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Post subject: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 4:57 am
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Hello folks,

I own a 2003 Standard Stratocaster made in Mexico. Recently, I decided to remove the varnish from the body (blue with purple glares)...I want it to be transparent now. Before starting removing it, do you know how many wooden pieces make the body up? I'm afraid it's not just one piece...but I hope it is!! :)

One last question: does this operation affect the guitar sound anyhow?

Please let me know! Bye bye! :)

Salvo


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Post subject: Re: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 5:29 am
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Hi Salvo: sometimes you can see the wood joins through the lacquer where the finish has sunk into them. That can be true even with the thick polyester finish on MIMs. So you might possibly be able to count the pieces that way.

Otherwise you will simply have to find what you find when you take the paint off. Under a solid finish a MIM can have anything from two to around seven pieces in the body. If it was a trans finish it would likely have a thin veneer on the front and back to hide those joins - and it might have the veneers even under a solid finish.

Here's a photo of a stack of veneered blanks waiting to be turned into Strat bodies at the Ensenada factory a few years ago, so you can see what I mean:

Image

The probability is that for a solid finish they used a body that wouldn't look great with a transparent or natural finish - but there are no rules. The only way to be certain is to have at it and get that paint off.

After all, if you don't like what you find you can always refinish with another solid colour of your choice.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 6:53 am
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If you really want to remove the finish on your MIM use a heat gun and putty knife. Heat the surface, don't burn it, until the poly finish softens then use the putty knife to scrape it off. Do one small area at a time and take your time and try not to scratch the wood as you scrape.

PS - It would be easier to buy a transparent finished body than removing the finish and re-finishing yours. Plus you can then sell your old body.


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Post subject: Re: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 4:35 pm
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(sorry for my bad English)
Removing varnish proved to be very (deceivingly or happily?) easy on my Fender classic series 50s made in Mexico strat from 2007 (serial number MZ7206039). The varnish started to splint by itself when I unscrew the neck for the first time. Then I used an old and "inoffensive" retractable knife to remove the whole varnish. It showed no resistance and in 10 minutes the body was stripped off.

It is a 3 parts body.

Here some pictures:
Image

Image


Last edited by gabos on Wed May 22, 2013 4:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 7:31 am
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Thank you for all your answers, dudes! If the result is the same as gabos's, I will be willing to remove varnish from the body...that's exactly what I wanna get!

Anyway, I need a further explanation, for in these pictures it seems like you have a one-piece body. I can't see the joints among these 3 pieces you talked about... :?:
After removing varnish, did you use any other materials or fluid (I don't know) to improve the body's appearance?

gabos wrote:
Here some pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1162189640 ... tClassic50


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Post subject: Re: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:18 am
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That is definitely a three piece alder body. Poplar is a lot more pale than that and doesn't have such noticeable grain.

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Post subject: Re: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 2:58 pm
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Hi Salvo,
I owned a blue standard MIM strat from 2005 (my first guitar).
I never tried to remove the paint on it. I loved this color and it seemed to be very wear resistant. I sold it to a friend because he liked it and I prefer maple fretboards.

Image

Concerning my classic 50 series, the varnish started chip by itself in some areas (neck junction, rear scratchplate). In curves areas I could suspect the air under it (by drumming gently with a nail)
I am still amazed how crappy polyester lacquer has been used and how carelessly the undercoat has been applied. I prefer my guitar naked. I did not like daphne blue as much I liked twilight blue.

Unfortunately I have no gear to refinish it properly, so I left it as it is. You can see clearly the 3 parts of the body:

Image

Even if it is a kind of alder (thanks Nikininja for confirmation) it sounds a bit different, less low tones. Anyway every guitar sounds a bit different from another :)


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Post subject: Re: Removing varnish - one or more wooden pieces?
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 5:34 pm
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I used an Abatron product named Soy Gel to strip my P-Bass. ( a project which is awaiting resurrection, too many other's having priority ).
Soy-Gel is made from soybeans, Eco friendly ( although what you strip, be it Poly or lacquer is not ). It did take a bit longer but since it cleans up with H2O and a sponge I prefer it to the other potentially toxic methods of guitar finish removal.
I will add the product is not inexpensive..

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