Gil, if you haven't already applied the black paint, you might want to try removing the existing lettering first. Often, the factory lettering is three-dimensional enough that a "ghost" image of it can been seen through the overcoat of black paint. I had a couple of B&O Mikes that I removed the lettering from using methyl hydrate, a type of alcohol. You can buy it at any hardware store or Home Depot. It's used for thinning shellac and removing paint, among other things. A word of caution: this stuff evaporates very rapidly and is not good for your health, so use it in a well-ventilated area. It can also be absorbed through the skin, so wear plastic or rubber gloves when using it. It's not corrosive, so it won't damage the gloves (I use it in a large plastic container for stripping paint from plastic models, although it doesn't remove all brands of paint. Either way, it doesn't attack the plastic.) To remove the lettering, wrap a rag over your gloved finger, dip it into the liquid, then gently rub the letters. They should begin to fade with a few passes: if not, then this isn't likely going to work.
Wayne