BRUSH PAINTING AND/OR USING WOODBURNING TOOL

[ShamanElephant]

Hey everybody!
Just to start off with: this is my first post in this forum so be kind!

My girlfriend is a talented painter and I would like her to "rose paint" (see attatched photo(s)) my American Fender Jazz Bass. However, I have never done any work on my basses before except for changing the strings - so, obviously, there are lots of things I don´t know about this. Here´s a short list of things I can think of to ask, but please, all input is valuable!

1. How do I go about it? Do I remove the original sunburst finish with sand paper and then paint directly on the wood of the bass? And then put a layer of some kind of lacquer on top of the paint?
2. What kind of paint should I use? Also, what kind of brushes etc (?)
3. How is this, if in any way at all, going to affect the sound from the instrument? Does it tamper with the sustain etc?
4. I´ve also thought about using a woodburning tool to make some kind of inscription on the headstock (probably flowers or a sun) - is this even possible without damaging the bass?
5. Can I paint the back of the neck and/or the fingerboard without having to remove the frets?

I´m sure there are many things that I haven´t even thought of mentioning here - please don´t assume that it means I have the answers, because I really don´t know anything about this. I would love to have this paint job done - but most of all I don´t wanna hurt my darling Fender in the process.

Thank you in advance for all answers and for helping out!

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Well, from a "resale value" perspective both a repaint and woodburning are going to lower the value. If the value to you is good, go for it, otherwise, perhaps consider getting a different body and either skipping the burnt headstock or also getting a new neck (and thus does TB make you buy more basses...) The woodburning will be "damage" from either the perspective of "original condition" (very big in Fender resale) or "not art in the eye of the beholder." Original finish is also big in Fender resale value.

If YOU want to do these things to this instrument, and you either have no plans to sell it or you don't care that the value goes way, way down, go for it. Or consider getting a Squier to paint/burn.

To put it another way, you sound kinda young, without looking at your profile to see if you've filled that in. There are a lot of older folks who regret what they did to their American Fenders when they were young. The threads are not very hard to find - do you want to be one of them in 20 years, or not?

Should have no effect on tone. You can go to wood or simply scuff and perhaps lay a base coat to paint on. How good you are at woodburning dictates how good the result will be for that. Let the artist choose the brushes.

 

[ShamanElephant]

T_Bone_TL:

Thank you for the advice! The resale value doesn´t mean that much to me - I´ve recorded my first album with the Fender in question and will definately never want to sell it because of the sentimental value it has to me. And, for sure, this is not going to be my last Fender Jazz - nor is it my first.. So as much as I value these tips, I´m gonna ignore them and go for the paint job.

A few questions:
What kind of paint should I use?
What kind of lacquer should I use?

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Probably acrylic to both (certainly not oil paints, which take forever and a few months more to dry) but there may be better input from others on that subject.

 

[Rôckhewer]

For the best advice... ask a pro !
Here are the FB profile links to two of the absolute BEST in the business of artwork on guitar bodies.

Maybe reach out to them on FB, with a couple basic questions.... They may respond...or not...worth a shot...
Obviously don't expect full tutorials, Unless you pay for them. Dan has answered a question I had.
And Mike actually has training courses available .

I have found them to be very friendly individuals.

Dan Lawrence
https://www.facebook.com/danlawrencegraphics

Mike Learn
Mike Learn Airbrush - Learnairbrush.com