What's Your Favorite Color, Baby?

[marnold***]

Well, I managed to get the crappy blue finish sanded off my Telecaster (see the link in my sig for details). There was much rejoicing. Now I just need to pick a color. Ideally, I'd like to paint it candy apple red, but everything I've read indicates that I shouldn't try that for a first paint job. Right now, I'm leaning towards blue. And no, I'm not going to repaint it pink.

[WackyT]

Take it down to the wood, medium dark stain, and wax.

[Spudman***]

Man Marnold, from the way your thread was titled I was almost ready to say caucasian.

If you have nice looking wood consider what WackyT says. Otherwise, why not go pastel? Sea foam, Sonic Blue, or how about those prismatic paints from the auto paint store that change color?

[sunvalleylaw]

Of the choices, dark blue for sure. Followed by fire engine, though I prefer candy apple, red. But, there are a coupla red teles on the fret already.

[Dauntless]

Au Natural!!
Attachment 1172

[marnold***]

I wouldn't mind stripping it all the way down, except I really don't want to deal with chemicals, which is the only practical way to get that finish off. Plus the body is basswood so the likeliness of it being anything to look at would be relatively limited.

[Tone2TheBone]

Dang I was going to say candy apple red.

[250Keith]

KTM Orange,( Pumpkin ).
YA Baby!

[M29]

Hello marnold,

I kind of like the metallic colors in this type of situation. Clapton had a darker metallic turquoise Strat that I thought was awesome. With the right guard, pickups and knobs it would look great. I also like Spudman's suggestion with the prismatic colors. I painted my first LP junior copy that I made with white pearl and it looked great. I also painted a friends LP flip flop blue pearl and that was nice too. If you are real careful in a clean room you could paint a prismatic color. The only problem with candy and pearl colors is that if you have any trouble at any time during the painting with a run or dirt, you may have to sand it all back off and start over again. Not so much with the pearls or prismatic colors but with any candy. I used to paint custom motorcycles for a local Harley shop and without a super clean work area you can mess up a candy paint job and have to start all over again right down to the base color.

I feel the same way about the natural finish, the basswood is a risk as far as grain and color and the current finish could be used as a base for whatever color you decide on. I would sand it down as thin as you can though and get off as much of the original finish as you can. This will keep the total thickness to a minimum and still provide a good dry stable base that has filled your grain all these years.
Whatever you decide on it is looking better all the time, nice work indeed!

M29

[6STRINGS 9LIVES]

Wicked job on the blog Marnold .. If the wood has nice grain , natural is pretty easy to do , check out ReRanch they make real nice products , their nitrocellulose finishes look great .. heres a link ..http://reranch.com/ the section on re-finishing is very informative ..6S9L

[WackyT]

I wouldn't mind stripping it all the way down, except I really don't want to deal with chemicals, which is the only practical way to get that finish off. Plus the body is basswood so the likeliness of it being anything to look at would be relatively limited.

OK. I'd go with a deep blue then. Or even a forest green.

[marnold***]

Wicked job on the blog Marnold .. If the wood has nice grain , natural is pretty easy to do , check out ReRanch they make real nice products , their nitrocellulose finishes look great .. heres a link ..http://reranch.com/ the section on re-finishing is very informative ..6S9L

I've looked at their info. I've also bought some of the books from the Paint Your Own Guitar site. My only concern with Reranch is when the store might actually be open. Are their other rattle-can paints that any of you have had luck with?

[WackyT]

I love this one!
http://reranch.com/gallery/laylastrat.htm

[kerc]

Paint it copper.

[Iago]

if its a rosewood fretboard go with red.
if its maple go with black.

[duhvoodooman***]

OK. I'd go with a deep blue then. Or even a forest green.

+1

[M29]

Hello marnold,

I have used ReRanch rattlers and I think they work just fine although I only used the color not the clear.

M29

[250Keith]

I was on another site an looked at a Orange/pumkin color Tele it looked realy good It had some metal flake and I think it was shaker can too, Have fun with it Im sure it will look good! just have fun it's all yours.
Keith

[oldguy]

Vintage white, then let it age to a nice cream color.