I personally have a black flying V, with all chrome hardware. It used t be glossy but my arm rubbed off most of the finish where it rests over the last ten years. I have a diamond plate pickguard that I made myself, and the humbuckers are Gibson Classic '57, and 57+. It's been ten years, and I have nine other guitars, and none of them even comes close except maybe my other gibson.

Oh yeah a great site is www.marshallparts.com

Disclaimer: I've never painted a guitar....yet. I just read alot, so my advice is based on what I've read and not any experience on my part.

A high quality auto paint will work. Put several coats on it, I say at least 2 color coats. Now the clear coat, here's where it can get tricky. How much like Gibson do you want? Nitrocellulose paint is very durable and resists acids in sweat. The Epi guitars use that. Now, if you want to go gibby, you have to use polyurithane. It's more painstaking to apply, and it's not as durable as nitro, BUT, it "breathes" better than nitro. But what you get is this, the guitar sounds better as it ages with this finish. That's one of the reasons why so many people drool over old Gibsons. They've aged and they end up sounding better, like an old violin. I say, at least 2 clear coats. BTW, the more clear coats you apply, the more the guitar will have that nice glossy appearance.

Thanks you guys plus one for you...

Keep Rocking...

No-one mentioned the sealer coat that goes between the paint and the wood... And there's some sanding procedures that take place between coats. So... Better find a website with EXACT instructions on how to do a finish. Some time I want to repaint my guitar too. Some time...

hey dcunning 30,

you've got it backwards. nitrocellulose is what you want. polyurethane is whats used to make thick finishes that are considered to sound more lifeless.