Editing a guitar is a fun way to customize your instrument. Stand out from the crowd by decorating its body and adding special parts and accessories to get a truly unique electric or acoustic guitar to suit your style.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Decorating the Guitar Body
Step 1. Paint it
Disassemble it carefully to color the body or other elements that you can safely paint with a spray product. Add decorations or apply a solid color paint; he then finishes the job with a coat of guitar polish, to obtain a glossy and professional finish.
- It is important to sand the entire body of the guitar before painting it, using sandpaper and an emery block, to smooth the surface and allow the color to adhere.
- It is worth applying a coat of primer before applying the final paint. Add several layers of product to get a uniform color and the hue you want.
- Remember that painting, especially if you plan to color the whole body of the guitar, should only be done on electric guitars that have a solid body. Hollow-case instruments, such as acoustic guitars, are more sensitive to changes in the wood and run a greater risk of getting stained inside as well.
Step 2. Add stickers or decals
Attach as many as you want to the body of an electric instrument or the case of an acoustic one, to give it more character, color or just as an affirmation of your personality.
- Remember that most standard adhesives leave a sticky residue and may even take the polish or paint off the guitar; you must be sure you want them permanently on the tool before applying them.
- You can purchase decals that look like tattoos. It is best to sprinkle a layer of polish on top of them to make them shiny and even with the rest of the guitar.
Step 3. Trace the drawings or writings with the pens
Sketch an impromptu drawing or use a stencil to create decorations, images, or words that you can use on the guitar with markers, pens, or paint markers.
- Remember that most markers and pens are indelible. Prepare a pencil sketch with a light stroke before using the colored ones; you may also be able to wash off some of the ink with denatured alcohol.
- Try adding your signature to the guitar as a personal touch.
- You can also make the work more brilliant by applying small gems or glitter with wood glue.
Step 4. Add colored profiles or threads
Choose those stickers, colored or decorated, which are easy to apply, instead of the ones already existing on the edges of the tool. These are thin strips of plastic or wood that are placed on each edge of the guitar's body.
The "stock" profiles are usually white or a neutral wood color, but the fillets can have a herringbone pattern, be colored or have other decorations
Part 2 of 3: Adding Custom Parts
Step 1. Purchase some stickers for the keyboard blocks
Find an alternative to keys made from stone or mother of pearl by purchasing stickers that really look like these materials. They can be applied without difficulty under the strings and fingers.
- Try on stickers of different shapes, decorations or personalize each button with different words.
- Carefully remove the strings, clean and dry the surface of the fingerboard and place each sticker in the center of the frets to glue it.
- You can also buy headstock stickers to personalize with your name, just like a famous musician!
Step 2. Fit a truly unique pickguard
Choose one with a fun color, shape or decoration. This piece is intended to protect the surface of the guitar from pick scratches, but it can be a very decorative and customizable item.
It's easier to mount a new one on an instrument that doesn't yet have it, but you can also replace the existing pickguard by carefully detaching it. To do this, you need to use a bridge remover and heat from a lamp
Step 3. Look for colored strings and knobs
Replace the strings you are using and the volume dials with colored replacements or with different finishes.
- Remember not to sacrifice product quality when making these changes. Use strings of the same diameter and the same type of nylon or steel (or choose something of better quality), otherwise you will get a completely different sound and feel.
- Electric guitars offer more possibilities to customize the knobs, because you can replace those on the front of the instrument with spare parts of different shapes and materials. Just check that your guitar has solid or split shaft knobs before purchasing replacement parts.
Step 4. Fit new pins to the bridge
Replace these "poles" that secure the strings to the guitar bridge by purchasing other details with elements in mother-of-pearl, bone, brass or other colored or shiny materials.
Pins made of bone and wood can also change and improve the sound quality
Step 5. Change the coatings of the pickups
If you have an electric guitar that allows this modification, try fitting upholstery with new colors or finishes.
All you need is a screwdriver to change the removable pickup covers; they are available in a huge variety of colors and finishes to match the guitar according to your wishes
Part 3 of 3: Customize the Guitar with other Accessories
Step 1. Purchase a new case or make your own
Protect and carry your musical instrument in style using a hard or soft case. Alternatively, you can easily make a soft one out of fabric, batting, and using a sewing machine.
- If you are skilled at woodworking and have access to the tools you need to cut and shape your guitar case, you can build a rigid one.
- If you opt for this solution, make sure there is not too much free space inside the case, to prevent the guitar from being shaken and damaged, but at the same time not too compressed.
Step 2. Decorate the current case
Try to make the old one more lively with some details that express your personality and style.
- On a soft model you can sew and iron on patches, make embroidery or attach buttons or borders.
- On the rigid model you can glue stickers, add drawings with pen or paints or replace the buckles and other metal elements with spare parts of a different material or color.
- You can also try to customize the inner lining of any case, by hand sewing or gluing new fabric with fun and original colors or patterns. Just make sure the guitar still fits snugly in the case, despite the extra fabric.
Step 3. Purchase a new shoulder strap
This element allows you to add a splash of color or a particular style to the overall appearance of the instrument. Choose a wide, well-made one to be durable and comfortable.
You can also make one with any piece of sturdy fabric and the right attachments to connect it to the guitar; alternatively, improve the current shoulder strap by wrapping it with new fabric
Step 4. Find some really original picks
In this way, you can express your style or improve the appearance of the guitar. Look for a luthier or musical instrument stores that make custom picks or build some very special and out of the ordinary ones.
You can also build them yourself using a specific hole punch that shapes any hard plastic (or suitable material) into the right shape
Warnings
- Consult an experienced luthier or someone who has a deep understanding of the type and brand of your guitar before making any irreversible changes and alterations. Let a professional take apart and reassemble the parts if you don't know exactly how to proceed.
- Remember that paints, pens, markers and even stickers can represent irreversible changes or leave permanent marks on your musical instrument! Don't risk ruining an expensive guitar with decorations without first evaluating and designing them, because you won't be able to get rid of them.
