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Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
I also like it as is!
I also like it as is!
Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
- Thread starter ratherdashing
- Start date
XSSIVE
OCDologist
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
The giant crack would bug me more than the color, I actually don't mind the french vanilla and mint guard combo you have going on there haha. If you love the sound just have a pro refinish it. You'll regret the DIY approach 20 minutes into the agony that is removing poly. I've had two guitars refinished from poly to new poly and the tonal change was....wait for it.....nothing.
Plus you can make it a true custom, find a color you really like and have it done in that. You can think outside the typical color "box" too. Car colors are a great place to find good guitar colors, I have a slew of car makes and models and color names and codes written down that will eventually get used on guitars.
The giant crack would bug me more than the color, I actually don't mind the french vanilla and mint guard combo you have going on there haha. If you love the sound just have a pro refinish it. You'll regret the DIY approach 20 minutes into the agony that is removing poly. I've had two guitars refinished from poly to new poly and the tonal change was....wait for it.....nothing.
Plus you can make it a true custom, find a color you really like and have it done in that. You can think outside the typical color "box" too. Car colors are a great place to find good guitar colors, I have a slew of car makes and models and color names and codes written down that will eventually get used on guitars.
daan
New member
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
Can you borrow a different strat body, put ALL your parts (other than your cracked body, obviously) on that just to see if or how the sound/playability changes? I would do that before doing any permanant change to what you already have, especially if you really dig the sound you're getting now. If it was my personal guitar, I'd just get a new body in a color you like and keep the old one in case the sound changes for the worse.
I had a Strat that played and sounded amazing, it had a plywood body and who-knows-what ceramic pups but it was the best Strat at the store the day I bought it. I got "mod-itis" and started changing stuff on it, but it never sounded as good as when I got it. And of course I ditched the "cheap" parts it was made of as soon as I got "better" ones, so I couldn't go back to it's original configuration. So, KEEP YOUR PARTS!
And I bet whoever made your guitar, only used the published wood species on RIGHT HANDED guitars, but would run off a bunch of lefties all at once with whatever they had enough of to do a run. So that would explain how a 19XX MIJ is supposed to be whatever wood, but your lefty is something else.
ANd if it was mine, I'd just fill that crack with epoxy, scuff the finish up and respray it whatever color you like, you don't NEED to remove the poly, just get it flat and ready to take paint. I have a MIM Strat that I heat-gunned the thick poly off of, it was a HUGE PITA, the veneer under the sealer came off, and a seam underneath keeps coming thru the new finish. And it doesn't sound any different (to me anyway) than it did with the poly on it.
Aaand, since this isn't long enough yet... THe poly finishes on MIA/MIM (and maybe the indonesian ones) seem a LOT thicker than the poly on the actual JApanese ones. I've had a couple MIJ's and they seemed to already have a really thin coat of paint on them compared to the super thick coat on the other ones.
Whatever you do, good luck. If you haven't seen it already, http://www.reranch.com/101.htm follow everything on this list and you will have a fully pro looking finish yourself, if a hack like me can do it, anyone can.
Can you borrow a different strat body, put ALL your parts (other than your cracked body, obviously) on that just to see if or how the sound/playability changes? I would do that before doing any permanant change to what you already have, especially if you really dig the sound you're getting now. If it was my personal guitar, I'd just get a new body in a color you like and keep the old one in case the sound changes for the worse.
I had a Strat that played and sounded amazing, it had a plywood body and who-knows-what ceramic pups but it was the best Strat at the store the day I bought it. I got "mod-itis" and started changing stuff on it, but it never sounded as good as when I got it. And of course I ditched the "cheap" parts it was made of as soon as I got "better" ones, so I couldn't go back to it's original configuration. So, KEEP YOUR PARTS!And I bet whoever made your guitar, only used the published wood species on RIGHT HANDED guitars, but would run off a bunch of lefties all at once with whatever they had enough of to do a run. So that would explain how a 19XX MIJ is supposed to be whatever wood, but your lefty is something else.
ANd if it was mine, I'd just fill that crack with epoxy, scuff the finish up and respray it whatever color you like, you don't NEED to remove the poly, just get it flat and ready to take paint. I have a MIM Strat that I heat-gunned the thick poly off of, it was a HUGE PITA, the veneer under the sealer came off, and a seam underneath keeps coming thru the new finish. And it doesn't sound any different (to me anyway) than it did with the poly on it.
Aaand, since this isn't long enough yet... THe poly finishes on MIA/MIM (and maybe the indonesian ones) seem a LOT thicker than the poly on the actual JApanese ones. I've had a couple MIJ's and they seemed to already have a really thin coat of paint on them compared to the super thick coat on the other ones.
Whatever you do, good luck. If you haven't seen it already, http://www.reranch.com/101.htm follow everything on this list and you will have a fully pro looking finish yourself, if a hack like me can do it, anyone can.
phil_104
Cheesesteakologist
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
If I was in your shoes, and I loved the guitar the way you say you love this guitar, I would get it professionally refinished. I'd send it to someone known for refinishing guitars, and I would have them remove the finish, fix the crack, and respray the guitar.
Would it be the cheapest solution? No. Would it be the one most likely to preserve the qualities that you love in this guitar? Yes.
If I was in your shoes, and I loved the guitar the way you say you love this guitar, I would get it professionally refinished. I'd send it to someone known for refinishing guitars, and I would have them remove the finish, fix the crack, and respray the guitar.
Would it be the cheapest solution? No. Would it be the one most likely to preserve the qualities that you love in this guitar? Yes.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
Painting over the existing finish is fine by me. The MIJ finish is super thin as is. I also have an MIJ Tele and the finish is ridiculously thin, less than a millimeter.
I can do the sanding and prep no problem. My main concerns:
- I have nowhere to spray at home
- I don't know where to source the appropriate paint in Canada (Reranch and anyone else who sells rattle cans won't ship here)
Painting over the existing finish is fine by me. The MIJ finish is super thin as is. I also have an MIJ Tele and the finish is ridiculously thin, less than a millimeter.
I can do the sanding and prep no problem. My main concerns:
- I have nowhere to spray at home
- I don't know where to source the appropriate paint in Canada (Reranch and anyone else who sells rattle cans won't ship here)
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
I am always amazed at what a black pickguard will do
with that said
my first thought was some garish flame job using lime green automotive pinstripes
cheap guitar or not
if it plays and sounds great
it should deserve a professional refinish
I am always amazed at what a black pickguard will do
with that said
my first thought was some garish flame job using lime green automotive pinstripes
cheap guitar or not
if it plays and sounds great
it should deserve a professional refinish
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
That is freakin' adorable man! ( the nude bronze chicken in a hula skirt lamp not so much ..lol)
That is freakin' adorable man! ( the nude bronze chicken in a hula skirt lamp not so much ..lol)
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
My '85 MIJ (same ugly color as the OP's):
My '85 MIJ (same ugly color as the OP's):
daan
New member
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
MetalManiac;3598213That is freakin' adorable man! ( the nude bronze chicken in a hula skirt lamp not so much ..lol)[/QUOTE said:Thank you, my wife did 98% of the work on THAT project... As soon as I brought that guitar home, my girl claimed it, she "plays" it all the time and gets pissed if it's not out where she can get at it. I tried getting her one of those "mini-Strats" but she wants a "big girl guitar" and not the toy... She also sings along with Black Flag in the car with me, ("Rise above, we gonna rise above, turn it up Daddy!") there's hope for the future for sure!
And is it NOBODY can ship aerosol across the border, or just companies? You can ship stuff to me in WI and I'll send 'em along across if individuals can ship them. Hell, I have a whole box of Reranch stuff (sanding sealer, primer, gloss black and clearcoat) I bought for a project that I won't get to until my kids are in school full time (3-4 years at least) I can definitely work something out if you want. Assuming we can get it to you that is...
As far as spraying, I painted a guitar in my apartment, I just got an appliance box (stove or dishwasher, can't remember now) pushed it onto the patio and let it fly in there. Humidity is worse for paint (especially Nitro lacquer) than tempature, painting in the winter when there's like 0 humidity gives a really good finish, just keep the cans in a pan of HOT water until you actually spray them. Again if I can do this (without any "pro" equipment or facilities) anybody can.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
Yours doesn't look nearly as yellow as mine. I'd be perfectly happy with that color.
@daan, thanks for the tips. I can personally get stuff across the border (I just have them ship it to Blaine and I go pick it up there), so that's not a problem. Pain in the ass though.
My '85 MIJ (same ugly color as the OP's):
Yours doesn't look nearly as yellow as mine. I'd be perfectly happy with that color.
@daan, thanks for the tips. I can personally get stuff across the border (I just have them ship it to Blaine and I go pick it up there), so that's not a problem. Pain in the ass though.
tubecrunch
New member
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
I once had my favorite player refinished and it lost it's mojo. I'm not sure what it was, it still sounded good but I didn't like playing it as much. The finish does contribute to tone in some cases.
I think that guitar is a good color, it just needs a white pickguard. I also think it is basswood.
Everyone has an ugly guitar that they kept because it sounds and plays great. I don't think there is any way to avoid this fundamental truth.
I once had my favorite player refinished and it lost it's mojo. I'm not sure what it was, it still sounded good but I didn't like playing it as much. The finish does contribute to tone in some cases.
I think that guitar is a good color, it just needs a white pickguard. I also think it is basswood.
Everyone has an ugly guitar that they kept because it sounds and plays great. I don't think there is any way to avoid this fundamental truth.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
I could try that.
I did have a white pickguard on it and it looked even dumber. And it's not basswood. Trust me: I have a basswood Tele and the wood looks nothing like this. Plus it's too hard to be basswood - you can usually dent basswood with very light pressure. That was the first thing I tried when I saw that neck pocket.
And does "everyone" really have an ugly guitar? Really?
But fair point about the effects of refinishing.
I could try that.
I did have a white pickguard on it and it looked even dumber. And it's not basswood. Trust me: I have a basswood Tele and the wood looks nothing like this. Plus it's too hard to be basswood - you can usually dent basswood with very light pressure. That was the first thing I tried when I saw that neck pocket.
And does "everyone" really have an ugly guitar? Really?
But fair point about the effects of refinishing.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
My suggestion. Sand it down a lot and paint it a flake candy apple red. That color it is now is pretty close to primers they put on cars that get warm-red paint jobs.
My suggestion. Sand it down a lot and paint it a flake candy apple red. That color it is now is pretty close to primers they put on cars that get warm-red paint jobs.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
mmmm me likey!!!My '85 MIJ (same ugly color as the OP's):
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
The photo actually does it a lot of good. It's closer to the color in that first pic you posted.
The photo actually does it a lot of good. It's closer to the color in that first pic you posted.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
Why not flip a random used 6-point body from Ebay or here and see whether it is responsible for the good sound? It's just a couple screws changing neck, trem and pickguard.
You can probably make the crack look a lot better. Various heavy-handed car products practically melt the paint. You could also fill it with epoxy, possibly mixing it with banana yellow before, or putting some patch-up over the epoxy.
I wouldn't risk refinishing it if the body is repsonsible for the great sound.
And btw, so much for 1-piece bodies sounding better
Why not flip a random used 6-point body from Ebay or here and see whether it is responsible for the good sound? It's just a couple screws changing neck, trem and pickguard.
You can probably make the crack look a lot better. Various heavy-handed car products practically melt the paint. You could also fill it with epoxy, possibly mixing it with banana yellow before, or putting some patch-up over the epoxy.
I wouldn't risk refinishing it if the body is repsonsible for the great sound.
And btw, so much for 1-piece bodies sounding better
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
I actually have a very nice unfinished ash body in the closet that I'm saving for a future project. It's already routed and drilled. Might be an interesting experiment.
Why not flip a random used 6-point body from Ebay or here and see whether it is responsible for the good sound? It's just a couple screws changing neck, trem and pickguard.
You can probably make the crack look a lot better. Various heavy-handed car products practically melt the paint. You could also fill it with epoxy, possibly mixing it with banana yellow before, or putting some patch-up over the epoxy.
I wouldn't risk refinishing it if the body is repsonsible for the great sound.
And btw, so much for 1-piece bodies sounding better
I actually have a very nice unfinished ash body in the closet that I'm saving for a future project. It's already routed and drilled. Might be an interesting experiment.
Jermo3178
Member
Re: Strat body: refin, replace, or deal with it?
I'd leave it be. chips, dings, dents, scratches, cracks.. they all scream character in a guitar. If you really don't dig the color though, I'd at least try to see if I could polish it out first. If it still doesnt do it for ya, take another step and so on. Poly is poly.. It'll be like buying a new wardrobe for you girl... new duds, same mojo..
I'd leave it be. chips, dings, dents, scratches, cracks.. they all scream character in a guitar. If you really don't dig the color though, I'd at least try to see if I could polish it out first. If it still doesnt do it for ya, take another step and so on. Poly is poly.. It'll be like buying a new wardrobe for you girl... new duds, same mojo..
