Weekend Tele paint job

Deadman · May 25

I thought I’d share this as I haven’t painted a guitar in quite a while after changing jobs. I still have all the equipment available to me when I do have to scratch the itch though, so today’s the day.

I picked up this lovely Tele recently that plays and sounds sublime. However as you can see, the finish has been cleaned off, after an accident with some nail polish remover. I couldn’t leave it looking like this, so I got to work removing everything only to find the original sunburst under the hardware and pickguard.

After cleaning off the remaining finish with a bit of solvent and a quick rub down I popped a coat of white cellulose primer on followed by some tinted yellow nitro lacquer as I like that 60’s look and I also find bog standard alder grain very boring to look at.

This was after 2 coats, I popped a couple more on until I got a bit more of an orangey vibe going on. So that’s it for today, tomorrow will be 3 colour burst and a few coats of nitro lacquer. Total time spent so far is about 2 hours.

Edit! I've decided I'm going to finish this today so more pics to come.....

Deadman · May 25

I recently got hold of a tiny little puffer gun. First time I’ve used it today. It was ideal for applying the tobacco burst. This was tobacco mixed with some cellulose black to give it depth. I’ve now banged on a quick coat of nitro lacquer (using my Devilbiss GTi) to avoid any separation or furring when it comes to putting the red on.

What I’m using today.

ElectricXII · May 25

Nice job.Looking forward to the finished article.

Deadman · May 25

Thanks @ElectricXII given the white guard and rosewood board I’m hoping it all ties together nicely.

Finished pics. I went with a bit of a clown burst as I just felt the need. Just the requisite flat and polish to do in a few weeks time and I’ll pop some final pics up.

Deadman · May 25

Totally unrelated but tomorrow’s job is a table top that the missus wants me to do (Tele of course took priority and is nestling safely in the adjoining bay

) Right. Time for beer, music and curry. Have a good night, all.

SteveRobinson · May 25

A sunburst table would be amazing

Deadman · May 25

SteveRobinson said:

A sunburst table would be amazing

If I could get it past the missus Steve, I would

By the way, I'm only sorry that I'm not using your products because of the obvious. I don't use aerosols. Shame but I remember long ago you saying something about shipping restrictions associated with tinned paint?

NPP · May 25

interesting, I always assumed bursts would be sprayed from the inside out but apparently that's not the case. Looks good!

Deadman · May 26

NPP said:

interesting, I always assumed bursts would be sprayed from the inside out but apparently that's not the case. Looks good!

Easiest way @NPP and of course the way Fender did/does it. The red is always so opaque edit: TRANSLUCENT that it obviously doesn’t show on top of the dark burst but does on top of the lighter centre.

Edited for stupidity.

Deadman · August 11

Finally got round to finishing this today. Time to play the thing!

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/93a62aff945fce7f3286505c348e5cf15faf08f198321c6cf8

PeteC · August 11

lovely job! this is very interesting as I'm just starting out on nitro finishes at the mo and just finishing my first LP in the stuff.

I noticed one of the cans you used was Jewel Car Cellulose. Is that stuff good for guitar spraying?

Might save me a few bob to order small quantities in pre-shaded colours, rather than tinting the clear Morells nitro I'm using at the moment and buying in 5L cans.

hollywoodrox · August 11

Well done, that’s amazing

Deadman · August 11

PeteC said:

lovely job! this is very interesting as I'm just starting out on nitro finishes at the mo and just finishing my first LP in the stuff.

I noticed one of the cans you used was Jewel Car Cellulose. Is that stuff good for guitar spraying?

Might save me a few bob to order small quantities in pre-shaded colours, rather than tinting the clear Morells nitro I'm using at the moment and buying in 5L cans.

Cheers Pete.

Yes, it’s great paint. I’ve used it on loads of guitars. It flows nicely (1:1 thinned) and flats and polishes back very easily.

If you’re geared up for spraying with a gun it’s a no brainer, it was only £21 for 1 litre on eBay. Thinned it’ll do about 10 guitars!

Morrells make good gear too in my experience.

Thanks @hollywoodrox ;;

Keefy · August 11

I don’t normally go a bundle on 3TSB Teles but that looks great!

Deadman · August 11

Neither do I @Keefy and I could have done literally anything with this.

I always like the look of the 60’s style 3 colour burst though, so that was my compromise with it on this occasion . Keep it to the original colour, but with that white primer twist. I might even relic it slightly along the line too as I really like the look of this finish when it wears.

PeteC · August 11

Deadman said:

PeteC said:

lovely job! this is very interesting as I'm just starting out on nitro finishes at the mo and just finishing my first LP in the stuff.

I noticed one of the cans you used was Jewel Car Cellulose. Is that stuff good for guitar spraying?

Might save me a few bob to order small quantities in pre-shaded colours, rather than tinting the clear Morells nitro I'm using at the moment and buying in 5L cans.

Cheers Pete.

Yes, it’s great paint. I’ve used it on loads of guitars. It flows nicely (1:1 thinned) and flats and polishes back very easily.

If you’re geared up for spraying with a gun it’s a no brainer, it was only £21 for 1 litre on eBay. Thinned it’ll do about 10 guitars!

Morrells make good gear too in my experience.

Thanks @hollywoodrox ;;;

Thanks @Deadman I will try some of the Jawel stuff. Any make of cellulose primer you would recommend?

This spray finishing is a bit addictive once you get into it isn't it? I just bought myself a second gun purely for metallics.

Anyway that Tele looks the biz. I had a sunburst Highway One with the factory ( slightly orange-peely) thin nitro finish and it didn't look anywhere near as good as yours. Super job.
PS - very envious of the spray booth.

Wazmeister · August 11

A gorgeous job mate - I really admire your skill and patience

Deadman · August 12

@PeteC ; thanks again mate.

I don't often require the use of celly white primer so just went for Northwest guitars .25l tinned pot this time, at £9 I couldn't really argue and I was buying the translucent red and some tobacco brown at the same time so with postage costs it made sense:

White Primer Nitrocellulose Guitar Paint / Lacquer 250ml – Northwest Guitars

Can't recommend their paint highly enough.

@Wazmeister very kind words, thank you mate.

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Weekend Tele paint job

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