_DBK_]

So i just finished cutting my first tele and plan on attempting a black and white Van Halen style finish. I have no previous knowledge of finishing guitars and don't know where to even begin. I figure i would do a complete black coat, tape the stripes and lines i want, then do the white. But again i dont know where to start... I have a bare swamp ash body to work with. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Colt W. Knight]

EVH just did it with spray paint and tape. It was not a pro quality finish. When you have chops like EVH, you don't need no fancy stinkin paint job.

Here is how I would tackle that finish with swamp ash.

1. Finish sand through 220.
2. Apply a sealer.
3. Apply grain filler.
4. Apply sealer again.
5. Apply Primer.
6. Apply white paint
7. Mask the guitar for stripes.
8. Apply black paint.
9. Apply clear.
10. Wet sand and buff.

[_DBK_]

Thanks for the reply.
I was out today searching for supplies this morning because i wanted to start this afternoon but i cat find grain filler anywhere, most people don't even know what it is... anyways ive been reading up on using epoxy as a filler. Is this something people would recommend?

[Hollmanp90]

OP.......Your right about painting it black first.

[Colt W. Knight]

I wouldn't reccomend epoxy. That stuff sets up so hard, it would be tough sanding it back after you applied it. Its tough to work with too, stinky, sticky, and hard to clean up. It does work well though.

Paste grain filler - only place I can find it is over the internet or in a dedicated wood working store like woodcrafters or rockler.

Cyano Acrylate glue is an exccellent grain filler. If you don't want to wait to order actual grain filler, you can run down to your local hobby store and grab up a big tube or two of CA glue. CA glue is basically super glue, but the stuff they sell at hobby stores and wood working stores is better than the crazy glue type you get at walmart.

[wedg14]

If you're still looking for grain filler check out this website!

http://www.woodessence.com/

I too searched for it for months, it's hard to find in canada. that website will hook you up tho!

[_DBK_]

Thanks, I'll probably end up ordering from there now that im not in hurry to start painting.

[Sarrkazztic]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

EVH just did it with spray paint and tape. It was not a pro quality finish. When you have chops like EVH, you don't need no fancy stinkin paint job.

Here is how I would tackle that finish with swamp ash.

1. Finish sand through 220.
2. Apply a sealer.
3. Apply grain filler.
4. Apply sealer again.
5. Apply Primer.
6. Apply white paint
7. Mask the guitar for stripes.
8. Apply black paint.
9. Apply clear.
10. Wet sand and buff.

Somewhere in here....you have to remove the tape :-)

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by Sarrkazztic

Somewhere in here....you have to remove the tape :-)

There's one in every crowd.


But seriously, thats a good point.

There's an ideal time to remove the tape. To wet, and you'll probably put prints or or brushes in the paint. Let it get to hard, and you may chip the paint as you remove the tape.

[Colt W. Knight]

I'm not an EVH historian, I just read an interview with him talking about he made his first striped guitar. I think as time went on, he actually had luthiers and real guitar techs make, paint and moddify his guitars. So I don't know where the white comes in on the timeline, but I remember him talking about the first one he built.

He asked about a big barrel of parts, and the guy said they were seconds. Since they were cheaper and available he bought seconds. masked it off and spray painted. hardware and electronics were just whatever he had or had access too. So in person, his first guitar probably looked like crapola.

[Colt W. Knight]

I think alcohol prohibition had an impact on the use of Shellac in the first half the 1900's in America. Seems like the older traditional finish in America was varnish. Im not sure what varnish is exactly, but I think it encompasses a lot of different types of finishes.