To paint a guitar, take off the strings and hardware, mask the fretboard and pickups, scuff the glossy finish with fine Angelus Wet Sandpaper, then brush or airbrush thin coats of Angelus Paint and seal it with Acrylic Finisher. Angelus Paint is flexible and comes in hundreds of mixable colors, so you can do anything from a solid color to full artwork. If you'd rather keep the wood grain showing, see our guitar dye guide instead.
We've been making paint in Los Angeles since 1907, and guitars, amps, and straps have become some of the coolest projects our customers send us. Here's how to give yours a look nobody else has.
Start here: what kind of guitar is it?
Quick answer: painting a guitar
- Remove strings, hardware, and the neck if you can.
- Mask the fretboard, pickups, and any parts you're keeping.
- Scuff the glossy finish until it's dull, then wipe off the dust.
- Build thin coats of Angelus Paint, drying between each.
- Seal with Acrylic Finisher and let it cure before restringing.
Why prep matters on a guitar
A guitar finish is slick like glass
Most factory guitars are sealed in a hard, glossy clear coat. That shine looks great, but paint can't grab onto it, the same way a sticker won't hold on a wet window. Scuffing the surface gives it a fine texture to grip, so your paint stays put through gigs, cases, and belt buckles.
The dull test
You're done scuffing when every spot you'll paint looks evenly dull, with no shiny patches left.
Scuff, don't strip
You don't need to sand down to bare wood for paint. A light, even scuff is enough.
Know the wear spots
Your forearm and belt rub the same places every time you play. Give them extra finisher.
The paint behind this guide
Angelus Paint
Flexible acrylic paint in hundreds of colors that all mix with each other. It brushes on smooth for artwork, or thins with 2-Thin for an airbrush.
4.9 stars from 13,900+ reviews
Shop paint colors
Seal it in
Angelus Acrylic Finisher
A clear topcoat that protects your paint from scratches, sweat, and handling. Pick matte, satin, or a glossy finish to match the look you want.
4.8 stars from 440+ reviews
Shop finishersShop this guide
Real reviews from Angelus customers
Musicians are using Angelus on guitars, amps, and straps
★★★★★
"Angelus paints are really a great product!! I‘m using the paints for a guitar build and they really look great!!"
Chris D. · Verified buyer · Pearlescent Pacific Blue
★★★★★
"I have a vintage, dark blue guitar amplifier. It had torn up corner with missing Tolex (vinyl)... painted with Angelus Navy Blue Leather paint. Worked great!"
Russell H. · Verified buyer · Navy Blue Paint
★★★★★
"With your prep, white acrylic paint and finisher, I changed the color of a tooled Eldorado Guitar strap. Came out great."
Michael P. · Verified buyer · Satin Finisher
How to paint a guitar, step by step
Take it apart
Remove the strings, knobs, pickguard, and any hardware you can. If your guitar has a bolt-on neck, take it off too, since it makes the body far easier to paint. Put the screws in labeled bags so reassembly is easy.
Mask what you're keeping
Cover the fretboard, pickups, jack, and any binding or parts you want to stay the original color with masking tape. Press the edges down firmly for crisp lines.
Scuff the glossy finish
Sand the areas you'll paint with fine Angelus Wet Sandpaper until the shine is gone and the surface looks evenly dull. Wipe off all the dust with a lint-free cloth. On slick finishes, a coat of a general adhesion promoter gives the paint even more grip.
Lay down a base coat
Brush on a thin base coat. For bright colors over a dark guitar, start with Angelus White Paint, so the colors on top stay vivid. Let it dry 15 to 30 minutes.
Build color in thin coats
Add thin, even coats of Angelus Paint, letting each one dry before the next. Two to four coats usually gives solid coverage. For smooth fades or airbrush work, thin the paint with 2-Thin.
Seal it with Acrylic Finisher
Once the paint is dry, apply two or three thin coats of Angelus Acrylic Finisher, with extra coats on the forearm and belly areas that rub when you play. Let the guitar cure 24 to 48 hours before you reassemble and restring it.
You can stop here
That's a custom painted guitar. Play it, show it off, and tag @angelusdirect with #AngelusDirect so we can see it.
Painting an unfinished wood body
Raw wood soaks up paint, so sand it smooth first, finishing with fine Angelus Wet Sandpaper, and wipe off the dust. A base coat of white paint seals the wood and gives your colors an even surface. If you love the look of the grain, you can dye the body first and paint designs on top, like many of our builders do.
Design ideas and tips
Use masking tape for stripes and geometric shapes, stencils for logos, and a fine brush for freehand art. Sketch your design lightly in pencil first. Mix custom colors on a palette before they touch the guitar, and mix enough for the whole design. Our color mixing guide has recipes for any shade.
When to use something else
| If you want | What we'd use |
|---|---|
| The wood grain to show through | Angelus dye. See how to dye a guitar. |
| A custom guitar case | See how to paint a guitar case. |
| A painted leather strap | Deglazer, Angelus Paint, and finisher. See how to paint leather. |
Mistakes that ruin a painted guitar
- Painting over the glossy finish without scuffing. The paint chips off at the first bump.
- Skipping the masking. Paint on the fretboard or in the pickups is a pain to remove.
- Thick coats. They take forever to dry and can crack or run. Build color in thin layers.
- Skipping the finisher on wear spots. Forearm and belt contact will rub through unsealed paint.
- Restringing too soon. Give the finisher a full 24 to 48 hours to cure.
Related guides: Dye a guitar · Paint a guitar case · Mix custom colors · Get featured by Angelus
Painting guitars FAQ
Can you paint a guitar with acrylic paint?
Yes. Scuff the glossy finish so the paint can grip, apply thin coats of a flexible acrylic like Angelus Paint, and seal it with Acrylic Finisher.
Do I need to sand a guitar before painting?
Yes, lightly. You don't need to strip it to bare wood. Just scuff the factory finish until it's evenly dull so the paint can stick.
Does painting a guitar affect the sound?
Thin coats of paint and finisher have very little effect, especially on electric guitars. Keep coats thin, particularly on acoustic tops.
What is the best paint for a guitar?
We'd use Angelus Paint. It's flexible, comes in hundreds of mixable colors, works with a brush or airbrush, and seals with Acrylic Finisher.
How do I protect paint on a guitar?
Seal it with two or three thin coats of Acrylic Finisher, with extra coats on the forearm and belly areas, and let it cure fully before playing.
Should I paint or dye my guitar?
Paint for solid colors and artwork, dye when you want the wood grain to show. You can also dye first and paint designs on top.
