Shoreline gold over sunburst on a squire.

Hi,

I have an old sunburst squire strat in sunburst. There is a shore line gold in the classifieds I like the look of.

I'm a solid £3k short of the customer shop guitar so perhaps it's time to spray my squire. 

The glamour guitar 
https://i.imgur.com/C2juJRi.jpg

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/275439/sold-fender-cs-strat-roasted-poblano-pups-heavy-relic-gold-sunburst-3-299#latest

@castro I hope it is ok to borrow your awesome photo?



My guitar - thanks @mr_claw .

https://imgur.com/VzocorV






Last time I sprayed a body I completely stripped the finish, gain filler, primer, top coat and lacquer. All from northwest guitars. 

The finish is fine, but chipped very easily and isn't quite flat, annoying as I put tones of effort into getting the preparation perfect. 

Can I sand the squire polly coat, then go straight on with gold? The guitar has some chips and dents and I'm fine with that and bits of the gold rubbing off with time.

A lot of work for no financial reward.

In your position, I would liven up the appearance of the Squier S.S. with a colourful pickguard. If you have a budget to blow, it might be better squandered on replacement pickups.

Tall_martin said:

Hi,

I have an old sunburst squire strat in sunburst. There is a shore line gold in the classifieds I like the look of.

Can I sand the squire polly coat, then go straight on with gold? The guitar has some chips and dents and I'm fine with that and bits of the gold rubbing off with time.

Yip, sure can.

It's hard to tell from the photos but I think there may be a primer layer under the gold? I sprayed Shell Pink over black here, technique is in the comments. 
https://manchesterguitartech.co.uk/2011/04/11/shell-pink-stratocaster-refinish/

Don't forget, metallic colours need a clear coat.

A lot of work for no financial reward.

In your position, I would liven up the appearance of the Squier S.S. with a colourful pickguard. If you have a budget to blow, it might be better squandered on replacement pickups.

I'm not looking for a financial reward, more a fun project with a nice visual outcome.

I've already squandered the budget on some second hand montys pickups. They are good, I've not got round to trying the originals. There is also a Tort pickguard to try on as well. 

My soldering is so so, so I've not got round to it.

Don't forget, metallic colours need a clear coat.

what would happen with out clear coat? Would it rub through faster, or all just fall off the first time I played it?

On a closer look, there is some white primer. If I sprayed without that, I assume the gold wouldn't cover the sunburst.

Thanks for the input 

Tall_martin said:

what would happen with out clear coat? Would it rub through faster, or all just fall off the first time I played it?

You'd need to put the metallic on wet enough to flow, and then you'd have all the flakes flat and achieve a sub-optimal metallic effect. To make the metallic paint flash you need to dust on the final coat and the first few clear passes like this:
  https://manchesterguitartech.co.uk/2011/09/01/finishing-an-alder-telecaster-body-in-metallic-lacquer/

Tall_martin said:

On a closer look, there is some white primer. If I sprayed without that, I assume the gold wouldn't cover the sunburst.

It will but might take more (primer is generally cheaper) and the finished effect would be different. A primer is designed to adhere better too so might resist chipping.

Thanks for that @SteveRobinson  :)

That's Aztec Gold on the one you like by the way, not Shoreline Gold which is browner.

The closest to Aztec Gold in my range would be the Goldtop.

Tall_martin said:

I put tones of effort into getting the preparation perfect.

 ;)
B)