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Everyone seems to use nitro. I'm thinking of getting an LPB guitar and painting a matching headstock on it. But, since the body will be painted with poly, it seems like would make sense to paint the headstock poly also.

Well, I went ahead and bought the guitar anyway.

http://www.andertons.co.uk/squier-clas ... n=surfaces
Will I ever be arsed to paint the headstock??? Only time will tell.

*edit* sorry, I didn't read the title very well. I missed that you specified poly. Anyway, below is my refinish experience:

Unconventional take:
It's easy as heck. Grab a can of glossy whatever color you like. Give that fucker a ton of thin coats right over the current finish. It comes out semi-gloss, and tough enough.

Of course your resale value might go down but whatever fuck that, play your custom instrument. I've done a couple this way. Once over a mexican Jag, and once over a stripped telecaster. The tele had a chip in the plastic suit (aka poly finish) so I just finished the job and took a rattle can to it. I sold the jag, so I don't know how it held up, but the tele is wearing ever so beautifully.

I wonder how bad this would look?

http://www.axewrap.com/product-page/lake-placid-blue

It's beautiful, congrats!

I have no idea how to paint a guitar. I think many years ago Euan wrote a short tutorial on how to do it. Matching the colour might be tricky I guess. Also they will be two different finishes and think they'll be aging differently. Even if you match the current colour they may grow to be two different shades.

Hurb did videos, but I'm pretty sure he was using nitro, which I understand is easier because it's softer and the layers dissolve back into each other, so it's easier to get a smooth/flat finish.

I reckon that if you take your time with it, you'll be able to get a passable job. It's just a headstock that is visually miles away from the body, and it's already a busy enough looking area. It doesn't need to be super perfect and flat. Be prepared to have the neck out of action indefinitely, and be prepared to have to repeat steps, and you'll be fine. Or don't, and be happy with a DIY looking finish that might also not be all that bad.

Yeah, I watched Hurb's vids, but like you say, they're nitro.

I’ve only done nitro but I would think poly is probably easier maybe not.

Doesn’t cooter use hardware store poly on their projects?

I don’t think LPB was ever nitro - pretty sure it was acrylic and only the clear was nitro.

It would look class with a matching headstock. But it looks pretty class already. I reckon the best way to a good finish here is to leave it be.

Worst case scenario is that I do a shit enough job that I just strip th paint and redo a clear coat with a new decal. Honestly, probably the hardest part will be getting the motivation to start.

I do thing the decals have to be topcoated with nitro because they react badly to poly.

This may no longer be a thing.

plopswagon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2023 3:28 pm I do thing the decals have to be topcoated with nitro because they react badly to poly.

This may no longer be a thing.

I think that stopped in the early 80s - but would still be an issue if using old style decals I suppose.

DHL have fucked this. Supposed to be next day delivery. Now two days late with no update on what's going on and it's impossible to contact a human at DHL. The online contacts just provide an auto response saying they'll look into it.

Finally arrived. As you can see in the pic I'm relieved / delighted.

I'd seen some reviews saying the QA was really shitty on these guitars and that the setup out of the box was horrible / non-existent, needs a full turn of the truss rod etc. But mine is fine. Frets are good. Setup is ok, could probably get lower action but out of the box it's very playable as is.

My only quibble is the light coloured fretboard, but I think I just have to accept that rosewood is not a thing on cheaper guitars these days. Hoping to darken it up with some oil or whatever.

Also, please don't masturbate looking at the pic with my feet.

Gavin wrote: ↑Sat Dec 02, 2023 3:21 pm Also, please don't masturbate looking at the pic with my feet.

Too late.

Got some flashy covers.