Hey guys a friend just gave me a Laguna guitar (I believe it is the one that comes in the starter pack with the line 6 spider) and the big drawback to it is my friend tried refinishing the guitar but gave up on it and gave it to me so now I have what is pretty much just a body that has half of the finish on it. I want to make the guitar usable but I had heard that removing the finish on cheaper guitars can ruin the sound, but then again if it is a decent wood I am sure I can make something good of it. I debated even just wrapping it in duct tape or soemthing for a real unique look. I guess my question is is this guitar even worth whatever effort I might put into it? Any suggestions on what to do with it are welcome
Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
- Thread starter jimman
- Start date
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
Duct tape will suck unless you seal it somehow so the gummy adhesive doesn't ooze out over time and start picking up dirt and lint, plus sticking to your hands and your clothes. It will also probably hurt the sound worse than anything you can do to it.
Removing the finish doesn't usually hurt a guitar except for exposing the neck to a greater chance of warping, and of course the bare wood will take on superficial damage more readily than most hard catalyzed finishes will.
As far as sound goes, I can tell you that I've really enjoyed the sound and feel of the Faded Gibsons, and the Epiphone LP Custom I did a near-complete finish removal on is now a much better-sounding, better-playing guitar. Of course, it also revealed exactly how it's pieced together from a bunch of pieces of mystery wood, but that's part of the charm -- it's no longer hiding anything.
Duct tape will suck unless you seal it somehow so the gummy adhesive doesn't ooze out over time and start picking up dirt and lint, plus sticking to your hands and your clothes. It will also probably hurt the sound worse than anything you can do to it.
Removing the finish doesn't usually hurt a guitar except for exposing the neck to a greater chance of warping, and of course the bare wood will take on superficial damage more readily than most hard catalyzed finishes will.
As far as sound goes, I can tell you that I've really enjoyed the sound and feel of the Faded Gibsons, and the Epiphone LP Custom I did a near-complete finish removal on is now a much better-sounding, better-playing guitar. Of course, it also revealed exactly how it's pieced together from a bunch of pieces of mystery wood, but that's part of the charm -- it's no longer hiding anything.
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
I should point out the neck has not been touched at all, only the body. The finish removal job on the body is pretty bad and bits and pieces are gone throughout the body. Being such a cheap guitar I am debating just leaving it as it is and using it as my metal guitar anyways but I dont want to damage the body. But a part of my is worried doing so would leave the body to get damaged. I am honestly just really unsure on what to do with this guitar honestly.
I should point out the neck has not been touched at all, only the body. The finish removal job on the body is pretty bad and bits and pieces are gone throughout the body. Being such a cheap guitar I am debating just leaving it as it is and using it as my metal guitar anyways but I dont want to damage the body. But a part of my is worried doing so would leave the body to get damaged. I am honestly just really unsure on what to do with this guitar honestly.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
Just cover it with stickers.
Just cover it with stickers.
Jocelyn
New member
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
http://www.playlaguna.com/models/index.cfm?model=pack_ultrock
Basswood body. I suggest do the refinish. It could be a nice fun project
http://www.playlaguna.com/models/index.cfm?model=pack_ultrock
Basswood body. I suggest do the refinish. It could be a nice fun project
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
I would finish the job. Strip it all, sand it with sanding sealer, paint it, rock the heck out of it. You may end up with a really good rocking guitar. If not, at least it will have been a fun creative process.
If you just don't want to be bothered, send it to me and I'll do it.
I would finish the job. Strip it all, sand it with sanding sealer, paint it, rock the heck out of it. You may end up with a really good rocking guitar. If not, at least it will have been a fun creative process.
If you just don't want to be bothered, send it to me and I'll do it.
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
I will go ahead and finish the job. When I am done I will post some before/after pics just for the heck of it. My only question now is on the neck. Back when my friend had it I remember playing it and never being too fond of the neck, but a quick google search isnt really showing me to have any options on replacement necks. Am I pretty much stuck with this neck or is there anything out there I can slap on as a replacement? Thanks for the help guys, this is one of the most useful forums out there.
I will go ahead and finish the job. When I am done I will post some before/after pics just for the heck of it. My only question now is on the neck. Back when my friend had it I remember playing it and never being too fond of the neck, but a quick google search isnt really showing me to have any options on replacement necks. Am I pretty much stuck with this neck or is there anything out there I can slap on as a replacement? Thanks for the help guys, this is one of the most useful forums out there.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
I think the Laguna uses a different shape instead of the std square. You might have a really difficult time finding a replacement or it might be too expensive....
I think the Laguna uses a different shape instead of the std square. You might have a really difficult time finding a replacement or it might be too expensive....
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
Also I think I should ask a question on refinishing here before making a new thread, because it has been done to death. But how should I strip the finish on an Epiphone Les Paul Standard with a Gloss finish? It is a plain top and cherry sunburst, and I want to stain it black. I tried the belt sander (about 32 grit) but it only scratched the hell out of it. I then tried the hair blow drier and chisel, which did nothing. Help?
Also I think I should ask a question on refinishing here before making a new thread, because it has been done to death. But how should I strip the finish on an Epiphone Les Paul Standard with a Gloss finish? It is a plain top and cherry sunburst, and I want to stain it black. I tried the belt sander (about 32 grit) but it only scratched the hell out of it. I then tried the hair blow drier and chisel, which did nothing. Help?
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
Keep going.
Not hot enough.
Hair dryer = usually a maximum of 200 - 300 degrees F
Heat Gun = usually a maximum of 1000 degrees F
Keep going.
Not hot enough.
Hair dryer = usually a maximum of 200 - 300 degrees F
Heat Gun = usually a maximum of 1000 degrees F
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
What is it exactly/specifically, that you don't like about the neck? Maybe you could reshape it. Not hard to do. Unless, of course, your complaint is that it is too thin or narrow already. If it's too thick, too "U" shaped, too boxey, too wide...you can create a more "C" shape, "V" or soft "V", make it thinner or more narrow. You can file and smooth the frets/fret ends. Etc. There is nothing sacred about a neck.
What is it exactly/specifically, that you don't like about the neck? Maybe you could reshape it. Not hard to do. Unless, of course, your complaint is that it is too thin or narrow already. If it's too thick, too "U" shaped, too boxey, too wide...you can create a more "C" shape, "V" or soft "V", make it thinner or more narrow. You can file and smooth the frets/fret ends. Etc. There is nothing sacred about a neck.
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
I find the neck kind of big and I suppose "boxy". If that makes any sense at all. After looking at the neck I think I could get used to it, I think im going to just focus on getting the body looking nice. There is a nice thick layer of what I am assuming is polyeurathane that I am having fun trying to get off.
I find the neck kind of big and I suppose "boxy". If that makes any sense at all. After looking at the neck I think I could get used to it, I think im going to just focus on getting the body looking nice. There is a nice thick layer of what I am assuming is polyeurathane that I am having fun trying to get off.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Is refinishing this guitar worth the trouble?
Marine grade stripper will take that poly off, and won't create nearly as much of a mess as sanding.
A scraper is also less messy than sanding.
Stripping and scraping are both less likely to accidentally alter the contours and flatness of the guitar. If you make a mistake when sanding (which is actually quite easy to do), it sucks.
IMO, unless you are talking about a thin nitro finish that can be easily sanded off, I'd save the sanding for the very end, when 95 percent of the finish is already off.
Marine grade stripper will take that poly off, and won't create nearly as much of a mess as sanding.
A scraper is also less messy than sanding.
Stripping and scraping are both less likely to accidentally alter the contours and flatness of the guitar. If you make a mistake when sanding (which is actually quite easy to do), it sucks.
IMO, unless you are talking about a thin nitro finish that can be easily sanded off, I'd save the sanding for the very end, when 95 percent of the finish is already off.