Fun with my KE3

[levantin]

Hey all. For the past few years my beater guitar has been a 96 KE3. The bridge and hardware is stock and has never given me any problems. The pickups are Duncan JB and Jazz. This guitar has a really unique tone, it's heavier than my KE1 and has a really solid feel to it. It has it's fair share of battle scars as well.

I don't think I'll ever sell this one so I figured "what the hell, I'll paint it!" This is my first mod ever so go easy on me . I got some silver sparkle paint and masked off the bevels. I hit the bevels with some sandpaper to remove the clear coat. I realised I know jack about sanding a guitar Then I hit the bevels with the silver paint. I gave it 2 coats and the sanded down. Here are the mandatory before and after pics:

Before with big brother:



After:





It looks good up to about a foot away but it's still rough and needs some attention and maybe another coat or two. Now how do I clear coat this f*!ker? Any suggestions for further mods? I'd really like to refin the entire thing and do it properly but this was fun anyway.

[thunderhead]

Looks OK bro but why dont you paint it neon-pink??







At least the bevels

[DonP]

Now how do I clear coat this f*!ker?

Ummm....I'd guess get a can of clear and spray it?

Any suggestions for further mods?

It may be just me, but that rosewood just doesn't look right. Get some black ebony stain from Stew-mac and change the fretboard to black.

[levantin]

Looks OK bro but why dont you paint it neon-pink??

Hmmm. How about not?

Ummm....I'd guess get a can of clear and spray it?It may be just me, but that rosewood just doesn't look right. Get some black ebony stain from Stew-mac and change the fretboard to black.

It's actually pretty dark in person, the camera flash makes it look that brown. The first pic is slightly more accurate.

To clarify the clear q, should I shoot the whole guitar or just the bevels? I have no experience in sanding and buffing so this is going to be a bit difficult

[jimmbo118]

It looks good up to about a foot away but it's still rough and needs some attention and maybe another coat or two. Now how do I clear coat this f*!ker? Any suggestions for further mods? I'd really like to refin the entire thing and do it properly but this was fun anyway.

Yep, I'd shoot it w/clear. Just make SURE that you use a compatible clear. If you used Krylon paint...use krylon clear.Tape it off. Shoot 3-4 thin coats of clear, take the tape off, wait a week or two for it to harden,then wet sand and polish. BTW, if DID use Krylon or Duplicolor or like, be REAL careful about putting the guitar on a guitar stand that has the foam rubber protective cushions. These cushions HATE that paint and WILL melt the new finish!

[Newc]

Krylon clear can take up to 6 months to fully cure, depending on the thickness. If the paint you used is Glossy, it's got clearcoat in it already, so a thin top coat of clear just to have it is fine, but not needed.

[NextInLine]

Orospu ettin gitarı Lev hahaha

[MartinBarre]

I'd mask off the guitar again and like the others say, a few coats of clear lacquer. Then use varying thicknesses of wet/dry paper to get the finish smooth and shiny again.

It looks like you did a decent job - I'd have used white myself but if you like it that's all that matters.

[VitaminG]

that looks tight, Lev. I dig the silver bevels

[levantin]

Thanks for the comments and advice guys. I'll see what I can do about clearing it.

[Robert Hendrix]

Looks good man.. Kinda reminds me of a Paul Stanley guitar I'd seen before.