Refinishing guitar - cost? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

apetaster · 08-26-2003, 05:05 PM

Debated if this is fodder for How to or music and figured I would start here...Any of you have any idea as to a ballpark cost of refinishing a guitar (including a color change?)

I have a great 93 US Strat+ that I love but hate the color of (it is a translucent blue finish now but I would like a solid color (either something like the Fender Lake Placid Blue or a Robert Cray Silver with a lacquer finish.)

Not even considering this as a DIY as I don't have the expertise or equipment.

Any ideas if this isounds like a $100, $250, $500 dollar job?

Thanks (btw, it had been a very long time since I played it but all the TFP guitar talk has gotten me playing again - so thanks for that too.)

student · 08-29-2003, 02:28 PM

www.warmoth.com has it listed for painting a guitar as 180 for a solid color. i dont know about removing existing paint but probably a guess would be 300.

Exodus · 08-29-2003, 08:11 PM

Just one thing you might concider before acutally doing a paint job on a guitar, it really kills the value. IMHO I dont think of guitars as show peices. Dings, knicks, dents, bare wood showing through, I leave alone. The guitar in the future will be worth a lot more if its an original paint job.

apetaster · 09-01-2003, 03:30 AM

Thanks guys - I learned from the above and other inquiries that it is more expensive than I thought and that I'd probably be better off selling the body and getting a new body (or selling the guitar and just buying a new one altogether.) I think I may go that last route.

08-26-2003, 05:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
apetaster Insane Location: P.R. Mass.	Refinishing guitar - cost? Debated if this is fodder for How to or music and figured I would start here...Any of you have any idea as to a ballpark cost of refinishing a guitar (including a color change?) I have a great 93 US Strat+ that I love but hate the color of (it is a translucent blue finish now but I would like a solid color (either something like the Fender Lake Placid Blue or a Robert Cray Silver with a lacquer finish.) Not even considering this as a DIY as I don't have the expertise or equipment. Any ideas if this isounds like a $100, $250, $500 dollar job? Thanks (btw, it had been a very long time since I played it but all the TFP guitar talk has gotten me playing again - so thanks for that too.)

08-29-2003, 02:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
student Crazy	www.warmoth.com has it listed for painting a guitar as 180 for a solid color. i dont know about removing existing paint but probably a guess would be 300.

08-29-2003, 08:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Exodus Psycho	Just one thing you might concider before acutally doing a paint job on a guitar, it really kills the value. IMHO I dont think of guitars as show peices. Dings, knicks, dents, bare wood showing through, I leave alone. The guitar in the future will be worth a lot more if its an original paint job.

09-01-2003, 03:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
apetaster Insane Location: P.R. Mass.	Thanks guys - I learned from the above and other inquiries that it is more expensive than I thought and that I'd probably be better off selling the body and getting a new body (or selling the guitar and just buying a new one altogether.) I think I may go that last route.