Thinking about repainting my Les Paul

I painted it about 25 years ago with a watercolor, then 30 coats of thin (cheap) laquer. I was a noob with the clearcoat, and overdid it. It was gummy for about 5 years! Anyway, it's finally hardened. I have been thinking of doing a 2 or 3 color burst instead. I went through a phase of doing custom motorcycle painting, so I can do a quality job now. This was originally a gibson factory reject, and it has no real value other than a nice player. I had to fix the outer binding, and set the neck, but that was it. The rest was just prep/paint. The woodgrain isn't spec'd for a natural sunburst, but I was thinking of doing possibly a center yellow, outer orange/red, and the very outside a bright blue.

Anyway, looking for opinions on if I should just jazz it up as is, or alternative finish ideas

ORIGINAL: Ron Vogel
Anyway, looking for opinions on if I should just jazz it up as is, or alternative finish ideas

What's wrong with "regular" colors like black or red?

Regardless, anything would be an improvement over this eyesore.
(Sorry, you did ask for opinions)

Paint it to look like a Strat body on the face.....just a thought.

Egads!

Do something with it quick! It currently looks like it's just been liberated from a student squat.

Your art on the guitar obviously represents something you felt 25 years ago Ron. Possibly the choice is down to this; Do you feel differently about the guitar, and your art, nowadays? In which case, time for a change, or, if you feel the same, or perhaps just want to hold a piece of your past into the present day for the memories and feelings it invokes, then leave it as it is.

I have an American 73 Strat I bought second hand as an 18 year old in 1978 from Frank Hessy's in Liverpool, where The Beatles got all their gear originally. it cost me everything I had, it now has road wear, scratches dings etc, but that guitar has followed me through all the ups and downs of my life, at one point it was the only instrument I owned and it moved with me in the front passenger seat of my car on a couple of occasions when every possession I had in the world was in the car with me. I could not imagine being parted from that particular guitar because of what it represents to me and my life. How do you feel about your Les Paul Ron? Let your feelings dictate, it's what makes the music real.

Peace Love and Understanding

Garry Kiosk

Ron,
You may have no choice but to go with an opaque finish. Watercolor is a highly pigmented stain, and it has probably penetrated fairly deep into the wood. You can dissolve the lacquer with mineral spirits, but it will probably have little if any effect on the watercolor. To completely get rid of the watercolor, you will most likely have to sand off a fair amount of the veneer, which may not be a good plan.
At this point, I would lean toward a solid color, or sunburst pattern with opaque colors. This seems in line with your original thoughts.

In the 60s I was playing at night and working in a Columbian guys wood veneer shop. I took and old "woe is me" 50s telecaster and veneered it with an ultra exotic wood front and back.. Man was it great. I wish I had it now!

ORIGINAL: Wookiee

Let the wood speak for itself, all my guitars are plain natural wood and varnish.



I do like natural.

I would make a similar claim but I have a Roswell Rhoads, Gittler and a American Showster and there aint any wood anywhere on them. Heck the gittler dont even have a body.

Is it a Mahogany top?

sand it
paint it
Or leave it natural

I think you should cover it with green shag carpet!

Ron, I like the current look, but you should just do whatever you'd like with it. Have fun, man!

Corey