Finishing question

[Rockinrob86]

I would like (probably in the next year or so) to attempt to finish a tele style guitar. I put together a strat on my own, but didnt paint the body.
I like the way relics look, but dont really like the process or the usually crappy results. So I was thinking, could I say just shoot the color coat thick enough to cover the body, and then only spray like 2 coats of laquer, so that it would wear through really quick?

What got me thinking about this is that I painted a pedal I built, and I didnt use any primer on the metal. It now looks like something from the late 60s, as in the finish is coming off everywhere, and it looks like it has been through world war 3, but it is very authentic.

[David Collins]

It would wear quickly as you intend, but the problem would be getting it even and smooth to begin with. There's a certain minimum you can put on, while still allowing room to level out pore, pits, and orange peel, and buff it out smooth without going through. Most builders will already go for as thin a finish as reasonable, but try to allow a bit of a buffer zone to avoid going through in the initial leveling and buffing.

Obviously if you're not worried about sanding or buffing through in areas then you can afford to go even thinner. Still, even if you're intentionally going for a quick wearing finish I would recommend allowing enough to level it out without excessive sand throughs. How many coats this comes to all depends on what lacquer you're spraying, prep work, wood type, etc. Leaving excessive orange peel and pores on a finish tends to look cheap and amateur in my opinion, even on a relic worn instrument.

[Rockinrob86]

oh ok, thats what I was wondering. I want it to look like it was done correctly, but just take two or three years to look like a road dog that was gigged super heavily, rather than the 10 or more it would usually take.