3.2 Painting body and neck
The solid wood of the guitar body is sealed and prepared for various types of lacquer
coating. A wide variety of nishes can be procured from DIY, timber and automotive
outlets in aerosol cans making nishing straightforward without requiring specialist
skills.
The rst step is to check the t of the body to neck joint. These parts are machined
from high-grade tone woods to ensure optimum alignment. However, wood is a nat‐
ural material that changes its shape slightly over time. If the neck is too tight in the
cutout on the body, you can rework the t with a sharp chisel or sandpaper. Please
keep in mind that the coating of lacquer will make the neck t a little more tightly
into the cutout.
Before coating the body, ensure that all surfaces are clean and free of dirt and dust.
Carry out all painting operations in a well-ventilated, dust-free environment. Consid‐
ered and careful working is a key factor for a qualitatively satisfactory result. It is
highly recommended that you rst try out the colour and technique on another
piece of wood.
Paint the body edges rst and let them dry. If the edges are dry, go on with front and
back side. By layered, successive application you can achieve a uniform coating struc‐
ture. If you notice surface irregularities, wait until the paint has dried completely and
correct them with ne sandpaper (e.g. 800+) before proceeding to paint. For full cov‐
erage apply three or more layers.
Hang the painted body to dry in a dry, dust-free and preferably sunlight-protected
area using a wire or hook in the recess for the guitar neck.
Wait another two to three days until the paint is fully cured. Polish or burnish the
body until it meets your expectations. Take care not to bu too vigorously as this
may remove the nish.
The guitar neck is sealed with a thin layer of matt lacquer before delivery and is ready
to use. If you still want to treat the neck with coloured or clear lacquer, proceed as
follows.
Carefully mask o the ngerboard and all frets before painting. Make sure that all sur‐
faces are free of dust and dirt. Carry out all painting operations in a well-ventilated,
dust-free environment.
For the neck, use a clear or slightly tinted wood paint of good quality. Start on the
front and at the edges of the headstock. Apply a thin layer evenly, let it dry and
repeat the process two or three times. If you notice surface irregularities, wait until
the paint has dried completely and correct them with ne sandpaper (e.g. 800+)
before proceeding to paint.
Once the headstock has dried, place the neck on the ngerboard and paint the back
of the neck as described.
Wait another two to three days until the paint is fully cured. Polish or burnish the
neck until it meets your expectations. Take care not to bu too vigorously as this may
remove the nish.
Painting the body
Neck nish
Assembly instructions
Electric Guitar Kit JA
7
