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 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 🤙
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
This is why I love woodworking. I've been doing this for over a decade now, and have built a lot of guitars, and I still learned from this series. Woodworking is one of those things where if you stop learning, you need to move one. There's so much to learn and everyone does it different.
The best finishing tutorials on finishing a guitar that I have seen. There are many steps I have done as well as missed. Take your time is one of the best. Thanks for producing this video
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 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
Hey guys. Just want to say thank you for posting this video. You literally inspired me to build and paint my own guitar. I have 6 already. This would be my first build. So why not go big or go home. I got my hands on a double neck guitar kit and after watching this video. That guitar is absolutely amazing looking. I wish there is a way to show you guys a picture. Thank you again
Excellent presentation. Something tells me that Matt is more than competent in real life, but I enjoyed the banter, and showing us how to recover from errors is priceless.
That tip for sanding the edges of the tape before removing it from the fretboard is SO good. I'm always paranoid at that point in the process and will definitely be doing that in the future. Thanks!
Watched this series of videos quite a lot recently as I was applying aerosol finish for the first time. Finished the buff and waxed it yesterday and I have to say the advice and guidance outlined in these videos was invaluable! I'm pretty happy about how it turned out. Many many wet sands!
I’ve done five builds/refin’s from the ground up and kinda thought I knew what I was doing. But as they quoted/joked at the beginning, “you gon’ learn today!” I learned a lot with each of my previous projects, and yes, some of it was by trial and error AND learning how to correct those errors (after trying not to cry or destroying the whole piece out of frustration). I learned SO much during this series and I can hardly wait to apply this new knowledge to the next build. I guess it’s true that “you don’t know what you don’t know” …until you learn it. Many of the lessons taught in this series, I can truly say “OMG, been there, done that, already made that mistake”. Now I’ve learned some smart techniques on how to avoid certain pitfalls and make better builds smarter and easier than before. Patience is the biggie! Thanks Chris, Matt and Stewmac!
FANTASTIC!!! Thank you so much for doing this. My anxiety about not really knowing what to do is gone! Now I can start the journey of finishing my Strat!
This 3 part video series provides a professional sequential finish process explained & demonstrated well. So much of the finish process on the solid body electric guitar can be applied to other aspects of wood finishing in general as well. Good job, enjoyed the humor, appreciated the depth of why & how. Thanks to Dan, Stew-Mac, Chris & Matt.
Having watched all 3 in this series, it is Soooo very refreshing that an excellent craftsman is also an excellent teacher. Mahalo nui loa for the posts.
Fantastic job! With all the work that it took to get a "factory finish" I have much more respect for the quality that the manufacturers to produce and how affordable their guitars are. Keep up the good work.
Awesome series guys! I got so much out of the information. But what was really awesome was how you delivered it. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with you. Thank you.
Absolutely loved this demonstration on painting guitars with aerosol paint...I've never seen such an entertaining in-depth tutorial with so much information that covers mistakes and how to fix them down to the tactile nuances that are so important to the development of this skill...I have tried to paint guitars with aerosols a couple of times and now know why I failed at them. What I've learned is that Patience and Knowledge ( the actual science behind the process) are paramount to success...Hats off to Matt for being all of us want to be guitar painting professionals in this process. I have a feeling that he is much more astute than he portrayed in this video...You the Man Matt!!! You guys have inspired me to give it another go...Chris and Matt, Thank You So Much!!! And also StewMac for the platform and being a repository for all the parts and tools of us guitar mad enthusiasts!!!
On Thanksgiving Day I sat down to start the three part video on aerosol guitar finishing and had to go all the way through. Best how to video I've ever seen, hands down. I am just starting to try my hand at building/repairing after 50 (!) years of playing, 40 years full time. Thanks for your clear, concise, fun and really instructional videos. I've just subscribed and look forward to more. You're never too old to learn something.
Glad you like it, and it's awesome you're getting in to it and still willing to learn! Kudos to you, never too old and we're always here to help! Thanks!
I've only recently entered into the luthier space and this is the absolute best series of videos I've seen on the topic. Crazy good. The comments have also been super helpful. Thank you so much! I thank you, and my clients thank you!
I have wanted to refinish my guitar for some time, but I was afraid to attempt it. Other videos that I watched on RUclips were unclear or confusion and left me more reluctant to try it. Other videos that I watched were clearly done by people that were just winging it and didn't really know what they were doing. But this video series was excellent and demystified the process breaking it down into the step 1, step2, step 3 process that anyone can follow. I am so impressed with these videos that I would like to download them so I will have them for reference. Great job guys, and thank you for the instruction. After watching these I feel confident that I can move forward and attempt to refinish my guitar.
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?
Really incredible series. You guys did a wonderful job articulating ALL of the intricate details necessary to make finishing a positive experience! Thank you to Stew Mac for their organization of this resource and for the awesome work that they do in supporting us luthiers to help us succeed at our craft, their incredible selection of tools and products and second to none customer service.
Thats got to be one of the most in depth guitar finishing courses i have ever seen, learned a ton, and you have convinced me to give it a go. Thank you
Thank you for this - it’s life-changing. I’ve built a few partscasters so far, and my aim is to create my own professional works of art. There’s nothing else out there like this demonstration, so you probably saved me a year or more time of research, and trial & error. Thank you ☕️
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 think that was the best finishing series I've yet seen on RUclips. I've been finishing for around forty years, starting with bike gas tanks and then trinket boxes and mostly thereafter my guitar builds. And I learned, with the same hard and often painful knocks along the way - ''' ...Tell me how I know?'' For sure. . My first sunburst paint finish was on a Flying V that I had to repair after a serious migrain-fuelled bout of 'Pete Townsend' Tourettes... That was the learning curve. The second was a sad Sunn/Musicman jazz bass, which I sealed using hand-brushed automotive grey undercoat - over a plywood body; the neck was maple, but the previous owner had ripped-out the fret-wires with a crowbar... So, reluctantly, I removed the original (really lovely) rosewood fretboard and fitted a stunning coal-black ebony slab, which remained fretless. . The final 800-2000 wet-o-dry stage prior to the top coat, I actualy undertook in the bath (the whole guitar) - naked... Yep, I actually sat in the bath with my bass and spent a couple of hours (with frequent hot-top-ups and the SO making me cups of tea...) cutting back the undercoat, listening to WYWH and Echoes... After which, the guitar was silky smooth... However, my skin was not and I had a grey tide mark around my middrift and 'parts' and the bath 0!0 But hey! If you're passionate about your work eh...? The final finish was a silk-matt (gunmetal) over the entire body and neck. I finished-off with a carbon-fibre control plate and fittings are gold/brass hardware and brass rod side-fret markers, with a phos-bronze nut. The ebony fretboard came-up like glass... Electronics incorporated an active parametric and low Z pups. Stanley Clarke anyone? . Ultmately what I learned, as Chris rammed-home here, *preparation is all,* if you want a great looking guitar without breaking the bank balance. And most of my work is still done by hand, though for some reason my right arm is exactly the same size as it was forty years ago. . So everything in this series really resonated with me. WELL DONE DRIFTWOOD & STEWMAC! That was really enjoyable to watch.
That turned out great. Dan giving his approval says a lot. I'm really glad you chose that color. I was looking to find a blue like that. I appreciate how thorough this video series is. It is definitely going to help me on my projects. I will soon see if I'm sandbidextrous like Matt. Thanks
Best tip I learned was sanding the edge of the tape on the neck so not to pull finsh off ,that was just a amazing tip and will never forget ,very nice series really enjoyed it!!!
I am soooo glad I watched all 3 of these videos! 🙏🏻 I knew there was a lot of sanding involved, but had I not have seen this series, I probably would have been "finished" in 3 or 4 days not realising my dire mistakes. 😬😮💨 Thanks for saving me a major headache! 😂❤
Luv the show, don't stop. Gotta check your show too. Stew Mac customer way back and didn't know they had a channel. Finally got to see Dan. Thanks guys 😊.
It’s a video series like this that is the reason I’ve been a stewmac customer for over 15 years. You truly provide amazing value to your customers, with the products AND the content. Thank you StewMac
Absolutely Top Class series of videos. saw the first video was an hour and thought "I'll just skim through this". 3 hours later I am buzzing and will probably watch again from the start. Brilliant
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.
well worth the time to view and the hints techniques were spot on. Stew Mac always has the best supplies tools and as with these fellows the best in instruction. 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!
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
This series is perfect for all levels of experience, but definitively will instill the confidence for the first timers! I liked how he slipped in, not to go crazy on areas the eye doesn't eventually see (under the pickguard).
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!
I do prefer to wet sand with a sponge, not only is it lighter to the touch but when flattened creates that suction feedback to let you know the peel is knocked down. I do soak the whole sandpaper in water. Commercially sure i can see the Festool, but for demo purposes to a DIY crowd i probably would have shown wet sanding by hand. Having said that, great series, you guys all did a nice job and methodically took your time. And the “oops” moments are invaluable for encouragement!
Great job, guys! This video series is really impressive work. While most of us will never build an acoustic guitar, virtually everyone can build an electric guitar kit and follow these instructions to get a great finish. Thanks Chris and Matt!
Finished the series. A LOT more work than I thought it would be honestly. I don't mind the time, and I do have sanders and most of the supplies, but wowza! 3 polishing compounds, lost count on how many wet sands, 15 coats of clear coat, etc. All the dry sanding. I'm just staining mine and clear coat. Thanks for the full monte on doing a spray coat like this!!! I guess my guitar won't be ready soon, but I'll get there!
I’m working on the exact same guitar. Having assembled my first build with a body that was pre-finished on an LP kit, this is very challenging. Hardest part is the paint as I’m doing it in a garage with the doors open and a mask on. I have much more respect for Luthiers to say the least. Thanks for the outstanding videos!
Watched all three episodes of this series. Very informative and the step by step instructions should help anyone....even if they are using HVLP. Well done!
These videos are fantastic. Chris and Matt, you guys should open a school. Thank you so much for adding the mistakes and showing us how to correct them along the way. I hope you can do more videos for StewMac
I worked at Collings guitars doing the acoustic nitro finish for a few years after I got out of luthier school. This is almost exactly the way we did it there. Great video!
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 beautiful. Been a pleasure watching I decided to upgrade and refinish my Squier Strat so I watched intently and did what you did I'm waiting for the finish to harden off before final sand and buff. I already love it. I got the same loaded pick guard so I was elated to hear her tone. Thank you it's been magic..
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
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
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 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!
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 🤙
This series is so much better than trying to go through any book on finishing in my opinion.
Excellent series! I watched every gratifying minute. Would love to see the same process with stain!
Great suggestion!
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
I just wanted to say that the Driftwood Guitars guys did an amazing job on this. You guys could literally have your own TV show!
This is why I love woodworking. I've been doing this for over a decade now, and have built a lot of guitars, and I still learned from this series. Woodworking is one of those things where if you stop learning, you need to move one. There's so much to learn and everyone does it different.
The best finishing tutorials on finishing a guitar that I have seen. There are many steps I have done as well as missed. Take your time is one of the best. Thanks for producing this video
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 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
Hey guys. Just want to say thank you for posting this video. You literally inspired me to build and paint my own guitar. I have 6 already. This would be my first build. So why not go big or go home. I got my hands on a double neck guitar kit and after watching this video. That guitar is absolutely amazing looking. I wish there is a way to show you guys a picture. Thank you again
Excellent presentation. Something tells me that Matt is more than competent in real life, but I enjoyed the banter, and showing us how to recover from errors is priceless.
Well, that’s a lot of patience and work which provide a lot of reward.
That tip for sanding the edges of the tape before removing it from the fretboard is SO good. I'm always paranoid at that point in the process and will definitely be doing that in the future. Thanks!
Watched this series of videos quite a lot recently as I was applying aerosol finish for the first time. Finished the buff and waxed it yesterday and I have to say the advice and guidance outlined in these videos was invaluable! I'm pretty happy about how it turned out. Many many wet sands!
"Oh, so that's what I was doing wrong..." I said to myself over a dozen times. Great work guys, keep it up.
I’ve done five builds/refin’s from the ground up and kinda thought I knew what I was doing. But as they quoted/joked at the beginning, “you gon’ learn today!”
I learned a lot with each of my previous projects, and yes, some of it was by trial and error AND learning how to correct those errors (after trying not to cry or destroying the whole piece out of frustration). I learned SO much during this series and I can hardly wait to apply this new knowledge to the next build.
I guess it’s true that “you don’t know what you don’t know” …until you learn it.
Many of the lessons taught in this series, I can truly say “OMG, been there, done that, already made that mistake”. Now I’ve learned some smart techniques on how to avoid certain pitfalls and make better builds smarter and easier than before.
Patience is the biggie!
Thanks Chris, Matt and Stewmac!
FANTASTIC!!! Thank you so much for doing this. My anxiety about not really knowing what to do is gone! Now I can start the journey of finishing my Strat!
Allways a treat when Matt and Chris do a vid, lovely to see Dan so enthusiastic about the results.
This guide is by far the best
"Paint Your Guitar Guide" out there.
Thanks guys great work
Matt has such a great attitude for a learner, that patience is awesome!
StewMac and Driftwood Guitars, awesome collaboration. Thank you for the in depth tutorial.
This 3 part video series provides a professional sequential finish process explained & demonstrated well. So much of the finish process on the solid body electric guitar can be applied to other aspects of wood finishing in general as well. Good job, enjoyed the humor, appreciated the depth of why & how. Thanks to Dan, Stew-Mac, Chris & Matt.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Having watched all 3 in this series, it is Soooo very refreshing that an excellent craftsman is also an excellent teacher. Mahalo nui loa for the posts.
This is your best video - Thank you
So nice of you. Thanks!
Fantastic job! With all the work that it took to get a "factory finish" I have much more respect for the quality that the manufacturers to produce and how affordable their guitars are. Keep up the good work.
...quality the the manufacturers are able to produce...
Thanks guys. This series is the best of seen by a country mile.
Awesome series guys! I got so much out of the information. But what was really awesome was how you delivered it. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with you.
Thank you.
Absolutely loved this demonstration on painting guitars with aerosol paint...I've never seen such an entertaining in-depth tutorial with so much information that covers mistakes and how to fix them down to the tactile nuances that are so important to the development of this skill...I have tried to paint guitars with aerosols a couple of times and now know why I failed at them. What I've learned is that Patience and Knowledge ( the actual science behind the process) are paramount to success...Hats off to Matt for being all of us want to be guitar painting professionals in this process. I have a feeling that he is much more astute than he portrayed in this video...You the Man Matt!!! You guys have inspired me to give it another go...Chris and Matt, Thank You So Much!!! And also StewMac for the platform and being a repository for all the parts and tools of us guitar mad enthusiasts!!!
On Thanksgiving Day I sat down to start the three part video on aerosol guitar finishing and had to go all the way through. Best how to video I've ever seen, hands down. I am just starting to try my hand at building/repairing after 50 (!) years of playing, 40 years full time. Thanks for your clear, concise, fun and really instructional videos. I've just subscribed and look forward to more. You're never too old to learn something.
Glad you like it, and it's awesome you're getting in to it and still willing to learn! Kudos to you, never too old and we're always here to help! Thanks!
I've only recently entered into the luthier space and this is the absolute best series of videos I've seen on the topic. Crazy good. The comments have also been super helpful. Thank you so much! I thank you, and my clients thank you!
Thank you...and welcome to the world of lutherie!
Just the right touch with a mechanical device for sanding and buffing is scary to me. You guys are awesome 😎
Thanks!
I have wanted to refinish my guitar for some time, but I was afraid to attempt it. Other videos that I watched on RUclips were unclear or confusion and left me more reluctant to try it. Other videos that I watched were clearly done by people that were just winging it and didn't really know what they were doing. But this video series was excellent and demystified the process breaking it down into the step 1, step2, step 3 process that anyone can follow. I am so impressed with these videos that I would like to download them so I will have them for reference. Great job guys, and thank you for the instruction. After watching these I feel confident that I can move forward and attempt to refinish my guitar.
The amount of details you two packed into these videos is impressive. Thanks for the videos guys!
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?
Tremendous job guys! Thank you so much for bringing Chris and Matt up to do this series. Really inspiring!
The best diy video in the guitar industry so far...congratulations..!!
Really incredible series. You guys did a wonderful job articulating ALL of the intricate details necessary to make finishing a positive experience! Thank you to Stew Mac for their organization of this resource and for the awesome work that they do in supporting us luthiers to help us succeed at our craft, their incredible selection of tools and products and second to none customer service.
This series is a gem
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!
Thats got to be one of the most in depth guitar finishing courses i have ever seen, learned a ton, and you have convinced me to give it a go. Thank you
I hope I can find all of Dans old videos too, like way back to VHS TAPES, this series is awesome , thank you all !!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for this - it’s life-changing. I’ve built a few partscasters so far, and my aim is to create my own professional works of art. There’s nothing else out there like this demonstration, so you probably saved me a year or more time of research, and trial & error. Thank you ☕️
honestly ive never enjoyed sponsored content this much. well done.
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!
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 think that was the best finishing series I've yet seen on RUclips. I've been finishing for around forty years, starting with bike gas tanks and then trinket boxes and mostly thereafter my guitar builds. And I learned, with the same hard and often painful knocks along the way - ''' ...Tell me how I know?'' For sure.
.
My first sunburst paint finish was on a Flying V that I had to repair after a serious migrain-fuelled bout of 'Pete Townsend' Tourettes... That was the learning curve. The second was a sad Sunn/Musicman jazz bass, which I sealed using hand-brushed automotive grey undercoat - over a plywood body; the neck was maple, but the previous owner had ripped-out the fret-wires with a crowbar... So, reluctantly, I removed the original (really lovely) rosewood fretboard and fitted a stunning coal-black ebony slab, which remained fretless.
.
The final 800-2000 wet-o-dry stage prior to the top coat, I actualy undertook in the bath (the whole guitar) - naked... Yep, I actually sat in the bath with my bass and spent a couple of hours (with frequent hot-top-ups and the SO making me cups of tea...) cutting back the undercoat, listening to WYWH and Echoes... After which, the guitar was silky smooth... However, my skin was not and I had a grey tide mark around my middrift and 'parts' and the bath 0!0 But hey! If you're passionate about your work eh...? The final finish was a silk-matt (gunmetal) over the entire body and neck. I finished-off with a carbon-fibre control plate and fittings are gold/brass hardware and brass rod side-fret markers, with a phos-bronze nut. The ebony fretboard came-up like glass... Electronics incorporated an active parametric and low Z pups. Stanley Clarke anyone?
.
Ultmately what I learned, as Chris rammed-home here, *preparation is all,* if you want a great looking guitar without breaking the bank balance. And most of my work is still done by hand, though for some reason my right arm is exactly the same size as it was forty years ago.
.
So everything in this series really resonated with me. WELL DONE DRIFTWOOD & STEWMAC! That was really enjoyable to watch.
That turned out great. Dan giving his approval says a lot. I'm really glad you chose that color. I was looking to find a blue like that. I appreciate how thorough this video series is. It is definitely going to help me on my projects. I will soon see if I'm sandbidextrous like Matt. Thanks
This was incredible info! Driftwood really came correct with all of their knowledge. I got so many tips and techniques to help my finishes. Wow!!!!!
Best tip I learned was sanding the edge of the tape on the neck so not to pull finsh off ,that was just a amazing tip and will never forget ,very nice series really enjoyed it!!!
I am soooo glad I watched all 3 of these videos! 🙏🏻 I knew there was a lot of sanding involved, but had I not have seen this series, I probably would have been "finished" in 3 or 4 days not realising my dire mistakes. 😬😮💨 Thanks for saving me a major headache! 😂❤
Great, Great, Great StewMac videos. Thanks to Driftwood Guitars ....... so cool
Luv the show, don't stop. Gotta check your show too. Stew Mac customer way back and didn't know they had a channel. Finally got to see Dan. Thanks guys 😊.
Without any doubt the best video on the subject and it comes as I am fixing a dent in one of my partscaster. Thank you so much very informative.
It’s a video series like this that is the reason I’ve been a stewmac customer for over 15 years. You truly provide amazing value to your customers, with the products AND the content. Thank you StewMac
Chris is great at describing what he is doing and why. He needs his own show! Thanks for these videos!
Absolutely Top Class series of videos. saw the first video was an hour and thought "I'll just skim through this". 3 hours later I am buzzing and will probably watch again from the start. Brilliant
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 has been a great series.
well worth the time to view and the hints techniques were spot on. Stew Mac always has the best supplies tools and as with these fellows the best in instruction. Thanks
Great to hear! Thanks!
I learn every time from your videos; thank you so much from sharing these with us.
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!
wow i just finished three videos.. what can i say.. you are very articulate and very detailed on explaining things..
Thanks StewMac and Driftwood Guitars for the school, much appreciated.
That's what I call Quality work! Well worth the time spent watching this!
Watched all 3 episodes in one sitting......wow that was so helpful guys !!! Thanks
That is so great to hear... thanks!
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.
By far the most valuable presentation on finishing. What a delight to hear expert experience speak.
Thanks so much!
This is the best DIY finishing video series on youtube. Great job!
Wow, blown away by that finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This series is perfect for all levels of experience, but definitively will instill the confidence for the first timers! I liked how he slipped in, not to go crazy on areas the eye doesn't eventually see (under the pickguard).
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.
Trying to find a way to give more than one thumbs up. GREAT series and learned so much. Thanks!!!
Thanks!! We are so glad to hear that!
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.
I do prefer to wet sand with a sponge, not only is it lighter to the touch but when flattened creates that suction feedback to let you know the peel is knocked down. I do soak the whole sandpaper in water. Commercially sure i can see the Festool, but for demo purposes to a DIY crowd i probably would have shown wet sanding by hand. Having said that, great series, you guys all did a nice job and methodically took your time. And the “oops” moments are invaluable for encouragement!
Great job, guys! This video series is really impressive work. While most of us will never build an acoustic guitar, virtually everyone can build an electric guitar kit and follow these instructions to get a great finish. Thanks Chris and Matt!
Finished the series. A LOT more work than I thought it would be honestly. I don't mind the time, and I do have sanders and most of the supplies, but wowza! 3 polishing compounds, lost count on how many wet sands, 15 coats of clear coat, etc. All the dry sanding.
I'm just staining mine and clear coat. Thanks for the full monte on doing a spray coat like this!!! I guess my guitar won't be ready soon, but I'll get there!
Great job, Matt, for being such a good sport. Your mistakes are the same ones I know I’d make and so it shows me what to watch for.
I’m just honored to be a part of this! Thanks for watching.
I’m working on the exact same guitar. Having assembled my first build with a body that was pre-finished on an LP kit, this is very challenging. Hardest part is the paint as I’m doing it in a garage with the doors open and a mask on. I have much more respect for Luthiers to say the least. Thanks for the outstanding videos!
Watched all three episodes of this series. Very informative and the step by step instructions should help anyone....even if they are using HVLP. Well done!
Thanks!
Awesome. The best finish walkthrough on RUclips. Easy.
This will now be my ‘go to’ set of videos when I need to spay my next guitar. Great advice and information.
Pete Towers
Fingers crossed this becomes a regular collaboration!!!
As always, good information from StewMac
Terrific series and great job, Chris and Matt! High praises from Mr E.
Much appreciated!
These videos are fantastic. Chris and Matt, you guys should open a school. Thank you so much for adding the mistakes and showing us how to correct them along the way. I hope you can do more videos for StewMac
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.
I worked at Collings guitars doing the acoustic nitro finish for a few years after I got out of luthier school. This is almost exactly the way we did it there. Great video!
The moment of truth, the sound check. You did a fantastic job, guys!
Best video ever. Thanks guys. Watched it three times. Working on a speaker build and want that piano finish.
Excellent job of detailing descriptions!
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 beautiful. Been a pleasure watching I decided to upgrade and refinish my Squier Strat so I watched intently and did what you did I'm waiting for the finish to harden off before final sand and buff. I already love it. I got the same loaded pick guard so I was elated to hear her tone. Thank you it's been magic..
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.
Great series, really well-produced and edited.
Much appreciated!
Dan is the man! Good job guys! Guitar looks amazing!
At last!!....a consise informative step by step method for applying a finish...thankyou so much...😎
Excellent series, great camera angles and practical wisdom, thanks for creating this and really getting into the details on this.
Thanks for the comment, Carla!