G&L Paint Colors

[derick]

Hi,

I have an 1991 SC-3 that has been stripped by a previous owner. I'm thinking about refinishing it in Belair Green.

Where would I be able to find paint that would match the G&L color? Also, I am assuming that the guitar originally had a polyurethane finish, it was originally black.

Thanks for any input on this.

[jamie d]

Thinking you probably want "Sea Foam Green".
Think it's the closest to Belair Green.

Reranch has info for DIY, and also sells paint in "Rattle cans".


Leo's earlier guitars used auto paint colors. Fender Custom Colors Link

Original Colors---------DuPont----PPG-----Replaced Dupont---Fenders-----Car
FoamGreen----Duco----2253-----41940----246-59234-------60-69 -----56 Buick
Surf Green-----Duco ----2461----42068----93-90147 --------60-65 -----57 Chevy



"Surf Green

Lacquer Source(s): DuPont 2461L.
Low VOC Source(s): DuPont 2461K.

Originally used on 1957 Chevys. The original nitrocellulose paint formula wasn't translated to acrylic lacquer till 1996.
Before the original Surf Green again became available from DuPont, PPG provided a lacquer offset was too dark and not a good match.
Going through all the paint catalogs from the 1950's (and after buying many pints of other similar colors),
I choose a 1958 Oldsmobile lacquer color by the same name as the closest lacquer replacement, DuPont #2789L.

When refinishing using Surf Green, again I like to use a very slight yellowed tint coat.
It doesn't have a big effect on the color, but it takes the "edge" off making it much warmer.
But go light - too much tint and you end up with Foam Green.

Foam Green

Lacquer Source(s): DuPont 2253L.
Low VOC Source(s): DuPont 2253K.
A 1956 Buick color. The original nitrocellulose paint formula wasn't translated to acrylic lacquer till 1996.
Before the original Foam Green again became available from DuPont, PPG provided a lacquer offset that was an excellent match, Ppg #DDL44652.

When refinishing using Foam Green, I like to use a very slight yellowed tint coat. It doesn't have a big effect on the color,
but it takes the "edge" off making it much warmer. But go light - too much tint and this color can turn "pukey". "

[darwinohm]

I think Jamie is right on it being more toward Sea Foam Green. A shop that has their own mixing system can match it very closely if you can supply an accurate photo of the color. Good information Jamie.--Darwin

[derick]

Wow, thanks for the info. I've purchased an SC-3, dates Jan 1991 so it's one of the last Leo Era SC3 guitars before BBE pulled the plug.
The body was originally black but already stripped, the neck and body had dimensional crud on it and it looks like somebody used the body to drive fence posts. So, I;m thinking bondo and a refin. It's probably maple, but looks suspiciously alder-like to me, (although that might be impossible...maybe) but either way it's going to be an interesting project.

Belair green is what I'm thinking, but don't actually have a color chip for a match.

[Elwood]

Belair green is what I'm thinking, but don't actually have a color chip for a match.

Here's a nice Sea Foam Legacy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leo-Fender-awes ... 570wt_1112

I used to have a Seafoam Legacy, you got me pinin' for another .

...still have the L5000 tho'



How about some 'before' pics ?

Elwood

[derick]

How about some 'before' pics ?

Elwood

I didn't get any before pix, as I thought I had the original ebay ones, but no. Here's essentially where it is now:
I've done a fret dress on this neck, my first ever, I hope it will be successful.



Does this look like maple?



Here are some of the divots out of the body, there are a couple of good-sized chips, too. Interestingly, it looks like all these gouges happened after the strip job? No sign of paint in any of them... Maybe that would be the case if chemical stripper was used. There was a fair amount of not-quite-removed black paint on the body, so that makes me doubtful. Either way, somebody knew how to be hard on a guitar. Judging by the amount of dimensional crud I cleaned off of the neck, the previous owner liked to eat Fried Chicken while he played.

[Elwood]

Does this look like maple?

Yep...Soft Northern Maple IIRC,
here's one of my Invaders that has been stripped....very similar wood:







Love those 80's ebony fretboards, they clean up well ...that's gonna be a great guitar again!!

[derick]

Yep...Soft Northern Maple IIRC,

Love those 80's ebony fretboards, they clean up well ...that's gonna be a great guitar again!!

Thanks for posting those pictures, the bodies do definitely look similar, the odd thing about this SC-3 body is it doesn't have that characteristic maple "wave" where the grain gets cut wide. If that makes any sense. All these SC-3s were supposed to be maple if my information is correct, so I'm going to go with that.

I love the ebony boards also, but this one is rosewood.

[Elwood]

[

I love the ebony boards also, but this one is rosewood.

gotcha, just as lovely of course.