First Build - paint

[Andrewsmith81632]

Hi I am currently starting to design artwork for my first homemade guitar. It's a basswood body and I have no idea how to have it painted, what would be the best way to go around this? It will be quite detailed artwork so how would I paint the guitar and be able to play it at gigs without it fading / scraping off? I play grunge or metal depending which of my bands I'm gigging with so lots of jumping around and showing off  

[ScottR]

Basswood is soft. You are going to have to seal it with something like epoxy, then smooth that completely, paint it and then shoot a clear over that to protect the paint.

SR

[Andrewsmith81632]

Thank you for the reply I found a better kit to build from, which is more like a jaguar (The type i wanted to create) Instead of basswood, it is a Ash body, should i still paint it the same way? 

Thanks

Andrew smith 

[ScottR]

Yes. Ash has much larger pores, so you have more work to do now to fill them. Ash is a much more durable and nicer sounding wood for a body.

SR