Telecaster Color Change Project..

[Blaze]

I finally decided to change the color of my old Telecaster which is an ugly glossy black to a more blonde Butterscoth one or something vintage..

I installed a Tele Dimarzio Virtual bridge pick up 2 years ago , it is powerful & good twangy sounding.Neck is a Dimarzio Twang king .The other double single won t be there anymore ..

Here's on the right the guitar before :

Blazes :AOK:

 

[sumitomo]

Man that's alot of work Blazes,mine has chips and dings,cracked finish and I think I'll just use some axe wrap,that stuff is cool.Sumi

 

[markb]

Try these. Also go to www.tdpri.com for lots of project info. There's even a dedicated finishing forum.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies.html

http://reranch.com/

 

[WackyT]

I've heard ReRanch is pretty good.

 

[mrmudcat]

Try these. Also go to www.tdpri.com for lots of project info. There's even a dedicated finishing forum.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies.html

http://reranch.com/

Great links!!!:rockon:

 

[marnold]

I was going to say ReRanch as well, but two others beat me to it, so I won't have to post. Oh wait . . .

 

[Blaze]

I found this Fender colors chart ,most of the vintage one come from 50 s , 60 s car color..

Lake Placid Blue Metallic ———— Lucite #2876 L '58 Cadillac
Daphne Blue —————————– Lucite #2804 L '58 Cadillac
Inca Silver Metallic——————— Lucite #2436 L '57 Corvett Olympic White ————————– Lucite #2818 L '58 Cadillac
Burgundy Metallic Mist————— Lucite #2936 L '59 Oldsmobile
Inca Silver Metallic——————— Lucite #2436 L '57 Corvette
Fiesta Red ——————————– Duco #2219 H 56 T Bird
Dakota Red —————————— Duco #2590 H "58 Cadillac
Blue Ice Metallic ———————– Lucite #4692 L '65 Ford
Firemist Silver Metallic ————– Lucite #4576 L '64 Cadillac
Firemist Gold Metallic ————— Lucite #4579 L '64 Cadillac
Charcoal Frost Metallic ———–— Lucite #4618 L '65 Lincoln
Ocean Turquoise Metallic ———- Lucite #4607 L '65 Mercury
Teal Green Metallic —————–– Lucite #4297 L '64 Lincoln
Black —————————————— Duco #1711 All makes
Sonic Blue ———————————– Duco #2295 '56 Cadillac
Shell Pink ——————————–—– Duco #2371 '56 Desoto
Foam Green —————————–– Duco #2253 '56 Buick
Surf Green ———————————– Duco #2461 '57 Chevy
Sherwood Metallic Green ———– Duco #2526 H '57 Mercury Candy Apple Red ———— Undercoat was Inca Silver 50%, Shoreline Gold 50%
Topcoat was Fiesta Red 1/3, Clear 2/3


The one i choose is not in this list but it is a classic one ,Vintage White ,i found the exact color in a car paint store ..Should look like this,hopefully..

For now here s what i ve done ..Primer is next..

 

[Tone2TheBone]

Very cool mon ami I dig Tele projects!

 

[Bloozcat]

Did you find the color in original nitrocellulite lacquer like the ones you listed Blazes?

If it is nitro, then it's a great find. That stuff is hard to come buy today. I've resorted to mixing my own.

 

[ZMAN]

The Strat in the middle is Vintage White. It is probably my favourite strat color. The one on the left is Blizzard Pearl, and the on on the right is White Pearl Metalic. You can see the differences.

 

[oldguy]

Vintage white is beautiful.................

 

[Blaze]

Primer Done ..

 

[oldguy]

This thread is useful with pics.
Looking good, Blazes! Keep us posted, I wanna see it when it's done.

 

[Blaze]

Painted ! next : few more coats..

(picture darker than the real stuff)

 

[Kazz]

Keep in mind that the finished product is only as good as the wood below it...I am thankful that you are taking this on...because I have an S101 Tele that is black and I would like to change the color too...and I will probably use your paint list above as a guide....

When I do mine tho...when I strip off the black I will make sure to sand the wood body until it is smooth as glass before any filler and primer....then wet sand the primer until it is smooth as glass too....then apply the color...probably several coats of color with wet sanding between coats and then of course the same technique with the clear.

Of course I am more used to painting metal....cars to be exact. I do refinish furniture...but I usually apply an oil finish or a stain not car paint LMAO.

I think I may want something more along the lines of the Plum Crazy color that Chrysler had in the early 70s on the Hemi Cuda

 

[ZMAN]

Keep in mind that the finished product is only as good as the wood below it...I am thankful that you are taking this on...because I have an S101 Tele that is black and I would like to change the color too...and I will probably use your paint list above as a guide....

When I do mine tho...when I strip off the black I will make sure to sand the wood body until it is smooth as glass before any filler and primer....then wet sand the primer until it is smooth as glass too....then apply the color...probably several coats of color with wet sanding between coats and then of course the same technique with the clear.

Of course I am more used to painting metal....cars to be exact. I do refinish furniture...but I usually apply an oil finish or a stain not car paint LMAO.

I think I may want something more along the lines of the Plum Crazy color that Chrysler had in the early 70s on the Hemi Cuda

That may be true but Leo Fender used car paint on the first Strats and Teles.
They used the same paint that was on the bright color chevys and Fords that were around in the 50s.

 

[Blaze]

Right now I have a brand new black pick guard but I hesitated between black or white any thoughts guys ?

These pictures are examples ..
The actual color of my tele is more like the one below with the black pickguard..

 

[mrmudcat]

I like white no black no white.....no black to match the dots FTW!!!!!!:beer:

 

[Kazz]

I like the black myself.

 

[Geraint Jones]

I`m doing a very similar project Blazes , originally mine has a white plate but I think it`ll have to be black , although have you thought of tortoiseshell , might not suit a whiter shade of blonde but looks good I think on the darker variations.

 

[marnold]

Black :AOK:

Very nice look, Blazes!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I like the black one. Nice project!

 

[ZMAN]

Mint Green looks really nice with vintage white. The ones in your pictures look more yellow than vintage white. Yours is more of a vintage white.
Like this. Very vintage looking.
http://www.rainbowguitars.com/ProductDetail.aspx?p=FE0151964895

 

[sunvalleylaw]

The Strat in the middle is Vintage White. It is probably my favourite strat color. The one on the left is Blizzard Pearl, and the on on the right is White Pearl Metalic. You can see the differences.

Not to highjack, but Zman, nice colors on your axes! I am particularly fond of that one on the left.

 

[ZMAN]

You have a 60th Anniversary MIM don't you? Blizzard Pearl. I has an amazingly flamed neck as well.

 

[Blaze]

Last coat is done ..


Wetsanding comin next ..

 

[bigoldron]

Ssswwweeeeeeettttt!!!!!!

Either color mentioned will work, but I'm partial to the tortoiseshell. I think that vintage white and tort are just too hot! Good luck man! :bravo:

 

[M29]

I like the black and also like mint and tort. Coming along nicely!!!:AOK:

M29

 

[Blaze]

It's been wet sanded with 600 -800 1000-2000 grit sand paper , it's now smooth & sleek..

Next the 3M Perfect-It Rubbing Compound for a nice finish..

 

[mrmudcat]

Blaze ,if it were me id let the final finish alone a few days before any compound ...just my humble opinion:beer: