How to achieve a matte finish?

[commonplayer]

I’m refinishing a jazz bass and I’ve decided to go for a nitro matte black. How do I achieve the a finish like this one? Not looking to do the light relicing like this, just want that aged satin look. Would something like this be specific to the kind of paint, or would this be more in the clear coat? Any tips for achieving this finish would be much appreciated!

 

[Watchootognbout]

Scotchbrite.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Use a gloss clear and sand up to 1000 grit then use a fine Scotchbrite pad.

 

[commonplayer]

Use a gloss clear and sand up to 1000 grit then use a fine Scotchbrite pad.

Would this work after nitro paint and clear coat were applied? Or would this happen at some other step in the process?

 

[Jeff Siddall]

How do I achieve the a finish like this one?

View attachment 3545267

First you need some fur...

 

[Will_White]

Would this work after nitro paint and clear coat were applied? Or would this happen at some other step in the process?

This would be right at the end, I would just level and polish it as usual and just stop when it gets to your desired level of matte. A scotchbrite might be too aggressive.

 

[Beej]

I have a very worn out green scotchbrite pad that seems to have the perfect amount of grit left to give the right sheen without tons of swirls.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Would this work after nitro paint and clear coat were applied? Or would this happen at some other step in the process?

Like @Will_White said, at the end. Apply color and clear. Get the clear level sanded and start working you way through the grits. Stop when the appearance is where you want it. You might just sand to 1000 or 1500 and wipe the body down good and that might be it. Go gently with the Scotchbrite if you do use one. Look for the one that’s 0000 steel wool equivalent.

 

[Huw Phillips]

I just did a bass with water bases farrow&Ball color, you can buy a test pot for $8 and that was enough for the body and headstock, I put lots of coats on then green 3Med it and put a coat of bees wax to finish its Matt and the color is fantastic, I have used lots of paint over the years painting and varnishing yachts for a living, this was easy, simple and fast and cheap.

 

[Skillet]

Instead of going gloss and sanding it down I just used matte paint and matte clear.

 

[jackn1202]

Instead of going gloss and sanding it down I just used matte paint and matte clear.
View attachment 3545950

Oh you better show pictures

 

[GreyBeard]

I would use 0000 steel wool.

 

[Skillet]

Oh you better show pictures

 

[Rôckhewer]

I was planning on experimenting with this... on an upcoming build... with HOK clear.
But I haven't gotten around to it...yet.

 

[jackn1202]

View attachment 3546000
View attachment 3546001

That’s hot! I found one of those in a local shop, but I didn’t have time to play it that day and haven’t had time to go back. How do you like yours?

 

[Skillet]

That’s hot! I found one of those in a local shop, but I didn’t have time to play it that day and haven’t had time to go back. How do you like yours?

The bass originally had no contours, weighed a freaking ton, and had a very thick neck. When I got it it looked like this:

Somebody added contours (roughly) and really made a mess of it. It was still 11 lbs though. I worked on it quite a bit to clean up the curves and also to lighten it.

I also sanded the neck thinner, then used shellac to match the old tint and resealed it. A lot of effort to make the bass playable.
Sold it last month here on the classifieds. It's a very neat bass, and sounded pretty good with both pickups blended.

 

[roller]

If you end up going with 0000 steel wool, make sure you mask up your pickups, pots, switches, etc. You don't want those little metal bits getting into your electronics and controls.

I’m refinishing a jazz bass and I’ve decided to go for a nitro matte black. How do I achieve the a finish like this one? Not looking to do the light relicing like this, just want that aged satin look. Would something like this be specific to the kind of paint, or would this be more in the clear coat? Any tips for achieving this finish would be much appreciated!

 

[JimmyM]

Just get a gloss black bass and never wipe it down for 10 years.

 

[hennessybass]

Seems to me like you could get the lacquer with whatever finish you wanted from matte all the way up to high gloss...

If you want a matte finish, then get lacquer with a matte finish and save yourself a bunch of sanding.

But maybe not — with all these folks recommending sanding maybe they know something i don't.

 

[GKon]

Here I used Rustoleum 2X satin black with 2X matte clear. Truth is, it's only the clear that matters. That will be your finished look. I then used 0000 steel wool lightly on the matte clear after it dried. It did, however, leave super fine swirl marks if you look closely.

The issue with the Rustoleum is that it takes a long time to harden up as there is no hardened in it. Over time, wherever your body rubs the finish, it will get shiny. You can just knock it back with 0000 steel wool again, though.

Your other choice is to finish with a 2 part matte clear that has a hardened in it.