- 1). Detach the guitar strings. Unplug electric guitars.
- 2). Wash the guitar with a water-based cleanser, using clean rags. Rinse the guitar with wet rags; let the instrument dry for at least four hours.
- 3). Scour previously painted guitars with 100-grit sandpaper until the old finish feels rough. Skip this step if the guitar is made of unpainted wood.
- 4). Sand wood guitars lightly with 80-grit sandpaper until the existing finish appears dull. Always sand toward the instrument's wood grain to prevent accidental damage. Smooth the wood by sanding the guitar with 150-grit sandpaper.
- 5). Wipe down the guitar with tack cloths.
- 6). Cover all portions of the guitar that are to remain unpainted, using plastic masking sheeting. Affix the sheeting to the instrument, using a low-tack painter's masking tape. Place the guitar on a thick canvas drop cloth.
- 7). Fill the soundhole with balled-up masking paper. Skip this step if you are painting an electric guitar.
- 8). Coat the guitar with a fine layer of lacquer spray primer. Spray in a side-to-side motion, holding an 8-inch space between the guitar and spray tip. Don't bring the tip closer, or the lacquer primer will sag and run.
- 9). Wait three hours for the guitar to dry. Lightly sand the lacquer primer with 400-grit sandpaper. Wipe the lacquer primer with tack cloths.
- 10
Coat the guitar with a fine layer of lacquer spray paint. Spray in a side-to-side motion, holding an 8-inch space between the guitar and spray tip. - 11
Wait three hours for the guitar to dry. Lightly sand the lacquer paint with 400-grit sandpaper. Wipe the lacquer paint with tack cloths. - 12
Add a second coat of lacquer; don't handle the finished guitar for at least three hours.
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