Bursting with a Different Color

by: Roosevelt Walker Jr.

I've always loved the way that a burst frames out a guitar and seems to make the color just pop off the guitar. I love fades and most guitars I own or make for myself have bursts. Bursting is fairly easy to accomplish with the right tools. In this example I am going to use an airbrush. A detail paint gun would be the best tool to use, but the same principles apply.

The first step is to completely apply your main color on your guitar. Once that is completed I like to add a couple of clear coats over top of the color. This will keep the taping in the next step from pulling up any color. Let this dry completely for at least 48 hours.

With this guitar I am bursting over the edge so I tape the front and the back of the guitar off leaving just the edge exposed. Now shoot a couple of coats of your burst color on the edge. You don't need a lot of coats because you are going to clear coat after the bursting is finished. So just shoot enough to give a uniform solid color on the edge.

I wait about 2 hours after I coat the edge and then removed the tape. You really don't want the tape pulling up any of the finish.

Here is the hardest part. With your air-brush or detail gun practice your freehand strokes and fades on some cardboard. Spend as much time as necessary until you are satisfied with your practice results. Once again spend as much time as necessary until you are satisfied with your practice results. If you screw up on the guitar you may have a lot of sanding to do to get back to the point where you can burst again. I practiced with the air-brush for 2.5 hours before I started on the guitar. There are a couple of decisions you will have to make. One is what pattern you are going to use when bursting. I have noticed two distinct patterns that people use. One is a tear drop shaped fade and the other follows the horns like I did on this burst. The second decision is how wide or tight your burst and fade will be. I did a medium burst width but with a tight fade on this guitar. If you look at my CV-II guitar you will notice a medium burst width but with a wider fade.

This is the guitar after the bursting but before all the clear coats.

Finished Guitar