Help: Why not paint a guitar?

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 10:38 AM

Many artists have - there's a fine painting by Van Gogh.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 10:22 AM

There's really no difference between paint and varnish except for trhe opaque pigment incorporated in the paint. I think that some of the "sunburst" finishes popular on archtop guitars could qualify as painted.

The only problem (aside from looks)in panting a guitar is the additional mass of the additional finish which will tend to deaden the sound. You could get the same deleterious effect from adding more varnish--you'd just have to add a bit more to make up the added mass of the pigment.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 09:50 AM

The US flag is red, white and blue. The French flag is blue, white and red. And I guess the guy must have been talking resale value, since it was an electric one that was being discussed... thanks, all.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: GUEST,Owain
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 08:43 AM

Don't think Buck Owens would have painted his guitar to look like the 'French' flag, do you? And the one he played on Hee Haw was a Harmony, I think. A friend of mine had a 'Buck Owens' model...sounded like crap, but I thought it looked cool. Though maybe his was a Grammer and Harmony had the cheapo imitation. Anyone know for sure? Didn't Gibson have some black acoustics years ago? And I 'know' Taylor's got a blue model and Alvarez-Yairi has one that's purple. So much for taste.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 05:35 AM

Anahootz: Simonize?
Did you hear about the fella who took his car to a Jewish garage and asked for it to be "Simonized" ?
The cut 3 inches of the tailpipe ( U.K. exhaust)

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: songs2play
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 05:32 AM

As far as I can remember Donovan had a night sky painted on the front of his guitar, complete with a dirty great big moon and stars. Didn't appear to affect his sound too much.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Llanfair
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 05:27 AM

I acquire cheap, untunable ones from sales and car boots, and apply paint and decoupage, followed by a few layers of varnish.

People buy them to hang on the wall, they look really good.

Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 04:07 AM

I painted a cheapie one up for Amoret when she was about 5. It was lovely deep blue and orange - and I really loved playing it, just because I liked it (it didn't sound very good).
Then Mark came home over-refreshed from the pub and put a foot through it.
Heartbroken I was.
My current Norman guitar suits my personality. I have decorated it with celtic-ish patterns in those "temporary tattoo" things, with a whole load of shiny stick-on sparkly things (including a swarm of stick-on shiny bees), and 3 stick-on Izone polaroid photos of Mark Hamm & I.
Doesn't sound any the worse for all the luggage, because my playing is pretty basic anyway.
I love it in all its crass splendour!
Can't see anyone nicking it ever either!

Kris

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Anahootz
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 10:05 PM

Damn, that reminds me of a great story, but I can't remember the "famous line" guy...At any rate, there was a jam going on at a festival, and a well-known mandolin player had the dubious honor of being sandwiched by rank amateurs, one with a mediocre banjo and even more mediocre talent. At some point during the jam, the banjo hack lurched to his feet with a look of horror on his face and exclaimed "SHIT, There's a big spider in my Banjo! Somebody kill it!"

Without missing a beat, the WKMP (well known mandolin player, whose name I have forgotten) says "Just keep playing like that and you will."

We now return you to your previously uncreeping thread.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 09:21 PM

Decorating an acoustic guitar is not completely unprecedented.

During WWII woody Guthrie put a sign on his guitar which said, "This machine kills Fascists!"

Pete Seeger wrote the words "This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender" on his banjo head.

If I'm not mistaken Art Thieme wrote "This machine kills roaches" on HIS banjo head.

What needs to be done is to bring the idea full circle by putting a sign on an acoustic guitar which says, "This machine kills germs that cause bad breath".

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: 53
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 09:14 PM

Why would you want to paint a guitar unless you are using it as a subject for art class.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 09:05 PM

What the hell is Martinizing anyway? I used to have all my laundry done at a "Martinizing" Cleaners and I'll be damned if I ever got a guitar outta' those folks!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Anahootz
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 08:59 PM

I would Martinize it...or was that Simonize?

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 08:24 PM

An old Martin? I'd opt for vinyl siding on it instead of paint...

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 08:07 PM

GGGGGGUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! BAD SPAWZER!!!!BAD!!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 07:50 PM

So what color is your D-18 Bobertz? I figger you for an off-white with pink and green daisies. (I went for the lavender with the yellow orchids myself)

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 07:45 PM

Ebay is filled with beaters just waiting to be dressed up but, for God's sake, if ol' bobert hears of anyone going out painting up an old Martin, if C.F.'s ghost don't get ya'... I will.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 07:36 PM

I know a guy who painted his mandolin with three coats of dark green LEAD based paint. His gene pool needs more chlorine

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 06:26 PM

Bertie, where the DEVIL are you???? You've been awfully quiet for a looooong time!

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Anahootz
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 06:17 PM

Good acoustic guitars are finished with a balance of protection and playability in mind. To that end, the laquer must be thick enough to protect the guitar, but thin enough to not dampen the tone. An additional coat or two of paint would brobably affect the tone, if only slightly.

I personally think that painting over a beautiful wood like spruce is about the stupidest thing an instrument owner could do...then again, there was a legendary mandolin player (who shall remain nameless) who painted his '23 Loar with BAKE-ON FINISH, and put it in the oven at 325 degrees.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Bert
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 06:08 PM

Great minds think alike Sorkieluv.

Bertie

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 06:03 PM

Ask Seamus. His is painted green, orange and white. (Irish flag)

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Bert
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 06:01 PM

It depends upon the value of the guitar and the thickness of the paint. I don't see anything wrong with a thin coat of paint on a cheapie guitar but I wouldn't paint any expensive guitar.

Seamus Kennedy has a painted guitar and it doesn't seem to adversely affect his performance in any way.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 05:09 PM

That is the the colour of the French flag isn't it? or am i missing something.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 05:04 PM

Kendell - If I'm not mistaken Buck Owens had a Grammer guitar that was painted red, white, and blue.

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 04:44 PM

When talking vintage, one must be VERY careful when it comes to restoration... Best to have a trained professional handle that...

If you just have an electric guitar that's one colour, and you wanna paint it another colour, I can't see how that's gonna do much one way or the other, except make you happy!

Anybody who paints an acoustic guitar should have their playing privileges revoked for life!

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 04:39 PM

Picasso did, often

Subject: RE: Help: Why not paint a guitar?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 04:27 PM

Buck Owens played one that was striped like the French flag. I've never hated one enough to do that to it.

Subject: Why not paint a guitar?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 04:05 PM

I overheard the pawn shop guy telling one of my niblings never ever to paint a guitar, it makes it worthless. But I couldn't tell if they meant resale value or playability - is there some musical reason never to paint a guitar? Repaint, that is, if it's one color and you don't like it, can you paint it another? If not, how, exactly, does it ruin it... prevent the nice tone through less vibration, or what? Does it matter if it's an acoustic or electric?