Odds and Ends: Guitars - Telecaster

Following on from the previous post of the complete re-wiring and modelling process of the Eddie Van Halen style Stratocaster guitar, this post deals with another guitar project. The aim of the project was to change the colour from red  to black and white striped. 

The original factory paint job with an EVH style design

Replica of the original design. The same template was
used, albeit adapted for a Telecaster and the colour
scheme inverted.

Considering the experience with repainting guitars from the Stratocaster project, the job in question was far easier and quicker due to my new found knowledge and process of the actual job itself. 



To begin with, I removed the crude tape design from the body of the guitar. Next, the guitar was dismantled completely so I could effectively access every nook and cranny on the body of the guitar. 

Semi-painted

The body was then completely sanded down by hand to remove the gloss finish from the red factory paint job. I decided that, to simplify the process, I would stick with a black body with white stripes. This also proved a lot quicker, as it only required one coat. After the black had fully covered the previous coat of red, the body was then lacquered to finish.

Painted and lacquered 

While the body was left to dry, I photographed the body and planned using PhotoShop where the stripes would go.

The PhotoShop design template for the stripes. The thinner red lines represent the first layer of tape,
the thicker red lines representing the second.

Once the body was completely dry, I followed my PhotoShopped plan of where to lay the stripes using white electrical tape.


Finally, the guitar was reassembled and rewired.

Fully functional, the project was successful and I am happy with the outcome (above right image). The experience on the previous guitar project proved invaluable, as the whole process was swift and had no hiccups