My youngest boy got a new Ibanez 5 string bass for Christmas. He'd like to use his 1st bass as a learning tool. It is an inexpensive 4 string by Silvertone. I see it as a great opportunity for him to learn. He is wanting to change the color and add graphics to the body. Whats the best direction to go? He asked me my opinion and off the top of my head, it seemed like scuff sanding with 220 and then shooting it with laquer was my strategy of choice. But thats based on me growing up in my grandpops autobody shop decades ago, and doing similar things on projects with him. But again thats more than 3 decades ago and finishes have come a long way since then. My boy was trying to find ways to take it down to bare wood and that seemed like a waste of time to me. I was also unsure if sanding too much in 1 spot by accident on the face of the guitar might cause problems with tone, playability, etc. going forward.
I thought I would ask the experts before giving him any advice or direction.
Thanks for any help,
Mike