New victim! 66 EB-2

[eb2]

What are you using as a primer? Bins?  That will whack bleed through.

[drbassman]

What are you using as a primer? Bins?  That will whack bleed through.

I'm using auto body acrylic lacquer.  The S&S is like armor.  Nothing will get through it and it fills sanding scratches from 320 and higher!  Should work well for this project.  I should have it ready for paint in about 2 weeks.

[eb2]

I used hot rod primer on a p-bass once, and actually liked working with it.  It was very thick and wet sanded out very easily, almost chalky to cut through, and the end result was very smooth.

[Barklessdog]

I was told by a vintage guitar guy once that never use auto primer or bondo on guitars. They are wood not metal.

I dont think it matters, but refinishers & builder stick to wood products except paint.

[eb2]

I had heard that as well, but I have run into enough people at the reranch who have used hot rod primer to offer it up.  And I had no problem with it at all.  Bondo is a problem as it does not react to humidity the same as wood, and will pop and crack.  Spot putty does do a good job for patching dings and nicks though. 

[Dave W]

I wouldn't use Bondo for the reason eb2 mentioned, but there's no reason not to use acrylic lacquer or primer.

[drbassman]

I use epoxy putty for small patching jobs on basses cuz it dries hard as a rock and is very stable when dry.  Also, it's made for use with wood.  I tried bondo once, just for grins, on a solid body and I didn't like the result at all.

As for auto paint, it's no different than what Fender has done for decades and the result can be beautiful!

[Dave W]

Exactly. For example (IIRC), Lake Placid Blue is an acrylic lacquer originally used on 1958 Cadillacs. All of the Fender metallic custom colors were acrylic auto lacquers, and all of the original Gibson Firebird colors (metallic and non-metallic) were too.

[shadowcastaz]

I used an Isuzu Inca blue a 'la spray can from a touch up auto body site.layed out and dried nice. I was nit sure what to use for a top coat though. any thoughts?

[drbassman]

My auto shop has a clear coat that matches/is compatible with their auto paints.  So, I'm using that.  Did you check into clear for your stuff?

[shadowcastaz]

No ,But i will.

[drbassman]

No ,But i will.

That's a good idea as nitro and some other acrylics may not be compatible with your inca base coat.