Can Guitar Paint Affect Your Tone?

[Dave White]

From Popular Mechanics

Personally, I like red ones ?

[Oldjock]

Thanks Dave, that was an interesting read. Personally, I prefer a clear coat, so I can see the wood grain but my electric is red.

Henk

[Steve Krenz]

No disrespect to Popular Mechanics, but you know what I've found has a profound and immediate impact on my tone... 

Practice.

(But I am a sucker for a pretty red guitar!)

 

[Texaspackerfan]

11 minutes ago, Steve Krenz said:

No disrespect to Popular Mechanics, but you know what I've found has a profound and immediate impact on my tone... 

Practice.

(But I am a sucker for a pretty red guitar!)

 

Ha Ha, true so true @Steve Krenz

Danny

[Old Guy]

There are many other things that effect tone much more than the thickness of the finish on your guitar. Most notably, as mention, your skill level. To quote Frank Zappa, I would tell anyone who is that obsessive to "Shut up and Play Yer Guitar!"

[Jeffblk72]

I scanned the Popular Mechanics article with an objective mind. I would think that semi-hollow body electrics, hollow body electrics, and most predominantly acoustics would be most and greatly affected by finish and its thickness, from the resonance standpoint but that's got to be only on factor among many ( the type and thickness of wood used, bridge compensation for intonation inconsistencies (setup), bracing, string type and diameters, type of guitar and relative humidity pickups and other electrical considerations, are some I can think of) that affect tone in general.

But,

I think it's we who select the colors and types of guitars we play (on guitars that aren't given us), our individual touch, musical tastes, our moods and even the kind of day we are having that are the predominant factors governing tone.

 

[columbo]

interesting conversation.. I am drawn to some colors just for my personal like.. however , on my acoustic Takamine EAN40C, It seems to have what I call opened up after some years.. I also noticed the same on my special paint job , 50th anniversary Meinl Conga and Tumba.. I will always keep an open mind and guess buy what catches my eye and ear. 

[Old Guy]

18 hours ago, columbo said:

.. however , on my acoustic Takamine EAN40C, It seems to have what I call opened up after some years.. I also noticed the same on my special paint job , 50th anniversary Meinl Conga and Tumba.. I will always keep an open mind and guess buy what catches my eye and ear. 

Generally, with acoustic guitars, the sound changes because the wood changes with time. Maybe we can get more of an expert to chime in on whether that's accurate or not, but that would make sense to me.

[columbo]

Oh I totally agree.. ! 

[Jeffblk72]

I would definitely agree with time on acoustic guitars and also add that I believe that"mileage" and frequency of play have a great bearing on tone. Despite its age at the time when I started playing again (45), my well used 59 Southern Jumbo took about 6 months to regain its voice and does diminish with lack of humidity and absence of play .

Stewart MacDonald offers these https://www.tonerite.com/

and Steve mentioned them in the past.