Painted Pickguard

Posted September 1, 2008 By admin

how would i go about painting the pickguard of my bass guitar?

i want to paint the pickguard of my fender jazz bass pink. I don't know if i can just take it off and spray paint it or if i need to do anything else.

I have no idea what to do. Suggestions are highly appreciated.

Hi! Yes, you can spray paint it, but make sure to use paint that is designated for use on plastics. Some paints require a specific primer coat, whereas others like Krylon Fusion do not. In any case, rough up the surface (even if the paint can instructions say you don't have to!) by either rubbing with a medium (#1) grade steel wool or 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Wipe off the surface with naptha or alcohol before applying the first coat. Apply two to three light coats, letting dry twenty minutes between coats. Wait 24 hours before assembling, and it should be ready to go! Painting the backside of clear acrylic is indeed another option; however, it can make pick marks and other scratches stand out more over time. You also have to be very careful when tightening screws against acrylic, as it is much more brittle than ABS plastic. Plus, using your existing pickguard, all you have to buy is the paint! Best regards, Dana