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Post subject: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:34 pm
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Hi there, I've got a Blacktop Strat (alder body) in black and I was wondering if it's worth it to remove the paint with sandpaper and then coat the wood with lacquer to obtain a "natural" finish.

It's my only guitar and I've never done something like this before, can I screw it up easily? It's a floyd rose model, do I have to remove the bridge too? I know that I've got to take out the neck & pickups, is it difficult to put them back?


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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:07 pm
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It would be a learning experience for you, and that's a good thing. But, since it's your only guitar, if you can afford it, I would suggest buying a really cheap Strat knock off for $60 or so, and experiment on that first. You may find that after you strip the paint off your Strat, that the wood has imperfections that will show through a stain, but is covered up by solid paint.
I'm thinking of sanding down a neck that's a little bulky for me. I've never done this, but I'm pretty fearless when it comes to learning. If I screw up, I'm the first to admit it. Won't be the first time, won't be the last.

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:29 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
You may find that after you strip the paint off your Strat, that the wood has imperfections that will show through a stain, but is covered up by solid paint.


A serious consideration to be sure!

You can hide a multitude of "sins" under a coat of paint and Fender does all the time -- in fact they've been doing it nearly since the founding of the company.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:42 pm
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Yes, I am aware of that. Should that happen I'd paint it back in another color, perhaps I'd make it white and have that cool white body/black pickguard combo.


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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:50 pm
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Based on the questions you are asking my advice would be - don't.

Certainly get a cheap guitar and try it on that first. Or buy an unfinished body.

I the first instance the finish Fender apply to the majority of their guitars is extremely hard and thick. Attacking it with sand paper is unlikely to do much other than ruin the surface.

Even with access to an industrial bed sander, or sander thicknesser, you will still have the sides and contours to address. And the timber above the neck pocket is pretty thin.

Also noting there will be some ingress of the primer sealer coat into the wood it is unlikely you will ever get a nice clean finished timber without removing a noticeable amount of timber...and this all assuming the original timber wasn't filled.

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:08 pm
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John Sims wrote:
Based on the questions you are asking my advice would be - don't.

Certainly get a cheap guitar and try it on that first. Or buy an unfinished body.

I the first instance the finish Fender apply to the majority of their guitars is extremely hard and thick. Attacking it with sand paper is unlikely to do much other than ruin the surface.

Even with access to an industrial bed sander, or sander thicknesser, you will still have the sides and contours to address. And the timber above the neck pocket is pretty thin.

Also noting there will be some ingress of the primer sealer coat into the wood it is unlikely you will ever get a nice clean finished timber without removing a noticeable amount of timber...and this all assuming the original timber wasn't filled.


+1!

Perhaps you should've just bought a guitar in your preferred color, especially since apparently you seem to have no grasp of the procedure required to prep a guitar for painting or even how to correctly disassembly it into its constituent parts.

This folly is a fool's errand at best.

:roll:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 2:48 am
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Yep, solid-color MIM Strat will likely be a 4 or 5 (or more?) piece body, with the pieces not being matched in any way, so it might not look very good natural. It would be a shame to do all that work to uncover an ugly body. :(

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 3:12 am
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If you plan to just "sand" it....it is gonna take a LONG time. If you got the time, patience, and desire, go for it.

My only experience is with a 2009 Squire Bullet Strat that cost me $99.00 (it was Pink). I used paint stripper first, and then fine finished with sand paper; even THAT took a while. That paint is thick and hard.

The Basswood body was made with 4 distinctly different pieces, and was pretty ugly....but I had no intention of leaving it natural (was interesting to see though).
All costs of stripper, paper, primer, paint, and lacquer was just over $50.00 (US)---and took two days. To ME, it was every bit worth it, because it came out really nice....and instead of a 'pink' guitar, I have a Seafoam green one.

Absolutely positive, I would not do it with an American or even Mexican Strat---if the natural wood disappoints you, you would want to make sure the body was painted professionally; because it is not a $99.00 guitar with a $50.00 paint job.

It is YOUR guitar, so do what you wish...but I agree with those that are saying to practice on a cheapy.


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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 4:45 am
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when I was in high school (1974~76) one of my wood shop projects was to do what you are proposing.

don't ...

do ...

it!


The refin came out ok.. I did it right, but the wood grain under my (Sunburst 73) was not meant for a natural finish. It never looked right, and I wound up regretting it.


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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 4:55 am
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croka wrote:
Hi there, I've got a Blacktop Strat (alder body) in black and I was wondering if it's worth it to remove the paint with sandpaper and then coat the wood with lacquer to obtain a "natural" finish.

It's an ambitious plan...could be highly satisfying...I would budget 2 months till it's playable again.

croka wrote:
It's my only guitar and I've never done something like this before, can I screw it up easily

Yes...you can screw it up...buying a replacement body is pretty easy though.


croka wrote:
It's a floyd rose model, do I have to remove the bridge too?

You should remove everything.


croka wrote:
I know that I've got to take out the neck & pickups, is it difficult to put them back?

A little...the least of the difficulties you're facing.

Know that it's not easy...especially with a tough poly finish...but you will learn some things about Strats...Art...and yourself.

Good Luck :D

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 9:32 am
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NO !! It will not be what you hope to find underneath the dark cloak.

But if you insist then ..... I'm surprised Danagos did not post the link to " The Build Thread Rebuilt " which he himself resurrected for us all to enjoy once again. It was started by " The Nutter "

viewtopic.php?t=93631

Anyway OP scroll, click and read thru some of these, like Nikininja's torched body and others. It will let you know what to expect ..
Having done the very thing you aspire to complete, I would not strip a body completely. There really is no point unless it would be a clear or sunburst and it would have to be lacquer. Not the bowling ball finish that is on modern guitars... :roll:

But if you still decide, may I suggest appropriate background music ?

Camille Saint Saens .... Danse Macabre
Giuseppe Tartini ......... Devil's Trill
Franz Liszt ................... Mephisto Waltz

Have Fun ...

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 10:15 am
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OK...Just saying that this is an alternative...if you want to be a Strat artist...maybe Acrylic Laquer over the Poly is the way to go... :wink:

None of this is for the faint of heart...you may learn something &/or be adding to the local dump...

This is what I've been trying to recall...Arjay's recent post on his truly gorgeous Strat...refinished in Taos Turquoise...

...as Arjay says it "IIRC it's acrylic lacquer shot over the original factory Surf Green poly finish".

This is one of the best refinish jobs I've seen...NGD....FINALLY!...but take note...he used professional help on the tough stuff.


Retroverbial wrote:
Meet “The Big Kahuna”......

Image

This instrument began life as a 1999 MIM Classic Series 50’s Strat in Surf Green. I had the body professionally refinished in Taos Turquoise, which has to be one of the most difficult colors to capture accurately with a camera. I think it has something to do with the pseudo-neon pigments that seem to overwhelm a digital camera’s CCD. I had to tweak these shots with editing software to get the hue even close to the actual shade as perceived by the naked eye.

Image

The shot using indirect sunlight (no flash) in my garage comes closest to depicting the true color.

Image

Master luthier J.C. Harper of Apple Valley, CA handled the painting duties and my personal luthier worked his mojo with the neck and frets, then dialed in his world-class set up. It plays like frying bacon smells. The pickups are DiMarzio’s Virtual Vintage noiseless: a Solo Pro (long discontinued) in the bridge, a Heavy Blues in the middle, and a Heavy Blues II at the neck (much of my solo work is done with the neck pickup and I prefer a hot coil in that position). This instrument was built to resemble a ‘55 Strat and has the characteristic Tele-style string tree, the “football” switch tip, and a period-correct four-digit serial stamped on the neck plate. The center-pocket G&G tweed case with Kelly Green interior provides a nice visual vibe for a Strat in a rarely-seen custom color.

Hope y'all enjoy it

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 10:33 am
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danagos wrote:
...but take note...he used professional help on the tough stuff.


"A man's got to know his limitations." -- Inspector Harry Callahan, SFPD

And I'm well aware of mine.

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 10:37 am
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I understood that Danagos, sure I would be able to strip and repaint but it is such a lot of work that when you consider the cost, buying a visually appealing body for clear is much more feasible. Then when you consider that stripping modern paint is a hazardous and toxic pursuit ... Not very appealing ..
Also much better for one's peace of mind..

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Post subject: Re: Should I attempt to redo the finish on my strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 10:52 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
danagos wrote:
...but take note...he used professional help on the tough stuff.


"A man's got to know his limitations." -- Inspector Harry Callahan, SFPD

And I'm well aware of mine.

:wink:

Arjay

Words to live by...the young still have to learn those limits...some of us never do :lol:

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