Guitar Build: Part 3 – Metallic Nitro Colour & Lacquer Coats From Spray Tins + Headstock Decals

Custom Build Telecaster Style to Equal Fender’s Custom Shop at an Affordable Price? (PART 3) - Metallic Nitro Colour & Clear Coats, Headstock Decals & Amber Lacquer.

Over the weeks I’ve been building my own Custom Shop Telecaster Style Guitar – something that I hope will equal the Fender Custom Shop guitars I have in the studio – but, at a much lower cost and produced using fairly basic tools.

In Part 1 - I took a look at the foundation of any guitar project - The Body and Neck – choices available, and the reasons why I made the choices I did. (    • Guitar Build: Part 1 – Building a Fender T...   )

In Part 2 - This was the preparation, sanding sealing, priming and the first coats of amber lacquer for the neck and headstock, with Danish Oil treatment for the rosewood fretboard, it's taking shape. (    • Guitar Build: Part 2 – Preparation, Sandin...   )

In Part 3 – It’s time for the body colour & clear-coats, placing transfer decals on the headstock along with final coats of Amber lacquer. This is when things get a little scary for most of us who do not paint guitars on a regular basis. In particular I’m using a metallic paint which requires a slightly different approach to that of a solid colour. One of the problems for those who do not have a professional spray both to hand, is that, in regard to metallic paint, the silver particles will fill the atmosphere and depending on the spray area environment can end up falling onto the finished work piece. My answer to this was to carefully remove the guitar body once I had completed each coat and moved it to a clean safe area where it could dry for the prescribed amount of time needed between coats. It’s imperative to keep the work area clean and free from paint overspray.

In regard to the design, production and placement of headstock transfers I found that it was much easier and more cost-effective, let alone professional results… to use a company who specialised in making guitar headstock transfers. It took a while for me to think what to put on the headstock but I think what I have chosen fits the bill…

In part 4 the custom build project continues, please be sure to subscribe and…. Enjoy!

My other playlists -
Custom Guitar Build Project
Q&As Answering topical questions…
Stu's Guitar Recording Journey
Unboxing Music Equipment Videos
Stu's Guitar Journey! (12 part Video Series)
Guitar Backing Tracks - Blues, Ballads and Cinematic
Stu's Guitar Channel short Trailer

In CGBP 4 Video (Custom Guitar Build Project 4) The project continues as I take a look at all the accessories needed to complete the build and also how to tarnish both Chrome and Nickel hardware -    • Guitar Build: Part 4 – Tele Style Accessor...  

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Backing tracks for Guitar. Free to download but copyright protected.*