what is black stuff for under paint in strat cavity?

[projr72]

hey all. sanding down my cavities like the strat mod article says from premier guitar...that oddly has seymour duncan on cover [2008]. anyhow, eric johnson does this for tone purposes.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2008/Aug/10_Easy_Strat_Mods_to_Improve_Primary_Tone.aspx

running into some black stuff, prob conductive paint. im new... is this stuff necessary? do i need to keep sanding down to the wood?

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: what is black stuff for under paint in strat cavity?

Yes, it's conductive paint.

If your guitar is suddenly noiser, then yes, it was necessary.


edit:
Ah yest, the infamous "let it breathe", Dirk Wacker article.
Have you read thru the responses at the bottom?
Entertaining.

6. Let your guitar breath.

IMO, this is stupid. Wood doesn't breathe in any meaningful manner. It's been chopped down. It's dead, Jim.
Everywhere you remove finish, you let in moisture.

Removing the paint under the bridgeplate/block allows for better contact, is all.

And the thing about the trem cover is only applicable unplugged. It has no bearing on the sound when plugged in.
I'd also be wary of doing anything Eric Johnson recommends as his senses are beyond the ken of mere mortals like us.

 

[SwampRocker]

Re: what is black stuff for under paint in strat cavity?

It's black gold, shhh don't tell anybody


:fingersx::laugh2::fest6::bigeyes::18::beerchug::drive::sleeping::cop::drill::werd::banned: :friday: :1::banghead::chairshot:sword:oed::wave: :doh: :chairfall:blackeye::banana:pcorn::saeek: :yourock: :lmao::argh::nono:

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: what is black stuff for under paint in strat cavity?

Are those all of the smilies?

 

[62LeftyBlues]

Re: what is black stuff for under paint in strat cavity?

Leave it be - if you want more sustain screw the pickups directly into the wood.
Worked wonders on my Tele ala G.E.Smith style! EVH did it as well-