painting a fingerboard

[art j64]

Hi folks,im going to repaint my old stagg fretless and would like paint the fretboard,has anyone done this?be grateful for any advice...art

[bertbass]

Midge Ure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukh0pq7oP4M

[lettsguitars]

You do know it will be useless afterwards right? All I will say is make sure you remove any old finish and prime it.

[EBS_freak]

Its good to know that painted fretboards have had years of letting myself, Larry Graham, Prince, Larry Graham down.

It's all down to what you "paint" your fingerboard with...

Ah yeah, painted fretboards also let a certain Jaco down too...

Edited December 17, 2012 by EBS_freak

[stingrayPete1977]

Check out ebs freaks white gb with blue leds in the white bass porn, useless you say letts? nah

[stingrayPete1977]

Wow weird!

[lettsguitars]

I think you are referring to painted fretted boards. As for Jaco and the like, they are all epoxy not paint. 'Paint' on a fretless WILL NOT WORK!!!!!

[stingrayPete1977]

Better send my painted board eub back then

[EBS_freak]

2 pack polyester paint will - Pedulla's do it on their fretless basses.

As an idea, you can paint your design and then apply a clear poly finish over the top to give you the hard paint finish you need.

[lettsguitars]

Painted? With paint? Really? I dont believe you.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1355789134' post='1902913']
Better send my painted board eub back then
[/quote]

Yes. Paint on a fretless WILL NOT WORK!!!

[stingrayPete1977]

sh*t and thomann have sold over a 1000 of them!

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1355789207' post='1902916']
Painted? With paint? Really? I dont believe you.
[/quote]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJHBIYEo

And it's a piccolo... watch those string literally strip the finish before your very eyes....

[stingrayPete1977]

So you could of said [quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1355786771' post='1902857']
You do know it will be useless afterwards right? All I will say is make sure you remove any old finish and prime it.then coat it with clear epoxy afterwards
[/quote]

?

[stingrayPete1977]

Still can't beleive we posted at 11.53 exactly!

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1355789349' post='1902920']


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJHBIYEo

And it's a piccolo... watch those string literally strip the finish before your very eyes....
[/quote]
Works ok on lefties only?

[brensabre79]

I think its down to what paint you use, and more importantly finishing it off in a very hard laquer/poly. For years I retold the story of Jack Bruce's Fender Bass VI, which had the fretboard painted and was useless for all but miming after that. But that was painted by someone who knows nothing about guitars.

If you're painting an open grain wood (like rosewood), you will need to fill the grain IMO before you paint. I would research the paint quite carefully and its compatibility with the finish coat. You could then finish it with clear Epoxy.

But all that said, personally I would not recommend it.

[art j64]

Thanks for the replies folks,my plan is to sand the board down,prime it,paint it,then put a hard laquer on top.See how it works out,if it goes belly up i wont be too upset its a cheap old bass that doesnt get much use.Just a little project for me while im not working(im bored!)

[Si600]

Why won't it work? Apart from the strings rubbing the paint off, which is only a cosmetic thing anyway.

Edited December 18, 2012 by Si600

[lettsguitars]

Worn paint won't make for a very nice playing surface. I must stand corrected the by the looks of it. Lots of people with painted fingerboards then. Oh dear.