I watched all three of these videos and I have never seen a more in depth guide on guitar finishing. Believe me, I have looked. Not only do Chris and Matt show you how to finish a guitar, but they explain how to do it with tools and techniques you would have as a hobbyist. Then they intentionally make many of the mistakes you might make as a first timer so they can demonstrate how to fix them. This series is an absolute gold mine of information.
That was perhaps THE BEST instructional series I’ve ever seen. Clear, concise, thorough, educational, easy to follow and great camera work to see exactly what you’re looking for throughout the project. Very well done and thank you!
I've no intention whatsoever of trying this myself but I watched all three parts just because it was a nice relaxing thing to watch while I'm feeling ill
I’ve watched all three of the videos in this series, and it’s really confidence inspiring. I love how detailed and thorough these videos are. I feel like I could do this if I could set up a spray booth in my basement or garage.
This showed me the 'errors' I made doing my Jazzmaster.......did not spend enough time after final clear coat for 'drying'.....a lesson learned for sure. Many thanks SM for having these two up @ your shop doing the videos.👍👍👍
@@tomk1tl39 made the exact same mistake on my first attempt on a guitar. Got impatient and didn't apply enough clear coat not did I leave it long enough to fully cure. Looking forward to redoing that guitar after watching this series
@@davidwicksmusic The paint job came out fine....just the clear coat......I may just do another 'wet sand' and put a few more clear coats making sure I leave enough time for them to dry.......was impatient as I wanted to play the axe too quick ! The horn areas did go thru to the first layer but only lightly. The first coat was 'vintage amber. I don't care as I am not going to sell it. I put too much effort and $$$ into the Jazzmaster. All were top notch parts !
@@tomk1tl39 I just purchased the ugliest jazzmaster for the price and am already getting ideas to refinish but the contours on them intimidate me I’m glad to hear it can be successful 🤙
Thanks for helping me refinish my 72 Fender Musicmaster Bass . I followed you along through the first two videos and just put on the last coat of clear. It’s now hanging in the closet for two weeks curing . Excellent introduction and instructions Thanks Chris and Matt
Loved this series. I've painted motorcycles with lacquer before, similar process. Didn't get boring, kept me watching the whole series, all good info, even a few tips on dealing with foulups. 10/10.
Thanks, SM, and to the 2 guys from Florida. I did my first Lacquer guitar but buffed it out with SM big 14" pedestal and now I need to wear sunglasses when I play it.
Excellent video series! It was entertaining and very very informative. This is probably one of the best instructional videos I have ever watched. Thank you guys so much for your work. Excellent!
Well done to StewMac, Chris and Matt! The time invested in your project will show in the final product. That is probably the most important lesson to be learned from this series and one that will provide benefits for a lifetime. Anyone ready to build their next StewMac kit?
I’ve just finished my first guitar using this 3 part tutorial. I really couldn’t have done it as well as I did without these guys and stewmac. Thanks Chris and Matt for your expertise. I followed along every step of the way and I appreciated your attention to detail and mini tutorials for fixing common mistakes. I made quite a few mistakes but I was able to fix most and the few I couldn’t are thankfully under the pick guard. I’m actually feeling kind of emotional because you guys have been there with me throughout this six week process and now it’s done. Nitrocellulose finishing is possible your first time and I am thrilled with the results. So much so that I’m going to do it again!
@Beholderguitars Huge congrats on a successful first finishing job! That's amazing! And thanks so much for the feedback. We're so glad the content helped guide you along the way. Keep it up! 👍
I have learned a lot about the guitar painting and finishing technique you guys presented. This is a new hobby for me, and I have already made a few mistakes but learned from them like you mentioned. I don't know how you feel about this, but i bought the Larger 24 oz Rustoleum clear gloss spray can with the turbo spray system. I had to get used to it cause it's easy to overspray and cause's runs. So, I used this for the first time, and I did create runs. I corrected them and basically started over. Had to be fast on the sweeps. The fan is up to like 10 inches and covers more area. I'm on my 9th coat right now on a repaint of a Squier Strat with a Krylon Textured Dark Bronze metallic paint. Painted the body 2 times over black and it covered great. Lightly sanded the textured paint to a smooth finish before applying clear coat. Well, just wanted to thank you guys as ive been going back and forth reviewing your techniques. I really enjoy this and to offset the waiting time a little, I have two projects going on at the same time just like a week or so separation time. It's getting to cold to continue the painting so i will have several more weeks to complete these projects. I did not work with the necks any. but I will maybe later. Thank you, , and Stewmac for a great presentation. Steven Brown
Absolutely Amazing, I've painted many guitars and I remember spending all summer watching videos and none of them were complete in explaining the process, this was absolutely complete and you even added in the "what if" situations for fixing errors. Now.. we need a video on how to put clear-coat on a maple guitar neck (topside); because I have done that to a couple cheap squires and it is beautiful, but most people would be scared to death to tackle it.
I'd like that too! I love a nice glossy maple fretboard, so I've done it both with clear lacquer and (believe it or not) with Tru-Oil, with great results with both. It is extremely labor intensive however... wet sanding between frets high up the neck is no fun!
Great suite of videos! More detail in the detailing - better than anywhere I’ve seen before, by other experts who are just so glib, and seem to think that almost everyone knows how to at least spray ‘auto’ (or cars as we call them in the UK). Thank you and also to Stewmac who have a series here to be proud of.
Absolutely brilliant guys. Very well documented and put together videos. I had to learn the hard way since my first guitars in the 80's. You're helping a lot of DIY folks save a lot of time and money.
Very impressed with the color, the finish, and the shine! And the advice! Still would like to have a similar video that deals with an electric wood body guitar with a natural wood finish. Thanks for all the sanding!
Fantastic series. The end result is as good as anything from a factory, if not better. Great to see my idol Dan stop by. Been watching Driftwood for a long while now, and Dan/StewMac for as long as they've been on RUclips.
Kudos to everyone! What a wonderful series of videos. I actually have some confidence now on doing a more involved finish when I put my first kit together. I am scared sh*tless when it comes to finishing wood, this helps immensely.
Thank you to all who were involved in the filming of these three episodes. Everyone, even the camera person who was never mentioned. I have learned a lot and will be using what I’ve learned in the future. I have finished several guitar and bass bodies using ColorTone Lacquer cans from Stemac with decent to very good results. From this point on my results will be much more satisfying. Thank you again JWard
These videos have been an absolute perfect start to finish, well explained process that will give the knowledge and confidence to take painting and finishing to a new level. Great job Chris and Matt, and thanks to StewMac for providing us with the great video tools as always, and Dan's seal of approval at the end was icing on the cake.
Currently building & finishing the same kit, this presentation was perfect timing. Thank you for the detail with your presentation. & thank you so much Stewmac for sponsoring this. Johnny
So incredibly inspiring.. I have two guitars that are in need of a finish, and I’m seriously so very pumped after watching, and learning, from this series of videos that I believe that is something I could do myself, and I’m going to be placing an order and doing just that. Thank you VERY much!!!
nice shop nice tools and quality products lots of time... how can you not make it perfect. nice job boys I have learned some stuff utmost of all for me is... PATIENCE!!! thanx agin stew Mac
"So the finish contributes to the tone". Chris pulling the pin on that grenade and throwing it out there. :) I wish I had know all of this when I did my first bass kit last year. The finish is.... okay, but nowhere near that shiny. Second build (also a bass, go figure) I'll make sure to follow this again.
Great series! It taught me to be more patient with the nitro paint. I always use the Stew-Mac nitro because of the consistent quality and now I see to just slow the process down!
Wow. No shortcuts here. Just a lot of time and work to get a great result. Planning on building my own guitar and wanted to see what I'm in for. Oh boy!
Very good job to all involved. Good hosts and great production crew. My respect. I painted a lot of cars in my life, and you do very well with a rattlecan!
I’ve watched this series all the way through no less than 3 times - then I watched it again, and took notes. I literally took a class on painting guitars that wasn’t as detailed as this! I am now painting my own guitars using Chris and Matt’s tips and tricks, and am having some exciting results - even as a relative beginner. Kudos to Driftwood and Stewmac for putting all this together - they seriously could’ve charged money for this with how good it is, but they didn’t, and it’s incredibly helpful!
Yes. I am watching it more for entertainment now and to see what to buy but in a couple of months when I'll get the kit I will watch this again and take notes. I know some woodworking but nitro finishing? No idea
Best video I've have ever seen on finishing a guitar body. Been building them for 2 decades and these videos gave me some really good tips and techniques. I do have a question though, for those of us that spray outside (though I'm really looking for an inflatable booth now) what's the highest humidity you can spray in to not get blushing? Live in Florida and though I have sprayed all my guitars outside without issue, wonder if there is a threshold. Thanks!
Awesome and super informative series. Would you follow the same finish sanding and buffing if you went with a satin finish? Let me know how that would change the last few steps.
Nice work - I have to admit- I was waiting for some of the wet sanding water to get into the strap holder hole and swell and split the finish. Perhaps I use too much water!
I watched all three of these videos and I have never seen a more in depth guide on guitar finishing. Believe me, I have looked. Not only do Chris and Matt show you how to finish a guitar, but they explain how to do it with tools and techniques you would have as a hobbyist. Then they intentionally make many of the mistakes you might make as a first timer so they can demonstrate how to fix them. This series is an absolute gold mine of information.
I agree! Which is why I won’t paint my own guitar now! Lol. Soooo long of a process for my impatient self
If I had any anxiety towards starting this process on my own, this series 100% made me excited and confident I can pull it off.
I couldn’t agree more
I absolutely love all this StewMac/Driftwood content and hope it continues for a long time. Wonderful job by all involved. What a fantastic series!
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
That was perhaps THE BEST instructional series I’ve ever seen. Clear, concise, thorough, educational, easy to follow and great camera work to see exactly what you’re looking for throughout the project. Very well done and thank you!
I've no intention whatsoever of trying this myself but I watched all three parts just because it was a nice relaxing thing to watch while I'm feeling ill
I hope you’re feeling better. If you do a project like this, make sure you have a good place to do all this spray. It is highly toxic.
I’ve watched all three of the videos in this series, and it’s really confidence inspiring. I love how detailed and thorough these videos are. I feel like I could do this if I could set up a spray booth in my basement or garage.
You can totally do this! 🙂
This showed me the 'errors' I made doing my Jazzmaster.......did not spend enough time after final clear coat for 'drying'.....a lesson learned for sure. Many thanks SM for having these two up @ your shop doing the videos.👍👍👍
@@tomk1tl39 made the exact same mistake on my first attempt on a guitar. Got impatient and didn't apply enough clear coat not did I leave it long enough to fully cure. Looking forward to redoing that guitar after watching this series
@@davidwicksmusic The paint job came out fine....just the clear coat......I may just do another 'wet sand' and put a few more clear coats making sure I leave enough time for them to dry.......was impatient as I wanted to play the axe too quick ! The horn areas did go thru to the first layer but only lightly. The first coat was 'vintage amber. I don't care as I am not going to sell it. I put too much effort and $$$ into the Jazzmaster. All were top notch parts !
@@tomk1tl39 I just purchased the ugliest jazzmaster for the price and am already getting ideas to refinish but the contours on them intimidate me I’m glad to hear it can be successful 🤙
Wow, blown away by that finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope I can find all of Dans old videos too, like way back to VHS TAPES, this series is awesome , thank you all !!!!!!!!!!!
Matt has such a great attitude for a learner, that patience is awesome!
Allways a treat when Matt and Chris do a vid, lovely to see Dan so enthusiastic about the results.
Thanks for helping me refinish my 72 Fender Musicmaster Bass . I followed you along through the first two videos and just put on the last coat of clear. It’s now hanging in the closet for two weeks curing . Excellent introduction and instructions Thanks Chris and Matt
Well, that’s a lot of patience and work which provide a lot of reward.
Loved this series. I've painted motorcycles with lacquer before, similar process. Didn't get boring, kept me watching the whole series, all good info, even a few tips on dealing with foulups. 10/10.
Thanks, SM, and to the 2 guys from Florida. I did my first Lacquer guitar but buffed it out with SM big 14" pedestal and now I need to wear sunglasses when I play it.
This guide is by far the best
"Paint Your Guitar Guide" out there.
Thanks guys great work
I did it, I made my own sunburst bass body with all your advices! It looks great!!! many many thanks
Excellent video series! It was entertaining and very very informative. This is probably one of the best instructional videos I have ever watched. Thank you guys so much for your work. Excellent!
Well done to StewMac, Chris and Matt! The time invested in your project will show in the final product. That is probably the most important lesson to be learned from this series and one that will provide benefits for a lifetime. Anyone ready to build their next StewMac kit?
I’ve just finished my first guitar using this 3 part tutorial. I really couldn’t have done it as well as I did without these guys and stewmac. Thanks Chris and Matt for your expertise. I followed along every step of the way and I appreciated your attention to detail and mini tutorials for fixing common mistakes. I made quite a few mistakes but I was able to fix most and the few I couldn’t are thankfully under the pick guard. I’m actually feeling kind of emotional because you guys have been there with me throughout this six week process and now it’s done. Nitrocellulose finishing is possible your first time and I am thrilled with the results. So much so that I’m going to do it again!
@Beholderguitars Huge congrats on a successful first finishing job! That's amazing! And thanks so much for the feedback. We're so glad the content helped guide you along the way. Keep it up! 👍
The most thorough & detailed tutorial on the subject I have seen. Definitive process outline and tips. Great job and thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
By far the most valuable presentation on finishing. What a delight to hear expert experience speak.
Thanks so much!
I have learned a lot about the guitar painting and finishing technique you guys presented. This is a new hobby for me, and I have already made a few mistakes but learned from them like you mentioned. I don't know how you feel about this, but i bought the Larger 24 oz Rustoleum clear gloss spray can with the turbo spray system. I had to get used to it cause it's easy to overspray and cause's runs. So, I used this for the first time, and I did create runs. I corrected them and basically started over. Had to be fast on the sweeps. The fan is up to like 10 inches and covers more area. I'm on my 9th coat right now on a repaint of a Squier Strat with a Krylon Textured Dark Bronze metallic paint. Painted the body 2 times over black and it covered great. Lightly sanded the textured paint to a smooth finish before applying clear coat. Well, just wanted to thank you guys as ive been going back and forth reviewing your techniques. I really enjoy this and to offset the waiting time a little, I have two projects going on at the same time just like a week or so separation time. It's getting to cold to continue the painting so i will have several more weeks to complete these projects. I did not work with the necks any. but I will maybe later. Thank you, , and Stewmac for a great presentation.
Steven Brown
I like to level sand with 1000, 1500, 3000, 8000 3M Trizact before buffing..... These videos have been awesome!
Incredible Job this 3 part series was AWESOME !! gonna start My Jazz Bass refurbish project this summer
Best of luck!
The amount of details you two packed into these videos is impressive. Thanks for the videos guys!
This series was awesome! I wish it was around a few years ago, when I refinished me bass....
Bravo! Lots of fun, guys, thanks! Hey, I'd like to see a similar demonstration of finishing with stain on woodgrain and how to deal with bindings.
Absolutely Amazing, I've painted many guitars and I remember spending all summer watching videos and none of them were complete in explaining the process, this was absolutely complete and you even added in the "what if" situations for fixing errors. Now.. we need a video on how to put clear-coat on a maple guitar neck (topside); because I have done that to a couple cheap squires and it is beautiful, but most people would be scared to death to tackle it.
I'd like that too! I love a nice glossy maple fretboard, so I've done it both with clear lacquer and (believe it or not) with Tru-Oil, with great results with both. It is extremely labor intensive however... wet sanding between frets high up the neck is no fun!
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL end result, and brilliant techniques. perfection requires time and care.
Thank you very much!
Great series. Thanks to the Driftwood and StewMac team for putting this together.
In-depth and funny to watch. I wish I had this video series when I started with some sloppy finishes....
Great suite of videos! More detail in the detailing - better than anywhere I’ve seen before, by other experts who are just so glib, and seem to think that almost everyone knows how to at least spray ‘auto’ (or cars as we call them in the UK). Thank you and also to Stewmac who have a series here to be proud of.
This series is a gem
Absolutely brilliant guys. Very well documented and put together videos. I had to learn the hard way since my first guitars in the 80's. You're helping a lot of DIY folks save a lot of time and money.
Very impressed with the color, the finish, and the shine! And the advice! Still would like to have a similar video that deals with an electric wood body guitar with a natural wood finish. Thanks for all the sanding!
Nothing beats the natural beauty of wood. Fortunately, some luthiers share that view.
Thank you guys. I have three instruments lined up waiting for final assembly and finish. Now I know it’ll take months ´til I’m done but it’s worth it.
Fantastic series. The end result is as good as anything from a factory, if not better. Great to see my idol Dan stop by. Been watching Driftwood for a long while now, and Dan/StewMac for as long as they've been on RUclips.
Perfect timing for me as I have several projects at the finishing stage now and I recently got a box of supplies from stewmac too!
Good... glad our timing worked out! 🙂
I have no intention to do this, but I still watched all three videos from start to finish to learn!
The finished guitar looks amazing
Thanks!
Kudos to everyone! What a wonderful series of videos. I actually have some confidence now on doing a more involved finish when I put my first kit together. I am scared sh*tless when it comes to finishing wood, this helps immensely.
Thank you to all who were involved in the filming of these three episodes. Everyone, even the camera person who was never mentioned.
I have learned a lot and will be using what I’ve learned in the future. I have finished several guitar and bass bodies using ColorTone Lacquer cans from Stemac with decent to very good results. From this point on my results will be much more satisfying.
Thank you again
JWard
These videos have been an absolute perfect start to finish, well explained process that will give the knowledge and confidence to take painting and finishing to a new level. Great job Chris and Matt, and thanks to StewMac for providing us with the great video tools as always, and Dan's seal of approval at the end was icing on the cake.
Currently building & finishing the same kit, this presentation was perfect timing. Thank you for the detail with your presentation. & thank you so much Stewmac for sponsoring this.
Johnny
So incredibly inspiring.. I have two guitars that are in need of a finish, and I’m seriously so very pumped after watching, and learning, from this series of videos that I believe that is something I could do myself, and I’m going to be placing an order and doing just that. Thank you VERY much!!!
nice shop nice tools and quality products lots of time... how can you not make it perfect. nice job boys I have learned some stuff utmost of all for me is... PATIENCE!!! thanx agin stew Mac
Thanks guys! Now I know where I need to concentrate my efforts to get the best results. Excellent!
Excellent series! I watched every gratifying minute. Would love to see the same process with stain!
Great suggestion!
Absolutely awesome, and the message keep trying and recover from mistakes 👍
I found polishing paper works for tight or small places! Thanks!
Absolutely fantastic and exactly what we need thank you, please open a UK stewmac store
Wow that was super detailed and informative! Thanks Driftwood Guitar guys!
Well done StewMac & Driftwood Guitars. This series is priceless. Thanks for the great job on the content.
Thank you kindly!
Purchased the gloss black finishing set. Can’t wait to get started.
Dan is the man! Good job guys! Guitar looks amazing!
Great sanding technique and I love how much these guys laugh!
What a beautifull finish
Thanks. 😎
Nice work! It was well worth watching. Great result.
"So the finish contributes to the tone". Chris pulling the pin on that grenade and throwing it out there. :) I wish I had know all of this when I did my first bass kit last year. The finish is.... okay, but nowhere near that shiny. Second build (also a bass, go figure) I'll make sure to follow this again.
awesome series watched all 3. your series have given me the confidence to refinish my Jazz bass. and yes I am going to try gloss black
You can do it! Best of luck.
Pretty Amazing, so much information.A must to watch the whole thing!
Great video series! Good tips for the experienced too!
Excellent conclusion to the series. You have provided a tremendous education. Kudos and a beautiful guitar!
This was great, I'll watch it again
Really like Chris and Matt's videos. Entertaining professionals.✌️
Incredible series. Wow
Awesome, loved all those 3 episodes, so in deep and clear, now I feel more prepared to do my project! Thanks guys and StewMac!
Great to hear! Best of luck with your project!
This was such a good watch
What a super cool series. Thanks much!
Wow wow, these videos have pretty much said and done it all! Thank you so much 💓
Nice video series. Thanks!
Great series! Thanks for sharing so much information.
Amazing result! 👍
Thank you!
Great series Stew Mac
Awesome series!!! I've never seen a so well made tutorial like that! Thank you!
Great series! It taught me to be more patient with the nitro paint. I always use the Stew-Mac nitro because of the consistent quality and now I see to just slow the process down!
Wow. No shortcuts here. Just a lot of time and work to get a great result. Planning on building my own guitar and wanted to see what I'm in for. Oh boy!
Great to hear! Best of luck to you!
Fabulous series guys. I'll be referring back when I try my first build
Great series! Enjoyed it and learned a lot!
Very good job to all involved. Good hosts and great production crew. My respect. I painted a lot of cars in my life, and you do very well with a rattlecan!
Great series 😁
Nice job gentlemen. Thank you so much.
loving this series. thanks for sharing
Great series! Thanks so much for all the info guys!
11:19 His Smile after that BONK kills me. I laughed so hard :D love this series!
Omg, it's a lot of work to film this video! Thanks you!
Thanks Chris, Matt and Stew Mac Great Series. Look forward to more hopefully.
Watched all three informative high quality informative video's guys! Once again great work and dig the series!
Really great content, and an incredible outcome of your awesome talent! I'm going to do it!!
Thanks so much! Best of luck with your project!
This series was absolutely awesome. Thanks so much.
I’ve watched this series all the way through no less than 3 times - then I watched it again, and took notes. I literally took a class on painting guitars that wasn’t as detailed as this! I am now painting my own guitars using Chris and Matt’s tips and tricks, and am having some exciting results - even as a relative beginner. Kudos to Driftwood and Stewmac for putting all this together - they seriously could’ve charged money for this with how good it is, but they didn’t, and it’s incredibly helpful!
Yes. I am watching it more for entertainment now and to see what to buy but in a couple of months when I'll get the kit I will watch this again and take notes. I know some woodworking but nitro finishing? No idea
Best video I've have ever seen on finishing a guitar body. Been building them for 2 decades and these videos gave me some really good tips and techniques. I do have a question though, for those of us that spray outside (though I'm really looking for an inflatable booth now) what's the highest humidity you can spray in to not get blushing? Live in Florida and though I have sprayed all my guitars outside without issue, wonder if there is a threshold. Thanks!
Definitely a great job. WOW! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Extremely well put together video series!
Thanks so very much guys!
Drinking game!!! The word: SUPER.
Amazing Series, thank you for that !!!
Well done , I learned a lot, some things I wish I knew a few years back. Awesome job StewMac, thanks !
So much detail and info in these 3 videos. Thank you!
Awesome and super informative series. Would you follow the same finish sanding and buffing if you went with a satin finish? Let me know how that would change the last few steps.
A great series. Great info and well done. Thanks!
Thanks so much.
Great series.
Nice work - I have to admit- I was waiting for some of the wet sanding water to get into the strap holder hole and swell and split the finish. Perhaps I use too much water!