Refinishing a guitar?

[Christobevii3]

Has anyone ever done this? I have a japenese body tele that my friends put a few dings into this weekend. It is a sunburst one but i'm a whore for black or a deep blue.

What is required to do this tool wise? Cost? Skills?

I've basically gathered you strips the old finish off, sand it lightly, paint, paint, paint, sand, sand, sand, clear coat. And that is about it?

Thanks

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

It's not too difficult. Depending on the wood there may be other steps (filler, sand and sealer, etc) I never sand the color coats and you need to colorsand and buff after clear. So you missed a couple things. I'd say it takes more patience than anything else. Rather than write a long post about the process, here's a link.

http://reranch.com/

All the info and products are there to do a nitro job.

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

About how much do you estimate the cost to do it being? $50?

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

About how much do you estimate the cost to do it being? $50?

Honestly I've never tallied everything up, but I'd guess somewhere between $75-$100 on average.

At the very least you'll need a good amount of sandpaper, s&s, paint, clear coat, and about 3 buffing/polishing compounds. Don't skimp on materials. Use the best you can.

I just realized you said black or dark blue. Darker colors are more challenging. They show every flaw so take your time and make sure you do every step the best you can. I can't emphasize enough that patience is the key.

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

So for that price, I could almost get a new mexican body in black? I have a japenese one supposedly and like it, but when it starts getting into the $100's, i could just sand it and put some wood stain and laquer on it and call it a day...

Or buy a new black one from wd music for $225..

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

man, I'd hate for you to gimp up a nice japanese sunburst body like that! You could always sell that body to get some cash to buy a black one

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

Would the japanese sunburst be worth enough that i could almost buy a basic black body?

 

[Woodcutter]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

I spent about $90 on finishing supplys for the guitar I'm building.

 

[mixedmedia]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

How bad are the dings? Pictures? Not to sound like a jerk but if your 'friends' are responsible for damaging your guitar shouldn't they be responsible to help pay for the damage they caused or do they generally not respect your belongings like that?

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

Man seriously I'm tempted to buy a black body and trade you because I'd love to have a project axe, and I'm really fond of sunburst

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

So for that price, I could almost get a new mexican body in black?

Yes, but MIM bodies have a thick (and I mean THICK) finish that will stifle the wood's ability to resonate. You will have a better sounding guitar by painting in Nitro yourslef.

I stripped a MIM strat body (which was a headache by the way) and painted it with nitro and the guitar sounds excellent now...it sounded dead before.

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

I have a japenese one supposedly and like it, but when it starts getting into the $100's, i could just sand it and put some wood stain and laquer on it and call it a day...

If you want an inexensive, nice finish that is REALLY easy and quick to do...Tung Oil.

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Refinishing a guitar?

Well I left it at my friends for them to play some this last week. I guess I took the risk on myself and it isn't a huge deal, plus they don't have money...

Here's the pictures of the marks. The one bumped it in so i filled it with super glue and polished it with 1500 grit sand paper and need to get some rubbing compound. The one on the edge looks like the paint just chipped off the size of a pencil eraser.