Can you paint pickups

Updated May 31, A good idea or a bad one? Will it even work and am I gonna ruin the whole pickup if I do it??? A white guitar with red pickups and gold hardware???? What ya think? Like 0 Dislike 0. Follow Forum Post Posted by: Mr. Dahl Manage Content Notifications. Pushead wrote May 31, Dahl wrote May 31, Velt wrote May 31, Mask the pole pieces before painting.

Definitely add clear coat. The paint by itself is not very durable. If you're lucky, Mike Learn will comment on this subject. IMO, you really need to use the right paint and pay special attention to your prep work.

I suggest 2-pak acrylic urethane because it dries hard, it's extremely durable, and it will provide the most professional results IMO. I've used this paint on plastic pickgaurds and it works really, really well. It gives the appearance of colored plastic as opposed to "paint", which is what you want. And if you prep the surface properly, you'll never have to worry about it flaking or chipping. The covers that Axewielder posted would work really well.

I've used similar covers unpainted and didn't notice any change in tone at all. If you do decide to use metal covers, prep them good and I'd really recommend removing the pole pieces before painting them. No, I don't think painting pickup covers affects the sound. Yes, I think putting covers on pickups that previously had no covers does affect the sound. I think painted bobbins look lame. Good Lord! The rod up that man's butt must have a rod up its butt!

Originally posted by AlexL View Post. I made damn sure of this years ago, as a slave to tone. I've had 4 guitars airbrushed after market and painted right over the pickups' pole pieces. Hell, I even had the tremolo painted. Why have stupid hardware get in the flow of a graphic. Feelin' like I shoulda kept my feet on the ground Waitin' for the sun to appear Originally posted by charvel View Post.

All rights reserved. Yes No. OK Cancel. Yeah, after you do it, they sound like a grandma quietly humming to herself. Has anyone done this? Papanate Member. Messages 19, I have not painted a pickup cover - but I don't see how this could affect anything.

Unless you used an oil or lead based paint. An acrylic spray paint is practically the same composition as a plastic pickup cover. Messages 14, Messages 1, I've seen it many times on Custom Shop Jacksons.

I don't know if it necessitates special paint or anything hopefully someone with more knowledge can clarify , but it can definitely be done. Brian N Member. Messages 2, On an active pickup like an EMG you can definitely paint it with a non metallic based paint. A passive pickup may be a different story as they are more susceptible to tonal changes, not so much with an active pickup.

I am personally considering putting a sticker over my EMGs. They make laptop skins with cool looking textures that can be cut out and placed over the pickup to make them look really neat. Messages 12, You could.