The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 06-12-2019, 05:44 AM
TDavis's Avatar
TDavis TDavis is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Missouri, USA
Posts: 1,737
Default Natural top to Sunburst

Crazy question perhaps...but is it possible to decorate the top of an already natural spruce acoustic guitar top with say, a sunburst finish after the fact?

If possible...would it require the luthier to remove the top of the guitar to do the work?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-12-2019, 05:54 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The Isle of Albion
Posts: 22,068
Default

I haven't heard of this being done - I'm sure it is possible but I suspect that most luthiers would turn the job down.

It wouldn't require the top to be removed (oh no!) but I suspect the bridge would need to be removed (?) and possibly the binding, and the current finish would need to be sanded off (tricky). The rest of the guitar including the internals wold need to be well covered, and latterly refinished.

Of course, you'd get the burst he/she does and that's it. The value of the instrument would probably also be significantly reduced.

Advice: get another one in burst!
__________________
Silly Moustache,
Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer.
I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-12-2019, 06:27 AM
mirwa mirwa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,109
Default

Yes, not hard for those that do refinishing, I would agree, most "Luthiers" these days would possibly turn the job away.

Steve
__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady
Gretsch Electromatic
Martin CEO7
Maton Messiah
Taylor 814CE
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-12-2019, 06:51 AM
hat hat is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,371
Default

Guitar Re-Ranch website sells burst finish aerosol, and has lots of good instructions and a forum for this. Check them out.
__________________
______________
---Tom H ---
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-13-2019, 05:32 AM
B. Howard B. Howard is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Magnolia DE
Posts: 672
Default

Easy enough for the right shop.... I do stuff like this from time to time. Top would be prepped, burst sprayed and new clear coats then level and buff. May not even need to pull the bridge depending on original finish type.

But the average shop doesn't have a spray booth and all the different materials on hand to do this type of work so you will most likely need to send it out. I would charge $200-$300 for a job like this typically depending on type of finish.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-13-2019, 07:28 AM
John Arnold John Arnold is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,082
Default

No need to remove the binding. To prevent color from getting on the binding, it can be taped off or the color can be scraped off before the clear topcoats are sprayed.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=