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Painting Mod question!

N

newbassdude

Apr 7, 2009
73
1
#1
Hey, just a quick couple questions about painting the switches on my bass:

basically just wondering what kind of paint to use? would primer or polyutherthane be good before the actual paint?

just as a reminder, i'm only going to paint the switches from black to a creamy white

any suggestions on brands is good too!

thanks! :)
 
#6
its a hofner icon, and i know the more expensive hofners have the cream white switches. i've seen pictures of people with icons who have painted the switches, so i was just curious.

wont the paint eventually wear off and look crappy after after a while?

edit: the switches are plastic, if thats what you were wondering?
 
#7
your idol said:
what switches ? what kind of bass?
Click to expand...

Exactly. Why would ANYONE ask this question without providing that information???????????

Never use paint on anything unless it's formulated for that use. You can melt plastics, or the result may be near-instant peel. And as always, the result will depend on correct prep work on the surface painted.

Take the few minutes required to do online research on paints before screwing up your instrument.
 
#12
Pilgrim said:
Fair enough...but you will need to use paint formulated for plastic or it won't hold. I did find a lot of good articles by doing a Google search for "how to paint plastic."
Click to expand...


Yeah, i googled that as well for my first step, very helpful, but i always prefer the touch of a forum and the debates of actual people, especially a forum that is based around guitars :smug:

on a side note, a brother of mine used to be into the Warhammer minatures and he has a paint he used on the tiny plastic figures. the brand is called Citadel Colour, anyone ever heard of it?
 
#13
here is a picture, if it helps at all

0313001419.jpg


the switches have a texture like wood but I'm pretty sure they're just plastic.. if that makes any sense at all..
 
#17
Those are pretty small switches and even a seemingly thin layer of paint will be thick enough to make it look like poop and theyre smooth and truly too small to properly prep and roughen up enough for paint to adhere correctly.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
heres a link to doing it right. Theyre currently out of stock but it will look a ton better if you just do it right the first time. Keep in mind of your paint job would jack up you just be left with crappy looking switches... At best they look like well painted switches but painted none the less
 
#18
Citadel or any of the Vallejo, Andrea or other miniature paints would stick to plastic, provided the surface was properly prepared. It would need to be cleaned and primed. A lot of guys use auto primers under those.
To do it right, you would need to disassemble and airbrush the buttons. Even if you did everything right, the paint would quickly wear off where your finger contacted based of the force needed to move the switch.
You'd really have to think whether it's worth it just to have white switches.
 
#19
your idol said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
heres a link to doing it right. Theyre currently out of stock but it will look a ton better if you just do it right the first time. Keep in mind of your paint job would jack up you just be left with crappy looking switches... At best they look like well painted switches but painted none the less
Click to expand...

Yeah, i was looking into that, but it says they won't fit the Icon series, so im not sure i want to spend the money to try and make them fit if they wont :hmm:
 
#20
I painted the switches on my Hofner CT. You can't even tell they are painted and they are not all gunked up either. You just need to unscrew the plate, remove the tea cups, take the plate off and tape up the switches, prime and paint using very thin coats. Stand far back as not to put on a heavy coat that will run. I did 1 coat of primer, and 2 coats and all of the detail is there...looks perfect. I've also got a German Hofner to compare to and the switches looks the same now. Easy if you take your time.

Oh and I almost forgot...take a q tip and clean them first with alcohol. Those switches are molded plastic and most certainly have a bit of release agent residue and should be cleaned... Do this before you prime... most important..... light coats... It shouldn't rub off unless you are rough with your switches or don't prime them properly. Many others have done this with good results. The paint I used was auto paint used for plastic and vinyl applications.


HofnerContemp015.jpg
 

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