Painting A Bass?

[skorpx1]

I'm just gonna jump right to the point here, I want to paint my bass but have no clue how. I'd like for it to be a iridescent blue but I don't know if I can use that kind of paint on a wooden bass and if I can, how exactly should I apply it to the bass? I just want the headstock/body to be painted. I wasn't looking to paint the backside of the neck but I have seen someone do it and it looks kinda cool.


Right now my bass has a really thick black paint on it that almost seems like it was a plastic covering. I don't know if I should sand that off then go over it with a primer then apply the iridescent paint or can I just paint over that? I also have a sticker on it that would most likely be hard to take off without leaving and kind of adhesive residue.

[Frodo]

Why would you want to paint a fish?    

[skorpx1]

Why would you want to paint a fish?    

I knew that was going to be asked.

Not the fish, the instrument.

[uptown]

I'd rather have a painting of a BigMouth Bass. It'd go good with my turkey and deer paintings. 

[uptown]

I'm just gonna jump right to the point here, I want to paint my bass but have no clue how. I'd like for it to be a iridescent blue but I don't know if I can use that kind of paint on a wooden bass and if I can, how exactly should I apply it to the bass? I just want the headstock/body to be painted. I wasn't looking to paint the backside of the neck but I have seen someone do it and it looks kinda cool.


Right now my bass has a really thick black paint on it that almost seems like it was a plastic covering. I don't know if I should sand that off then go over it with a primer then apply the iridescent paint or can I just paint over that? I also have a sticker on it that would most likely be hard to take off without leaving and kind of adhesive residue.

I'd talk to the local music store where you live and see what they suggest......or go to http://youtu.be/VDEkGXYs0MA

[skorpx1]

I'd talk to the local music store where you live and see what they suggest......or go to YouTube  http://youtu.be/-sAFqaCkmro

I asked at the one of two in town but they had no idea. The owner just said he sold the musical stuff and didn't know how to paint instruments. I'm gonna try the other music shop on Friday when I get done with work but I don't know if i'll make it there before they close. If I do it'll be a tight squeeze.

[mbailey]

                                                                                           

[100Coogn]

 

Coogan

[jeep00]

Likely you can scuff the present paint and coat right over it. Test a small zpkt on the back. As to the sticker, use a heat gun on it to warm it up. Works quite well and any little residue will come off with IPA and a soft cloth.

[Nathan60]

(Image removed from quote.)

                                                                                  

  I felt movement.

[morfiend]

 It depends on how you want it to look!

  I would prep it much like painting a car,strip it down,tape up any areas you don't want paint on and then sand and prime and sand some more them prime some more then sand,etc.  you can get an ok finish with a spray paint can if you know what your doing but I would suggest an airbrush.

 As for what type of paint,any kind will work if you prep it right.  You could get a nice automotive paint and do a base/clear to get a real nice finish.


   It's actually a nice project to learn to paint,small enough that if you mess up just do it all over again.



    

[Zacherof]

Stain it

[guncrasher]

I knew that was going to be asked.

Not the fish, the instrument.

you call your instrument a bass?  you dont clean it or something?  my ex used to call it paquito.


semp

[ink]

It depends on how you want it to look!

  I would prep it much like painting a car,strip it down,tape up any areas you don't want paint on and then sand and prime and sand some more them prime some more then sand,etc.  you can get an ok finish with a spray paint can if you know what your doing but I would suggest an airbrush.

 As for what type of paint,any kind will work if you prep it right.  You could get a nice automotive paint and do a base/clear to get a real nice finish.


   It's actually a nice project to learn to paint,small enough that if you mess up just do it all over again.



    

perfect except not just any paint will work....don't use water based paint,(it will "work" but not great and some wont work at all) get a good oil based paint....like morf said a good car paint will work perfect.....and is most often the best kind of paint that lasts the longest and will hold up to fading.

and dont chimp out on the sanding 

[skorpx1]

Stain it

I'm not staining the wood on my bass. Never in a million years.

It depends on how you want it to look!

  I would prep it much like painting a car,strip it down,tape up any areas you don't want paint on and then sand and prime and sand some more them prime some more then sand,etc.  you can get an ok finish with a spray paint can if you know what your doing but I would suggest an airbrush.

 As for what type of paint,any kind will work if you prep it right.  You could get a nice automotive paint and do a base/clear to get a real nice finish.


   It's actually a nice project to learn to paint,small enough that if you mess up just do it all over again.



   

The iridescent paint I was looking at was for automotive use. Oil based and fairly cheap and I think I could cover the whole bass with one medium sized can.

you call your instrument a bass?

semp

Sure do. After all that's what it is.

perfect except not just any paint will work....don't use water based paint,(it will "work" but not great and some wont work at all) get a good oil based paint....like morf said a good car paint will work perfect.....and is most often the best kind of paint that lasts the longest and will hold up to fading.

and dont chimp out on the sanding 

One question here. Will the paint be too thick for an airbrush/air spray can? I'm pretty sure that iridescent paint is quite thick.