how can i paint my laminate top guitar?

September 25, 2007 8:45 AM

how can i paint my laminate top guitar?

i have a fairly low end yamaha acoustic guitar with a laminate top. i was looking to paint it, however, as an art project. i have read a lot about painting laminate counters and floors (sanding off the gloss so that the surface has some grit to it) but is there anything about the top of an old guitar that would be different? i was thinking of doing it by hand using paints i'd find in a craft store.

thank you in advance for any advice.

posted by dflemingdotorg to home & garden (5 answers total)

Scuff it up and go.

(it's really that simple)
posted by davey_darling at 8:51 AM on September 25, 2007

I have done this a few times. And yes, you just scuff it up and go.
posted by The World Famous at 8:56 AM on September 25, 2007

To scuff, Scotch Brite works great.
posted by The World Famous at 8:57 AM on September 25, 2007

If you're worried about the finish adhering to the laminate go to your local body shop supply store and ask for the product that most carry that makes auto paint adhere to plastic car bumpers. This product might help you get a good long lasting finish on your guitar.
posted by msbaby at 1:20 PM on September 25, 2007

I will just point out before you paint it, in case this is important to you, that painting the guitar is going to affect its sound quality — probably for the worse.
posted by tomwheeler at 5:22 PM on September 25, 2007