first time pain try

I'm flirting with the idea of painting my white MIM Nashville Tele (shell pink) and then finish it with a yellowed clear coat.

My question is do I have to remover the factory clear coat and paint first?

I was thinking of purchasing a can of paint and clearcoat from rearanch.

You have to scuff the paint to make it stick better.

I just refinished my Ibanez. Isanded it down to the bare wood. Put a coat of primer, then 2 coats of flat black, Then a coat of matte clear coat. Sanded in between each coat with a very light synthetic steel wool. This doesn't leave those little strands like regular steel wool will. Afterwards I used rubbing compound on the clear coat to smooth out and clean any overspray. I went for a flat black finish. Used spray paint from Lowes. Hope this helps.

P.S. email me if you want to see a pic. I don't have my own web address.

garyguitar68@yahoo.com

I figured out how to post a pic. Here's my Ibanez to give you an idea.

Most newer fenders have a poly coat. If you dont have the same poly to go over it, it wont work, especially if youre trying to use laquer. The new finish will blister or just peel off. You need to sand it down to the wood which I dont advise. the stuff is hard as a rock and a bitch to get it all off. (Paint remover wont touch it) I did it on a strat once, it was a BIG mistake. By the time I got down to the wood, the neck pocket wound up being smaller than the neck. You have to go down on the wood a bit to get past the point where the finish sinks in which may be 1/8 inch. I eventually had to build up that part of the body again then repaint and finish it. It really bastardizes a good body. You'd be better off buying another unfinished body and avoid the hassel.