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Is there anything wrong with building thickness with tinted (opaque) lacquer? Everything I read talks about applying a color coat or two and build clear coat on top of it. I like the way some old guitars look like there's no clear on top of the color, and I'm building a guitar that would suit that look. Or is here a better way to achieve it, and still have it be a durable finish?


Thanks!

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"Real guitars are for old people, Mr. Marsh."

Eric Cartman

I've done it, and I learned from old hot rod painters to use tints to build a thickness with incredible depth when finally buffed out. Wish I had good pix, but I did a Gibson L6-S years ago in black, then a bunch of raspberry tinted color coats, alternated with coats of clear. Viewed straight on, it was a rich black with dark purple highlights on the edges, reminded me of a Concord grape. Viewed from an angle, it looked like a black cherry. Dark blue tints over black look great, too - and amber tints with clear on a maple neck glow like honey in sunlight. It's a very valid technique - have it at, Mark.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Thanks! Something I thought of: I've got binding on this guitar. Since building thickness with color means I can't scrape the binding til late in the game, will this leave too big a ledge? Is there something that can be done about it? Am I over thinking it?

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"Real guitars are for old people, Mr. Marsh."

Eric Cartman

Yes that is a real issue. That is why most finishers do the color in the first few coats, scrape the binding, and then apply lots of clear coats. Another thing that can be done to minimize the ledge is to use more thinner and less lacquer in the color coats.

By the way, is your name Bill Braske or Mark Gammell?

Thanks. I'm guessing I'll end up going the clear coat route.

My name's Mark. Bill Braske was an unseen character from a SNL skit. I latched onto it for situations when I use a fake name. That and Turd Ferguson.

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"Real guitars are for old people, Mr. Marsh."

Eric Cartman

I forgot that name. Wasn't that a Dan Aykroyd character?

I think clear coating on top of color makes it easier to get a glossy finish. Sanding marks show up in colored lacquer more than clear, especially if it is a dark color. Black is the worst.

Guitars with no clear coat? Can you cite examples?

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/