Touch up paint for this brown Stringmaster?

Jim Rossen · Post by **Jim Rossen** » 24 May 2023 6:00 pm

Anyone know of suitable brushable touchup paint for this 1960s guitar?
Thanks.
Jim.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 24 May 2023 10:39 pm

Trial and error since the cap color is hardly ever the actual color of the paint. Go to WalMart in the crafts section. They have little bottles for not much money. Try it on a test surface and if the brown is too dark, keep stirring in tiny amounts of white till it suits you.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 25 May 2023 7:35 am

It looks great, leave it alone

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 25 May 2023 9:02 am

In my experience (and perhaps I’m just not very good at it) touching up little nicks never fails to disappoint. It’s not just the colour that needs to match, but the texture of the surface as well. That guitar looks lovely as it is.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 May 2023 10:20 am

Jim,
Pull up www.reranch.com
That's where I get all my refinishing supplies.

Erv

Andy Gibson · Post by **Andy Gibson** » 25 May 2023 11:27 am

Don’t do it! Not only will you devalue the instrument but you’re dealing with nitro cellulose lacquer. Walmart doesn’t carry nitro lacquer! I can’t believe someone on here even recommends that… .You’ll definitely lose money on that guitar putting Walmart paint on it. Leave it alone, the next person that owns it, in the future, will appreciate that. And patching up those spots even with the proper lacquer will take an expert to blend it in.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 May 2023 11:30 am

All Guitar Reranch paints are nitro cellulose lacquer and they have all the Fender colors.
I wouldn't even consider Walmart
Erv

Andy Gibson · Post by **Andy Gibson** » 25 May 2023 11:41 am

You can get nitro at allot of places. Sherwin Williams carry’s it. That’s where gibson gets their lacquer. there’s also Stew Mac they have nitro touch up pens that are awesome! But only come in a few colors. Behlen is the best right now and has a website you can order from direct or they have an eBay page too. Erv’s giving you a good place to go too but like I said, you gotta be real good at spraying and sanding nitro to blend that in good. It ain’t easy. Trust me, not worth your time. Spend that time practicing instead. In fact, we should all spend this time practicing instead of looking at this shit. I get sucked in every time I look at this forum. I just wasted 8 minutes of my life I’ll never get back now. Hahaha

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 25 May 2023 11:57 am

You didn't waste 8 minutes, I enjoyed it.........hey, maybe instead of practicing steel, practice typing faster??? Just trying to help. I also thought it was funny, A GIBSON, trying to fix a FENDER

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 25 May 2023 12:16 pm

Erv Niehaus wrote:Jim,
Pull up www.reranch.com
That's where I get all my refinishing supplies.
Erv

ReRanch has (had?) good stuff. However, they seem to have gone kaput. When is the last time you ordered from ReRanch, Erv? For more than a year, I keep getting the following message every time I try to order:

We are closed to build inventory and try to stay safe. We will be back when things start moving back to "normal". Check back and Thanks, Bill and Glenda...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 May 2023 1:09 pm

Jack,
It's been a while but their web site is still up.
Erv

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 25 May 2023 1:21 pm

Take a look at these lacquer touch up pens from stewmac. I know it's hard to make a comparison from a photo, but these work really well for minor scratches and dings provided the color works for you.

They also sell a variety of stains in larger quantities.

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-a ... up-marker/

Jim Rossen · Post by **Jim Rossen** » 25 May 2023 4:41 pm

I think this is a 1960s guitar, and I've heard the finish referred to as "poly". It doesn't look like nitrocellulose.
Jim

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 25 May 2023 5:10 pm

Cartwright Thompson wrote:...leave it alone

Andy Gibson wrote:Don’t do it!

Agree 100%.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 25 May 2023 6:51 pm

Excuse me for assuming (and I still think what the OP wanted) was to touch up a small ding in the quickest, least expensive way. I assure you I have finished and refinished dozens of instruments, using stain, sealer and nitrocellulose lacquer.
I don't think what he wanted was to have to take an apprenticeship with Furniture Finishers of America or Broyhill.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 26 May 2023 6:24 pm

Don't bother with lacquer... that is a poly finish. I'd just find the right color of walnut or 'dark' furniture crayon. Probably a '69 guitar judging by the bean keys.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 May 2023 7:23 pm

I’m in the “leave it alone” camp. It looks great… a lot better than most of the brown Stringmasters I’ve seen over the years.