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Post subject: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:31 am
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Hi folks. I have a 1964 Strat that I bought used in 1970. The original paint was Fiesta Red. I was a teenager and wanted a white Strat like Jimi's Woodstock guitar. So I took it to an auto body shop and had it painted white. They did a decent enough job for my eye....but a couple years down the road I decided I liked Jimi's black guitar.

So I gave the body to a dude who painted motorcycle tanks, fenders and side covers etc. I'd seen several BMW motorcycles's he had done and his work was awesome.

Not so much my guitar body. He had sanded it down to the bare wood, primed it and painted it. However.....he did not fill the grain. So the body is all grainy...totally visible...and the paint job is awful.

So to make a long story endless..... :D ........ I want to have it painted back to the original Fiesta Red. Who to send it to though?

Does anyone know who the absolute best or very good guitar painter is, with a rep, that I could send it to for a stellar original color matched paint job?

I'd require him/her to fill the grain and repair the gouges and dings it has gotten over the years. This includes a big gouge under the bottom edge of the guitar...... where the protruding pins from the 'protective' feet on the bottom of the case....ended up sticking up through the velvet and they wore away at the body..... when it was being carried in the case.

I want to get a body back with a paint job every bit as good as the original finishes....in terms of luster and durability. I guess using Nitrocellulose lacquer as well, like they did in the old days.

I suppose I could send it to any number of places or custom painters etc.......but I would prefer to send it to someone who specializes in vintage guitars, who is known in the community for excellent work. I owe the guitar this much all these years later.

I'm in Los Angeles and would prefer a local......however shipping to another state is not a big deal as long as the newly painted body would be safe and the packing would not damage the finish.

Thanks all.


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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:36 am
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I had a Strat refinished by a fellow in Apple Valley (pretty close to you). He did a top-rate job for reasonable $$$ and I wouldn't hesitate for one nanosecond to hire him again if needed.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 3:16 am
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Fumbly wrote:
Not so much my guitar body. He had sanded it down to the bare wood, primed it and painted it. However.....he did not fill the grain. So the body is all grainy...totally visible...and the paint job is awful

A friend of mine veneered a turntable plinth earlier this year, and the plinth owner wanted a clear, high lustre finish.
The veneer in question is Tamo Ash, which is highly figured.
My friend doesn't do lacquer spray jobs, so subbed the job out to a local car repair shop, as he'd seen the work they'd done on a couple of vehicles, and was impressed with what he'd seen.

A conversation was had, the plinth was inspected, a nod ensued and a deal was struck.

Unfortunately the guy doing the spraying hadn't worked with any type of wood or veneer before, so it didn't cross his mind that he'd need to clear fill the veneer and flat sand back before applying top coats ....

It took 24 coats and sand backs before the finish was acceptable, and 4 or 5 times longer than had been reckoned on.
In the end the job looked beautiful, and the owner of the repair kept his side of the deal on the price too, writing the time off as adding to experience. :D

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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 5:14 am
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I would call Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville.
They deal with restoring guitars worth millions.

Ask for Greg Voros, he's the head for service/restoration

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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 11:54 am
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Have you considered a DIY project? This is a great site if your considering that as an option, it's not impossible and is easier these days than it was in the past.
https://www.reranch.com/ Instructions & stuff
http://reranchstore.stores.yahoo.net/fencuscol.html Shopping for Fender colors


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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 12:30 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
Have you considered a DIY project? This is a great site if your considering that as an option, it's not impossible and is easier these days than it was in the past.
https://www.reranch.com/ Instructions & stuff
http://reranchstore.stores.yahoo.net/fencuscol.html Shopping for Fender colors


I was going to suggest that might be an option myself.

It can be very time consuming, and a little frustrating at times but hugely satisfying in the end.

Assuming you are going for a nitro finish it will take a month or more, just to allow the lacquer time to gas out.

Also noting that nitro will wear it wont stay pristine if you are going to play it. This means it doesn't need to be an immaculate finish as it wont stay that way for long how ever you have it done.

And, as you have already established, it is only paint. If it doesn't go the way you want; you can do it again.

Do not under estimate the cost of materials though. Primer, filler, lacquer, clear coat, cutting and polishing materials all add up.

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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 3:44 pm
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A nitro/lacquer finish will show age and wear fairly quickly. It's also easily damaged. If durability is something you're going for, consider some of the poly finishes (polyurethane & others) that are used on many modern electric guitars. It's beautiful and very durable. You will have to try real hard to relic one these finishes. If vintage originality is the goal, then nitro is the way to go.


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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 5:52 pm
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A local guy that I trust is Joel Grant/Grant Guitars in Fountain Valley (Euclid & I-405 area).
He no longer does paint, only general repair and setup (he spends a lot of time fixing broken Gibson headstocks), but he knows the local talent for paint and can recommend a good painter if you want to avoid shipping.
You can find him on Facebook, he's very responsive.

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Post subject: Re: '64 Stratocaster repaint
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 5:45 am
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LawFlow wrote:
A nitro/lacquer finish will show age and wear fairly quickly. It's also easily damaged. If durability is something you're going for, consider some of the poly finishes (polyurethane & others) that are used on many modern electric guitars....


While I appreciate that the body has already been repainted (twice), because of the age it really should be considered a restoration. Using anything other than Nitro (over a poly sealer filler) could seriously devalue the guitar.

If you are going for a Poly finish you might just as well put the original body to one side for safe keeping and bolt on a new poly finished body.

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