I have a Squier Pbass Special and can't find a replacement PG that fits easily. It's white so I was thinking about painting it black. Any tips for making it look good rather than just a 5 minute rattle can job?
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pickguard painting tips?
- Thread starter autodidact
- Start date
Yeah, I've done this a few times - Krylon make a paint called "Fusion" that's made specifically to bond to plastics...
- georgestrings
I'd make sure I sanded the pickguard first so the paint "bites in" and bonds better. Also, I'd recommend going to the Premier Guitar website and read into doing presentable rattle can type finishes, how to do multi-coated sprays and the like.
I've used Fusion on a couple guards. No special prep other than wiping it down with alcohol before painting. Take your time--a couple thin coats are better than a single heavy coat. I wanted maximum durability so I gave it a full week cure (per the directions on the can) before putting it back on.
I did this one a few years ago. There's a few scuffs and scrapes and my thumbnail has worn through but it's holding up pretty well.
as was said, first you need to sand the pickguard.
1. wash it really well with detergent to get all the grease off
2. sand it lightly with 220 grit sandpaper and make sure you sand the whole thing. about 10-15 minutes of sanding should be good.
3. paint it with dupli-color primer and then sand the primer good (knock it down as they they say--you can even use 2 coats of primer, but be sure to sand good after the final coat)
4. paint with any paint you like. i used dupli-color because automotive paint is real tough but you can use any paint you like.-- do not get in a hurry! paint 3 or 4 coats holding the can about 12 or so inches away from the work. put on thin coats but several coats should do it. another advantage of dupli-color is it dries real fast, about 15 minutes between each coat sould be sufficient.
your pickguard will look great!
/s/ Dave
1. wash it really well with detergent to get all the grease off
2. sand it lightly with 220 grit sandpaper and make sure you sand the whole thing. about 10-15 minutes of sanding should be good.
3. paint it with dupli-color primer and then sand the primer good (knock it down as they they say--you can even use 2 coats of primer, but be sure to sand good after the final coat)
4. paint with any paint you like. i used dupli-color because automotive paint is real tough but you can use any paint you like.-- do not get in a hurry! paint 3 or 4 coats holding the can about 12 or so inches away from the work. put on thin coats but several coats should do it. another advantage of dupli-color is it dries real fast, about 15 minutes between each coat sould be sufficient.
your pickguard will look great!
/s/ Dave
I've done it quite a few times. Other than prep with the cleaning and sanding, picking the right paint can make a difference. Gloss black is the hardest to get looking right. Satins, flats or something with a texture are the easiest.
If it's a white pickguard, and you want something a little more permanent, you could dye it. RIT fabric dye (powder or liquid) works fine. I've seen it used on lacrosse heads and RC car parts, as well.
The biggest problem when doing this with a pickguard is trying to find a container large enough to hold it. A large disposable aluminum baking tray from the grocery store should be big enough. Clean the pickguard with soap and water, and wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. Boil some water, pour it in the tray, add the dye and stir. Wait a minute or two, then submerge the pickguard. The longer you leave it in, the darker the color.
IME, red, orange, green and blue dyes work best. Black will not come out completely black, however. It's more like a very dark gray, which is kind of cool in it's own right.
The biggest advantage of the dye is that it penetrates the surface of the plastic, so there's nothing on top to scratch, peel or flake off. Deep scratches might show the original color of the pickguard, but otherwise, it's a pretty bombproof finish. It's also a lot easier to apply than paint, as the finished color is as smooth as the surface of the pickguard.
Another alternative is Invalid Link Removed. It's sprayed on just like paint, and there is an interesting selection of colors. It's similar to Krylon Fusion in that it's meant to be applied over bare plastic.
The biggest problem when doing this with a pickguard is trying to find a container large enough to hold it. A large disposable aluminum baking tray from the grocery store should be big enough. Clean the pickguard with soap and water, and wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. Boil some water, pour it in the tray, add the dye and stir. Wait a minute or two, then submerge the pickguard. The longer you leave it in, the darker the color.
IME, red, orange, green and blue dyes work best. Black will not come out completely black, however. It's more like a very dark gray, which is kind of cool in it's own right.
The biggest advantage of the dye is that it penetrates the surface of the plastic, so there's nothing on top to scratch, peel or flake off. Deep scratches might show the original color of the pickguard, but otherwise, it's a pretty bombproof finish. It's also a lot easier to apply than paint, as the finished color is as smooth as the surface of the pickguard.
Another alternative is Invalid Link Removed. It's sprayed on just like paint, and there is an interesting selection of colors. It's similar to Krylon Fusion in that it's meant to be applied over bare plastic.
LoveThatBass
Supporting Member
I painted a white one on a Squier Classic Vibe 50's P gloss black using paint made for plastic. Then along the edge I scraped a 45 degree thin line so it looked black/white/black After it dried for several days I sprayed Clear gloss Laquer over it. Came out beautiful and durable.
If you send in your original to Pickguardian Custom Pickguards, Tony can make another one based on your original. A bit more than the cost of a can of paint, but why mess around. Do it right.
Matte black always dries nice and smooth. This one has held up for years. You can always gloss clear coat it.
I no longer have the pickguards I've dyed in my possession. However, they looked just like...well, colored pickguards.
Here's a YouTube video of the dye being used to color RC car parts.
And here's an article where some Invalid Link Removed get the paint and dye treatment.
I wouldn't use anything near as course as 220 grit, as it will leave scratches that the paint won't hide...
- georgestrings
I am actually thinking the same thing, i might do it soon. I have a white squier bronco that i modded and really want a black guard so i think i will rattle can it. I am thinking matte black then gloss clear over top. Seems easy enough. If i mess up I can always send in a tracing and have one made.
ghostdog93 said:
Do you have any specific times? I want a light gray tinge to it, will that take somewhere around 5 minutes? I want to put nail polish on it, like on that Ric. Will that work?
