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 Post subject: Refinishing....
PostPosted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:43 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:23 am
Posts: 262
First name: nick
Last Name: dingle
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
A mate brought his Orville Les Paul round the other day. Nice guitar, with a burst. He hates the burst and wants me to refinish it in black.

I think I'll try and talk him out of it, but if, as I suspect, he insists, how would you guys proceed? Does the existing finish(poly) need to be removed completely, mostly, a bit? Or, can I "scuff" the existing finish and shoot Lacquer over the top?

Had a look in search, but couldn't find a topic addressing this issue.

Thanks in advance.


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 Post subject: Re: Refinishing....
PostPosted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:08 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:06 pm
Posts: 2739
Location: Magnolia DE
First name: Brian
Last Name: Howard
City: Magnolia
State: Delaware
Zip/Postal Code: 19962
Country: United States
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
If it is sound and has no issues it will make a fine base. Fill any chips or dings and sand at 320 to anchor the lacquer.

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https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/


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 Post subject: Re: Refinishing....
PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 5:12 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2013 5:55 pm
Posts: 58
First name: Rick
Last Name: Turner
City: Santa Cruz
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 95060
Country: US
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Agreed with Brian...

Quick story...when Roger Giffin was running the Gibson West Coast Custom Shop, a guy brought him a '58 or '59 Les Paul that had been oversprayed black. Roger noticed telltale undulations that hinted of flame maple under the black. Yep... The real thing, and it had just been sprayed black directly over the 'burst. He painstakingly sanded back all the black and restored the guitar to its former beauty...and true value. Brilliant job.


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 Post subject: Re: Refinishing....
PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 6:21 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5743
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
As I remember, there were quite a few vintage goldtops that were found to have flame maple caps when stripped for a refinish.

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 Post subject: Re: Refinishing....
PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:58 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:23 am
Posts: 262
First name: nick
Last Name: dingle
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Ah, forgot this thread, but thanks for the replies. I talked my mate out of the re finish, and just did a set up and scrubbed the heck out of it. It was filthy, and the truss rod was so tight the neck back-bowed. But, a session of no tension, and a bit of clamping magic put it to rights. It's a bad neck angle, as the bridge is maxed out, but it plays well now. With luck, it'll last him as long as he needs it.....


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