This Custom Painted Guitar project started with a good existing black paint job. Since the paint was in new condition, we actual did this in a reverse process from what we would normally do it in. Which makes it a bit more complicated & tedious. Also on this project we did a reverse zebra design, meaning normally the tapered stripes would be painted a dark color like black & the connected stripe would be a lighter color.
Before anything could be done to the guitar, it when into disassembly. After it was disassembled it was wiped down with detergent & h2o, then wiped down with a solvent degreaser as well as an alcohol based cleaner to ensure there were no contaminants. Then the guitar went into prep, where it was sanded down with superfine materials so we could give the guitar a good tooth for the paint to bite into for proper adhesion as well as remove any minor flaws. Also, the superfine materials allowed us to do so with out harming the existing color since we were still going to us it as a finished color on the final design.
We wanted the design to stay somewhat centered on the guitar, so we started by finding the center point & worked outward from there.
Once the design was laid out, it was time to mask the design so only the parts that we wanted painted would be exposed. Here it is getting an adhesive paper mask treatment on the face, then the entire body was masked.
Below is the body masked & ready for some color.
Since we were planning on some big glamour blue flake, we wanted to put a good base down for it. Most just use a black base color but we prefer a similar color, usually in a smaller metallic or pearl for added sparkle. We decided on a True Blue Pearl base. Below photo shows it sprayed on in multiple coats.
Time for some Big Glam flake, the flake is too large to spray out of a conventional gun so we used a dry on wet application.
Below is a closer look at the guitar with all the flake applied.
At this point we have to unmask the design, this is tedious since we did a dry on wet clear application. The clear is still wet & tacky. Unmasking it is a bit time consuming because it doesn't take much to mess it up.
Below photo shows all of the mask taken off except the original fine line tape used to lay out the design. This tape gives us a somewhat idea of what the design may look like with the lighter color pinstripe around it.
Now all the tape that needed to be removed is gone.
Now its ready for more clear work that is need to protect & bury the rough flake & zebra pattern. The black looks similar to a chalk board until clear, which then will become a nice rich deep black.
This photo below shows what the guitar looks like after clear coat the guitar numerous times.
Still more to come. From here the guitar will get resanded, receive some light gray hand laid pinstriping, then back into clear. Many coats will be needed in order bury the flake & edges, then it will get sanded down, buffed & polished to a smooth as glass shine.
We will be posting more photos on this project as we get it closer to completion. So please check back & check out our website at http://www.ek13.com/
Fantastic!!!
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