So this is a two part post.... kinda.

First, I just picked up an MIM 2007 sunburst strat with a rosewood fretboard for almost nothing. I did some computer work and very little cash in trade.

Anyway, to the point. There is about a half inch paint chip on the front right where your strumming arm would be that goes down to the wood. I'd like to fix it the best I could. I know I will never get it to be invisible, but just so it doesnt stick out. I was thinking of using trying to match the color with a little stain, then fill up the hole with some clear epoxy.... I will be able to post some pictures later if need be.

other than that, it could stand to be cleaned and the pickgaurd buffed. there are also a couple of dings on the bottom.... even with the defects, I think I got it for a steal.

Does anyone have any sugestions? I know I'm not the only one to be faced with this!

Thanks!
Keith

My personal opinion is to just leave it, gives it character. Then just play it!!!!

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

+1...Sometimes you try to make a cosmetic repair and do more harm than good.

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Just consider it Step 1 on the road to relic!

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

You know, I was pretty much thinking the same thing... just leave it alone. I know it wouldnt look right anyway as there is no way of matching it. The chip is right where the transition of the paint goes from dark to light in the sunburst.....

Thanks!
Keith

Hi Keith. Like the others I'd just leave it.

But if you do want to try and fix it then it will be a particularly difficult job. Is the naked wood itself exposed? If it is where the yellow/orange part of the sunburst is, then that color comes from a dye stain applied to the guitar before any other part of the finishing process. If that color has been damaged then - hmm.

Matching dyed parts of wood is almost impossible. It's why staining is such a skilled job: because if the stain didn't go on evenly then touching it up later is very tricky: where stain touches wood that was already colored it gets darker (called "lap marks"), while elsewhere it isn't dark enough. Fender addressed that early on by staining their bodies by simply dunking them into a huge vat of dye. A repair ain't going to work that way.

If you are determined to go ahead with it then good for you. But try a different route. Instead of messing with dye stain add your tint to the lacquer instead, and then apply it very carefully, say with a small artist's paint brush. Tickle in the lacquer, let it dry for days and then rub it back flat.

You need to know whether your finish is nitrocellulose, polyurethane (most MIA models) or polyester (most MIM models). Purchase accordingly. You can use some amber dye stain from Stewart-MacDonald and add it very sparingly to a small cup of lacquer.

Here's some pages from Stew-Mac's Trade Secrets that gives clues about how to do it. The first one is drop-filling small nicks in finish:

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0 ... clk=141631

And this one shows the tinting of clear finish to match existing color:

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0 ... &clk=64873

Post pics of the damage if you want more informed advice. But be prepared: it is going to be very challenging!

Which is why the advice to just learn to live with it is good...

Cheers - C

Edited to add missing page link...

I probably wouldn't try to fix the colour, though it might not be a bad idea to seal it up.

As people have said it would be a super hard job to try match the stains, even experienced finishers would balk at this.

Bursts were done a few different ways too, so its not always a straight forward repair.

if the chip is where your strumming arm goes, i guess your best alternative is to ALWAYS be playing, that way no one will ever see it!!

I have a sunburst, I hope it stays unnicked after reading this....

My other guitars are black, there is not really different shades of black, so I used some mopar touch up paint, and it worked great for my black guitars.

Sorry I was of no help

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

Yes, just leave it. Like it or not, you will probably get a few more. Think of it as mojo, and remember that people pay thousands for reliced custom shop guitars, so it must be cool.

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"You won't part with your's either"

Fender American Standard Stratocaster 2006

Fender Standard Telecaster 2007