On painting guitars again - how to paint something complex on it without taking the guitar apart?

Question

I would like to paint a somewhat complicated figure on only a part of my electric guitar, on top of the current paint job. I think a pencil would be better than spray and a stencil, since the design has lots of holes in it. I rather wouldn't disassemble it - I fear with my lack of experience it won't do it much good. It's a Yamaha ERG 121, cheap but still in excellent shape, and besides that, the only guitar I own.

Acrylic paint with varnish gloss finish is an option, or so I've read, as is enamel paint with urethane (not familiar to me in any way), either applied on a roughened up surface. Since I wouldn't be able to reach every spot on the guitar properly for the finish, as it would still be mostly assembled, I was wondering whether this would look any good at all.

Does anyone know whether it will look good if I only treat the places I want to paint on, or what I can reach? If not - are there any good ways of painting something complex on my guitar without having to take it apart?

Answer 1

Ehhh... Tear it down. Takes 10 minutes. Easy to put back together. There's nothing to ruin. Just be careful not mess your intonation and action settings on the bridge. Go for it. What yah gonna paint on it?

Answer 2

To be perfectly honest, to get the best paint job, you should take off anything chrome or anything that you don't want painted. Just make sure that you put the parts in little baggies and label them.



The option, that will work but I don't recommend, would be to mask off what you don't want to paint, then go for what you want.



Also, do NOT use acrylic paint. It will not give you a smooth finish and will start to crack after a couple years. Another name for acrylic paint is house paint. It will make your guitar look awful. What the guy is telling you beneath me is wrong. Most guitars are not made of treated wood. They are just painted or lacquered over. You need to sand this off anyway, so any sealing treatments you might have on your guitar will be taken off. The best way to get your guitar redone would be to get it done professionally. It will only cost you about $50.

Answer 3

acrylics are fine really. it wont need to be treated because guitars are made with sealed wood. which meanes the wood no longer absorbs moisture