Chip in 660 Paint

[btomlinson]

I just saw a chip down to the wood at the back off the headstock. Is there anything I should do? It's small and I know where it happened. My music room and only space is under the basement stairs. Partially due to the wife. I can blame her I guess. It's tight in my room with a computer desk and amps.

[beatlefreak]

What color is your 660?

[btomlinson]

COY Amber FireGlo.

[beatlefreak]

That would be difficult to touch up.

[jdogric12]

That's rough dude, sorry to hear that. Honestly, I personally would take comfort in knowing that that first ding is out of the way, so you don't have to be quite so ginger with it now.

[Janglyman]

I noticed the same thing on my 360-12 FG recently. A small paint chip came off the front of the headstock near one of the tuning keys. It did not appear to be a finish flaw. Maybe there's an aftermarket touch up marker, like the brown marker that's a perfect match for Gibson mahogony.

[jingle_jangle]

Seriously, Russell, have you tried the Gibson mahogany marker or any of Stew-Mac's touchup pens? They are perfect matches about 20% of the time. Guitars fade over time.


Joey Vasco had a lot of success with touching up his own FG bass using nail polish. His wife, Diane, helped him select and mix the right color. The result is good. If you search, "paint chip" on this site, you'll come up with some threads, I'm sure.

Basically, there are three steps involved: Match paint and apply in a drop, let harden and flatten with #1000 wet or dry sandpaper (used wet) and a small hard block, and rub to gloss with compound, and apply Scratch-X and Zymol to preserve the area.

This is explained in more detail in other previous threads.

[btomlinson]

Thanks All. I'll try the nail polish idea.

[Janglyman]

JJ: I have used markers with success on occasion. Not surprisingly, black is the easiest color to match. Cherry red Gibsons (SG's or LP Studios) seem to be easiest to match.

Your suggested method is a good way to go. You have to mix and match and dilute to get the proper color. I would also add that anyone doing this try out colors on a spare piece of wood before putting it on the guitar.