Paint Question...

[Coda]

...so on one of my guitars, I have an Squier Affinity Strat neck...I put it on because its incredibly comfortable...anyway, the theme of the guitar is kind of a black and gold...I want to paint the headstock...what kind of paint should I use?...also, what would the procedure be like?...would it just be paint the headstock, let it dry, put the hardware back on, and rock out?...or would I have to use some sort of clear coat or something?...I'm pretty clueless about painting a guitar...

 

[jelloman]

for that I'd probably go with a gloss rattlecan...dupli-color black with a clear coat top coat would probably be best, followed by a lquer paint...imho anyway...

 

[B Valley]

Chances are it's a poly finish on there already. Try to find gloss black in poly and you can spray right over the original finish after first light sanding it. Then follow that with a few coats of clear.

 

[Coda]

Chances are it's a poly finish on there already. Try to find gloss black in poly and you can spray right over the original finish after first light sanding it. Then follow that with a few coats of clear.

...yea, I dont know what the finish is...other than that its satin...I dont know if that has anything to do with anything though...

 

[Lerxst]

...yea, I dont know what the finish is...other than that its satin...I dont know if that has anything to do with anything though...

It's relevant with respect to finish compatibility and durability...along with what prep is necessary for the refin

 

[Coda]

It's relevant with respect to finish compatibility and durability...along with what prep is necessary for the refin

...it doesnt need to be satin...after years and years of playing, the satin finish has worn of off the neck...its rather shiny now...the headstock is the only place where the satin finish remains...

 

[Lerxst]

...it doesnt need to be satin...after years and years of playing, the satin finish has worn of off the neck...its rather shiny now...the headstock is the only place where the satin finish remains...

Compatibility from a chemical/mechanical perspective....some finishes, like lacquer will melt the preceding coat beneath and bond chemically. Spray that over top of the wrong finish and you get film/bond failure, wrinkling or other problems with the underlying original finish. Since your neck is already probably finished with poly, you can sand it appropriately and spray more polyurethane on top with out issue, satin or gloss.