Hey everyone, Though I'd share my recent Stratocaster refinish job with you.

She's originally a 60's Classic Player Stratocaster with the Custom Shop two pin tremolo, Custom Shop Pickups and an amazingly smooth neck. The only downfall to this custom shop designed strat had to be the Polly Finish

This being said, I took to the workshop and began the process of sanding painting and buffing... After several months of research and experimentation this is what I've come up with. I have to say I'm very impressed with the results.

I've ended up with an authentic vintage look and feel from my beloved stratocaster without breaking the bank. I suggest to anyone with a DIY attitude wanting to piece together an awesome axe to do the same.







Like I said before, you can do the same quite easily with some time. I am very pleased with the results, It honestly looks, feels and sounds legit.

Anyone wanting information on my process for doing this just hit me up and I'll fill you in on details. Thanks for looking.

Hi mhbuckelew,

Looks great! Did you sand down to bare wood? I recently sanded one with a poly finish all the way to the wood, man what a job of sanding that was, that poly is tough! I'm doing a relic job to a Strat. I didn't go down to the wood all over, and used clear lacquer over the sanded poly. It seems to work well, looks like a lacquer finish.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Yes I went to bare wood all over, I agree it was a chore... I actually had the most luck with lightly hammering the polly finish first then chipping the pieces off with a knife. It sounds pretty brutal but it's actually very effective if done with care.

Looks like a great job, what colour was it before?

Also there's plenty of examples on the forums here of refinishing guitars, and I believe the method of choice as far as paint removal goes is a heatgun and a scraper.

Still, proof is in the pudding and you're axe looks fantastic. Great job

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My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

It was the Sonic Blue color, I really liked the color at first but after a few years I just grew out of it. I loved the playability and sound of this particular one, however the only color options were The sonic blue or sunburst...Black is what I really wanted.

Looks sweet, really great job

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

congratulations on a job well done.

Thanks Dudes