Nice solid color finish with polyurethane top coat?

[Jeremy Wood]

Hi
I'm new to the site and haven't read much of the forum just yet so feel free to send links if possible.

I would like to build my second guitar soon. I chose a Neal Moser Siren as my template I just love his designs! See pic below. Any way I would like to paint and finish my build in the same way that's done with all solid color guitars and like the paint job on the pic below. I just don't know how to go about it. I usually just veneer and then polyurethane it afterwards but this time I want to do something different. So how do I that hard candy shell. The guitars I've had in the past it seemed the paint was candied on with the gloss built into the paint. With lil to no clear coat but I could be wrong. Do I paint the body first then use a clearcloat? And I would like to use a polyurethane or polycrylic over a laquer. I just like the hardness and protection I get from poly. Please help.

[Gordon Bellerose]

Never having worked with poly finishes, I am not offering comprehensive advice.
I use water based products in my shop, but I have done solid color guitars, and this is the method I use.
Others here may have better advice, as they may have more experience in general.

If I am in error, someone please correct me.

1. Sand to 220 grit.
2. Fill the grain; two to three coats. Let dry completely; 3-4 days with oil base products.
3. Seal with sanding sealer, 2 coats minimum.
4. After making sure you have a smooth surface to work with, coat with 1-2 more coats of sanding sealer. You can mix your color with the sanding sealer also.
5. The method I use is to mix the pigment in with the lacquer or sanding sealer is 10 - 1 ratio, lacquer to pigment.
6. After 3 - 4 coats of color, start shooting clear coats.
7. Coat with as many coats as you need.
8. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for the finish you are using.
9. Check out Youtube, Lots of good info there.