Repainting a Melodica Matte Black with TOYO P.P. Mate Car Spray Paint, No Primer Needed

This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.

Quick take

I repainted a hand-me-down pink melodica (a Yamaha Pianica) and its hard case in matte black with TOYO P.P. Mate, a spray paint made for car plastic parts. Without primer, it went on with almost no blotches and gave an even, dry-to-the-touch matte finish.

The melodica after being repainted matte black — The finished melodica, reassembled

What I tested

A pink Yamaha Pianica keyboard harmonica, taken apart before painting
Its pale pink hard case
TOYO P.P. Mate spray paint in black, sprayed straight on with no primer

What I found

Taking it apart was easier than expected: four screws on the back separate the key unit from the cover, and the end caps and button come off with a twist. Watch out for the small spring under the button. Mine flew off and I had to search for it.

The melodica cover and end caps painted matte black — The cover and end caps after painting

Point	What I noticed
Primer	None. I sprayed directly onto the plastic
Finish	Matte, with almost no blotches
Drying	Light to the touch after about 10–15 minutes (not fully cured)
Feel	Smooth and dry, pleasant to hold
Unknown	Long-term durability. Moving parts will probably wear first

I also painted the case. Paint got inside through a hole, so I ended up doing the inside as well. A large, all-matte-black case looks a bit like an old guitar case.

The melodica hard case painted matte black — The case, painted inside and out

Who it’s for

Families passing a melodica down to a younger child who doesn’t like the original color
Anyone who wants a calmer look that an adult wouldn’t mind playing
People comfortable taking small parts apart and putting them back

Watch the video

The video is in Japanese. Useful timestamps: 2:00 disassembly, 6:50 freshly painted parts, 8:30 the finished melodica, 10:20 the name panel and case.

Limitations

This is one melodica and one can of paint, filmed right after painting. I can’t say yet how well the coating holds up to years of use, and I didn’t check whether this car paint is suitable for an instrument children put to their mouths. Read the paint’s label first and work somewhere well ventilated. P.P. Mate is a Japanese product, so it may be hard to find outside Japan.

Products

TOYO P.P. Mate spray paint (black): on Amazon Japan

The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.

More reviews in English