Sorry if this is a duplicate topic, but I'm finally finishing off a customizing job on my '78 Strat that started back in '80! I attempted to refinish it several times back then, but was never satisfied with my results. I finally gave up, and stripped the last attempt, and sanded it down clean (just a coating of Sanding sealer), and put it back together.

I have decided that I really want to have that classic 3-color strat sunburst finish on this thing, but I'm reluctant to try it again myself. I am looking for someone who may know of someone in my area (Just north of NYC) that does custom finishing?

I want the classic nitrocellulose lacquer finish, and am willing to pay the $$$ to have it done by a professional. Anyone know what the going rate for something like this? Best I can come up with in a quick search is about $300

I don't know anyone in your area (I'm in Detroit), but I would think that someone doing a good finish, on a 78 strat, will cost more like at least $800+. Maybe not....

$800? YIKES! This is what a quick google produced: http://www.wilkinsguitars.com/pricelist.html

But I'm looking for nitrocellulose lacquer. I suppose I could just find an auto body guy who knows how to spray, and buy the materials myself.

Also, I am fully capable of cleaning up the body, and applying a fressh coat of sanding sealer, to prepare it for the final burst and top coats, myself, so I can probably save there.

I got some nice results (This baby has been sprayed about 20 times!) but I was mixing my own colors, and never got that 3-tone sunburst right! I see now that there are places to get the proper materials in a package, but I don't trust myself to get the pattern right, and the LAST thing I want to do is have to strip this down again!

This is my baby, and has aged gracefully (only wear is from normal playing. This doesn't travel much.) Just really would like to finish it off the way I envisaged back in '80, and I'm so damn close!

Isn't that the extra amount they charge you if you're already buying one of THEIR guitars? That's a little different.

Nitro is harder to do and takes longer than poly, so that might even be more - if it's done right.

If it was my baby, and it was an original 78 that's a 31 yr old classic guitar, I wouldn't even think of taking it to a car shop to have it sprayed. I'd find the best person to do it, and get it done right.

But if you want to save some cash, I can understand that. In any case, I don't know anyone in your area, but I would think there are a ton of good people in NYC that could do that. Good luck with that. Let us know how it turns out.

You might want to google some prices and consider shipping it.

http://simscustomshop.com/subsitefive/page5.html

Thanks for that, dg, I did come across that site, but didn't get to the pricing! I'll look into this more. I didn't mean I was going to take it to a body shop, but my dad was a car dealer manager for 40 years, and knows several guys that are detailing gurus. I would think they could spray the pattern right. I just don't trust myself enough with a spray gun to finish this off, but you're right: I DO want it done properly, with the nitrocellulose, and I'm willing to pay for it. I just wanted to see what others experiences might have been.

Thanks again.

Oh, and about the link I posted, I think they only do custom guitar finishes, but I read that they use automotive finishing materials.

What kind of burst are you trying to do an old two color or three?

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

3-color classic.

The final custom job will look very similar to an SRV model, but with black knobs and pup covers, and RH Trem bridge. Yes, all gold hardware. I've had it for a while, but never installed it. Just left the poor thing half-finished, and played it as it is. I'm sorry to say that it has not been all that often, until recently, as I broke my left wrist a few years back, and had restricted my playing to 12-string acoustic for physical therapy reasons. I'm happy to say that it's paid off, and I've got a whole new love afair going on again with this guitar!

Are you using Analine dye for the burst before spaying the brown?

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

THAT is the problem! I don't know the proper technique for applying a sunburst! I guess I should look around a bit more, and see if I can get books/vids on how to do this. I'm a pretty capable craftsman, and would LOVE to be able to say I did ALL customizing myself (Designed the on-board preamp, and custom winding of the neck pup, with an SD SSL-2 Vintage flat pup in the middle, with a phase switch, and an SD SSL-5 tapped Custom sataggered Strat in bridge.)

stewmac.com looks like a good resource. Any others? Thanks.

I have done a few burst they can be tricky heres a web site that may help you out . I have used them before to buy things and they have some info pages you can read through. Most of the finishes I do now are the old Dupont auto finishes and I have a source for getting the auto paint mixes.
http://www.reranch.com/

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Wow! There certainly is a lot of good info there! Thanks, CV!

They seem keen on the traditional methods, so that's the place for me!

If I have to pay 800 bucks for that kind of work I would rather buy all the materials myself and do it myself and Im sure it would cost way less plus I learned something new that is actually cool ......

Read my posts, synk! I would LOVE to do this myself, but I've tried, and didn't care for the results... OK, so it was 28 years ago, and I was 17!

Perhaps I SHOULD give it a go again, I HAVE learned a few things in those years (Lots of renovations and restoration work to my home!).


(This forum is screwy with HTML, isn't it?)

Hi jtreepro: there's several folks here that love talking finishing, including Mr cvilleira [above] - and me! Be very interested to know exactly what problems you've had before. And delighted to talk recipes and methods. Of course, there's umpteen variations on how to go about this stuff - that's half the fun!

This page might be handy: one of Stew-Mac's Trade Secrets handouts. Here Erick Coleman is doing it with nitro in aerosols. Obviously, if you have proper spray equipment that will be even better, but many of the same principles apply...

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0 ... clk=192417

Other than that, two good sources in print. The finishing chapter in the Guitar Player Repair Guide is frankly more than enough to get you through this job. Everything you need at this stage.

If you crave deep detail Guitar Finishing Step-by-Step by Don MacRostie and Dan Erlewine is probably the ultimate available at present. Though likely far too much information for a one-off job. Probably a bit confusing trying to find the bits you need in amongst all the rest. And still a little thin on certain areas, such as waterbase finishes. And even after their three pages on grain filling the reality will come as a surprise to a first-timer (which it sounds like you are not).

Good luck! - C

Thank you, Cerl!

All references noted/bookmarked. I had already come across the second book, but didn't get to the link about spaying sunbursts. I can see, among other things, that my suspension of the body while spraying was wrong, and I was applying the colors in the wrong order. I was a complete novice on first attempt, and was only using materials I could get at my local paint store. I KNEW I didn't have the right materials, and decided I would NEVER get it satisfactory (at that time). There was FAR less info on this stuff available back then! (No interweb thingy, ya know! )

Anyways, from what I'm reading, I'm getting the confidence to try it again. I'm gonna take it slow, and do a lot of testing before I attempt the real deal!

Thanks again! I'll keep ya posted! (I know! )