How hard is it to paint your guitar?

rayzor33 · Post by **rayzor33** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:45 pm

No I'm in no way ever going to consider trying to paint a Ric myself but I was thinking about taking it down to a professional. How hard would this be for them to do that and how much would something like that cost? Sorry to sound to newbie! Thanks

jonpaul · Post by **jonpaul** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:04 pm

Ray, Contact Paul Wilczynski, he posts on this Site regularly and you can contact him from his profile information. He did an absolutely fantasic job on a refin for me on a 325V63 JG, it was amazing. He is very reasonable with his price and is very attentive to your needs regarding exactly what you want achieved with your guitar. Give him a shout, you will not be disappointed. Good luck!

winston · Post by **winston** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:24 pm

I second that. Ask Paul. Paul knows all when it comes to refinishing. David can attest to that.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:48 pm

I use flat latex and apply it by roller ...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 8:15 pm

I was thinking more along the lines of watercolours, Jeff.

Seriously, Ray, I am sure Paul could look after you.

rayzor33 · Post by **rayzor33** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:38 am

will do thanks for the help I'll be sure to look him up

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 5:47 am

Jeff,great idea, that way you don't have to remove them strangs and pickem' ups'.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:25 am

I use flat latex and apply it by roller ...

...but it's much faster if you just pour the paint from the can over the guitar.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:48 am

I painted my Fender P with acrylics and a brush and sprayed clear acrylic out th' can over the top, and it's made it through dozens of trips through the car wash!

What does this have to do with Rics? Nothing, admittedly...I'm just killing time 'til Paul W. has a chance to respond to the original point...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 8:12 am

And I wouldn't mind hearing from Ray, the original poster on this topic.

There have been a range of answers. Most of us who have played or collected guitars have stories to tell on this topic, both wonderful and ridiculous. I'm sure that Jeff, Dale, and Joey were all being facetious, but they are not too far from the truth of one or two horror stories we've heard!

I've been corresponding with a number of enthusiasts, both players and builders, on this topic, and I'll sum up my observations here:

Firms like Stewart-MacDonald and Refinish Ranch do a great business selling DIY supplies to repaint guitars. Their paints are mostly of the nitrocellulose lacquer variety.

Nitrocellulose was (and remains) an appropriate way for a DIYer to finish his guitar. There is, in fact, a certain "cachet" that's developed around nitro-finished guitars, which both Fender and Gretsch (Fender) use to good advantage in the marketplace.

Having owned a lot of nitro-finished guitars since my first '54 Tele, the only observation I'd care to make is that it looks new when it's new, and looks charming when it's worn. But that's true of any paint.

Nitro is not especially durable and was mostly supplanted in production by other finishing technologies two full generations ago.

That having been said, I have seen a lot of really beautiful spray can nitro jobs done (mostly on Fenders). However, the great majority of these were done by people who have had a lot of previous spray-can experience.

Still, for durability, nothing will beat catalyzing urethane. This is what RIC uses (generically "conversion varnish"). It is industrial technology that is quite hazardous and requires a bit of equipment and a whole lot of experience to apply correctly.

I would never refinish a Rickenbacker with anything but this type of material, for reasons of durability and authenticity.

So the choice is up to the owner: Ranging from roller-applied latex, on up to a professional refinishing job (and something like JG is very challenging, even for a pro, to do to perfection), with a lot of ground in between.

How hard it is and how much it costs is like asking: how long is a piece of string? The answer always is: it depends.

For me it's fairly easy--but I'm in my 40th year of doing this sort of thing. As to price, I would be glad to discuss this with Ray if he contacts me off-list.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:32 pm

I knew that Lennon fellow was messing up when he said paint it black.

gareth · Post by **gareth** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:44 am

I have also emailed Paul. I need some advice on this too for my old 4001.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:00 am

E-mail received, as they often say on the Rickenbacker Forum.

fergs40 · Post by **fergs40** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:51 am

How hard it is to paint your guitar?

Much easier than unpainting it...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:58 am

Really, Mike? You want some work?