Create A Stunning Maple Sunburst Guitar Finish

The sunburst finish on a guitar is a beautiful and iconic look, and it is quite achievable for anyone to do it themselves. The sunburst design was originally conceived to imitate an aged French polish finish, as seen on vintage violins. There are many ways to achieve this finish, and one of the most popular methods involves stripping the finish and using a veneer of maple. The veneer is glued to the body of the guitar, and then the back and sides are sprayed with a dark lacquer or black. The maple areas are masked off, and then a yellow aniline dye is sprayed on, creating a distinct golden hue. To finish, a transitional colour like tobacco is applied to create a beautiful 3-tone burst effect. However, it is important to note that maple generally does not take stain very well and can look splotchy, so extra care is needed when attempting this finish.

Prepare the guitar's surface by stripping the finish and sanding it down

To prepare the guitar's surface, you will need to strip the finish and sand it down. This process will ensure that the guitar is ready for the new sunburst finish. Here are the steps you can follow:

Firstly, you will need to remove the existing finish. This can be done using a product like Nitromors, which will help you strip the finish down to the wood. Be careful not to damage the wood during this process, and ensure that you are working in a well-ventilated area as these chemicals can be strong.

Once the finish is removed, you will need to sand the guitar body. Start with a medium-grit sandpaper, around 150-grit, to smooth out the wood and remove any remaining finish or imperfections. Be careful not to sand too aggressively, especially if your guitar has a veneer maple top, as it is typically very thin (1mm or less) towards the edges. You don't want to sand through the veneer.

After the initial sanding, move to a finer grit sandpaper, such as 220-grit or higher. This will help you achieve an even smoother surface. Take your time with this step, as a smooth and well-prepared surface is key to achieving a great sunburst finish.

Once you're happy with the smoothness of the surface, you can move on to the next step of preparing the guitar for the new finish. This may include further steps such as sealing the wood or applying a base coat, depending on the specific sunburst technique you plan to use.

It's important to note that this is a general guide, and the specific steps may vary depending on the type of guitar you have and the finish you are aiming for. Always do your research and, if possible, consult a professional or detailed guides before beginning the stripping and sanding process.

Apply a base coat of clear lacquer or amber/yellow lacquer

To apply a base coat of clear or amber/yellow lacquer to your guitar, you will first need to prepare the guitar. If your guitar has a veneer maple top, be careful not to sand through it when preparing the surface. If your guitar already has a finish, you will need to sand it down and ensure the surface is clean before applying the lacquer.

Once the guitar surface is prepared, you can begin to apply the lacquer. If you are using a clear lacquer, you can apply it directly to the sanded surface of the guitar. If you are using an amber or yellow lacquer, you will need to mix the lacquer with a dye first. To do this, you can use alcohol-soluble yellow aniline dye powder dissolved in isopropyl alcohol with a dash of acetone. Filter this mixture through a 190-micron paint strainer and add it to the clear lacquer.

When you are ready to apply the lacquer, mask off any parts of the guitar that you do not want to be covered in lacquer, such as the sides, body, and fretboard. Place the guitar on a solid workbench, face up. Start spraying the lacquer lightly, using even arm movements to ensure even coverage. Do not try to cover the guitar in one go, as this will create an uneven finish.

After applying the first coat of lacquer, you may need to sand it lightly and apply a second coat for a smoother finish. You can then level the coats with sandpaper, such as 320-grit paper, to get rid of any orange peel texture. Finally, you can buff the finish with car polish for a smooth, shiny surface.

Mask off the centre and spray the edges with a darker colour

To achieve a sunburst effect on a guitar, you can start by applying a couple of sealer coats and sanding them to ensure a flat surface. Next, mask off the centre of the guitar body, including the fretboard, using painter's masking tape. For a Les Paul guitar, you can use the tape to cover the binding tightly. When masking the face of the guitar, ensure the cardboard mask sits about half an inch above the face so that the edge coat will feather in slightly.

Once the centre is masked off, you can begin spraying the edges with a darker colour. It is recommended to start with a darker lacquer or black and spray the back and sides of the guitar. You can then apply an amber lacquer by spraying lightly with even arm movements to achieve an even coverage, feathering in from the edges. Avoid trying to cover the guitar all at once, as this may lead to running stains and additional repairs.

At this stage, you should see a nice transition from the amber to the darker edge. To complete the sunburst effect, you can finish with a transitional colour, such as tobacco, to achieve a beautiful three-tone burst. This final step can be done freehand or by using a teardrop mask in the centre and spraying outwards.

Apply a wood grain filler to enhance the maple's natural grain

Maple is a closed-grain wood, which means it is smooth to the touch and does not require wood grain filler to create a flat and even surface. However, if you want to enhance the maple's natural grain, you can try the following steps:

First, check the product label of your chosen wood grain filler to see if you need to add a thinning agent to the paste. If you want to colour only the pores of the wood, you can use a clear or natural oil, such as linseed oil diluted with paint thinner. This will give the wood an even wash of colour. If you want to accentuate the grain, you can use a darkly tinted commercial paste filler, thinning it with paint thinner, benzine, or naphtha to a heavy cream consistency.

Next, apply the filler to the surface of the wood using a brush or a small plastic spreader, pushing the filler into the grain and pores of the wood. Make sure to apply it evenly.

Once the filler is dry, use sandpaper to remove the excess filler from the non-porous areas of the wood. The remaining filler will highlight the grain. Finally, wipe the surface of the wood with a tack cloth to remove any dust, and apply a finish coat.

It is important to note that using wood grain filler is not necessary on maple, and it may be more difficult to achieve an even finish compared to open-grained woods.

Finish with a clear top coat and level sand for a smooth finish

Once you've achieved the maple sunburst colour you want, it's time to apply a clear top coat and level sand for a smooth finish.

First, ensure your guitar is free of dust and debris. Paint and top coats do not adhere well to dust, so use a tack cloth to wipe down the guitar and make sure all dust has been removed. Next, apply the clear top coat. You can do this by spraying a light mist coat over the whole guitar. Don't worry about getting it too thick—the goal here is just to get a base coat of clear to bond with the colour coats. Wait five minutes and then apply your regular coats of clear over the whole instrument.

After the last clear coat has been applied, let it dry for another hour. Now comes the hard part: waiting. You must wait at least two weeks before continuing with the next steps. Hang the guitar somewhere warm and dry and leave it alone. If you continue too soon, you may have to strip the guitar of its finish and start over. After two weeks, if the guitar still smells like lacquer, the finish hasn't cured, so wait until the smell goes away.

Now it's time to level sand. Start with 600-grit sandpaper and work in small areas using circular motions. Use very light pressure and always use some sort of sanding block or backer for the sandpaper to avoid creating uneven pressure and causing your finish to look wavy. You can make a block out of wood, buy a rubber block, or even cut a sanding block out of an old flip-flop. With each finer grit, you're removing the scratches left by the previous paper. Once the finish is level with 600-grit paper, repeat the process with 800-grit. Work your way up until you reach 1500-grit. Change your sandpaper often and look for "loading" or blobs on the paper, as these can leave deep scratches that will be hard to remove.

Frequently asked questions