● Check your binding for cracks. If cracks are present, mask the binding prior to
applying a colored finish or the finish will penetrate the binding and become
impossible to restore to its original state.
● Don’t apply too many coats within recommended drying times. If you spray more
than 3 coats in a day for example, your first coat may have trouble curing.
● If you are using steel wool on the body of the guitar prior to finishing ensure you
remove all fibers from the steel wool.
● Always hang your guitar in a cool dry environment. Do not leave your guitar outside
to dry, it will attract dust.
● In most cases, you can respray within an hour. If you leave it longer than this, you
may need to leave the guitar for 24 hours and then lightly scuff up the paint with 600
- 800 grit sandpaper to ensure the ensuing coats will adhere to the previous coats.
(This depends on the product you are using, so check the label).
If you’re looking for a resource that covers guitar finishing in great detail, check
out Guitar Finishing Step-by-Step by Dan Erlewine and Don MacRostie.
2. Hardware Installation
Installing hardware usually involves installing the tuners, strap buttons, bridge, and pickups.
There are some best practices to follow including drilling pilot holes and aligning your
hardware correctly which we’ll cover in more detail below.
Pilot Holes
Drill pilot holes for all screws used on the body and neck of the guitar. The small screws
used for securing your tuners for example are small, fragile and easily stripped.
Whenever installing hardware:
1. Use masking tape on the guitar to mark the location of the hole using a pen (pencils
usually don’t result in sharp lines on masking tape)
2. Mark the location of the hole making an indentation in the wood through the masking
tape using a hole punch or similar tool
3. Decide on the correct size drill bit (⅔ thickness of the screw) and mark the drill bit
depth using a small piece of masking tape at approximately 2/3 the depth of the
screw to be installed
4. Always aim to drill your holes straight. If you have a drill press this is preferred.
5. Use a countersink drill bit (or similar) to chamfer the edges of any holes in the body
of the guitar, especially if painted using a solid color finish, to prevent chipping.
11
Summary of Contents for SG-style Guitar Kit
Page 17: ...17 ...