guitar stripping and respraying - project

machinauk

machinauk

machinauk

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Joined
22 Apr 2007
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288
I've set myself a little project of restoring my first guitar, just wondering if you guys have done anything similar and can give pointer.

Its a Tanglewood Quomaster (tele copy), so no major issues if something goes a little wrong, its in a non playable condition and just want to see if I can get it sorted myself.

Now the stripping of the paintwork I think I can managa, got some polyurethane remover that should't damage the wood. Just wondering if anyone could give me pointers on re finishing, prefering a dark cherry woodstain (similar to a gibson faded series) - anyone know how to achieve it?

Cheers
 
First off, this probably should be moved to general discussion?
Probing question, Can you play guitar?
I ask because I got my first guitar twenty years ago, it was a fender squire 80's model and I spent a load of time and effort stripping it and spraying it, when it would have sounded better leaving it be.
 
Yes, I can play.

The guitar as it is is unplayable, needs 3 new tuning pegs and 2 of the saddles replacing (if not the whole bridge piece), also needs the wiring sorting. Seeing as its in such a bad state I was looking to reverse my cosmetic damage too (silly idea's of what looked cool when 16).

As its stands its just in my rack for sentimental value and really want to sort that
 
Might not be the answer you want to hear, though I would work on getting it playable; then worry about the finish. Just my opinion, as all I did with the Jap Squire, (I just wanted it black. :)) was devalue it, sound and cash wise.
Infact I wouldn't even worry ever about the finish; take Rory Gallagher's route. :D
Nice link simisker. ;)

Any pics machinauk?
 
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jmc007 said:
Might not be the answer you want to hear, though I would work on getting it playable; then worry about the finish. Just my opinion, as all I did with the Jap Squire, (I just wanted it black. :)) was devalue it, sound and cash wise.
Infact I wouldn't even worry ever about the finish; take Rory Gallagher's route. :D
Nice link simisker. ;)

Any pics machinauk?
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Paint altered the sound of your guitar? :eek: :confused:

Some how, I doubt that.

Did you bork your guitar attempting to strip it or something?
 
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Ignore the scribbling at the headstock, the main issue there is the fact the the treading for screwing the heads in place is shot on 2 and 3 heads are missiing anyway, so new tuners needed. Bridge wise, 2 sets of saddle screws have seized up, no go either direction so cant be adjusted and 2 of the saddle fixings are a little corroded, but i can probably get them off and cleaned. For the sake of £20-£30 though i can but a new bridge in place.

Pickups did work, but need reconnecting to selector/tone/volume. painted (and varnished) the body, only cosmetic and i could get rid of probably easily enough, not sure how it will look underneath.

As im in the mood for a big refit as part of my little project, im looking to strip and change the styling, as well as the broke bits so i can give it a good thrashing again.

Cheers for the link simisker
 
The guitar us worth less than £60 in immaculate condition so I don't see a problem in using it as a project really. Go for it.
 
Cybermyk said:
The guitar us worth less than £60 in immaculate condition so I don't see a problem in using it as a project really. Go for it.
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Exactly, its worth nothing except for pure sentimental value, and i'd rather try and spruce it up a bit to the point where i'd get some use out it rather than it being just sat there falling apart. It is actually alright to play (when it worked) :p
 
surely if it has sentimental value then the best thing to do would be leave it as it is ? then you will always remember your first guitar as been how it really was when you used to play it ?

unless you need to be able to use/play it of course
 
Good luck to you. I embarked on an identical project last year with my old squire. It's still sat in various pieces of bare wood and metal. Will finish it off one of these days....
 
kylew said:
Paint altered the sound of your guitar? :eek: :confused:

Some how, I doubt that.

Did you bork your guitar attempting to strip it or something?
Click to expand...

No, to be more precise I should have said tone; the holy grail of all guitarist's. :D I thought all guitarist's knew that the finish, affects the tone of a guitar? Didn't you? Or was your doubt based as a non-believer, sorry; non-guitarist?
For your information: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/ToneTipsLetItBreatheGuit/

"andy" said:
surely if it has sentimental value then the best thing to do would be leave it as it is ? then you will always remember your first guitar as been how it really was when you used to play it ?

unless you need to be able to use/play it of course
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My sentiments exactly. ;)

Nice guitar machinauk, get it going.
I wish I had spent the time dicking about; "PRACTICING". Like women; a good guitar, meant for you, will come. In the words of Waynes world 2, "Play it and it will come." :D (Sorry I am a bit bonkers.)
If I have the wrong gist of this, (and I frequently do.) what "andy" say's holds true.
Incidently what guitar do you play now?
Ah, just thought machinauk, I have a few spare mini-grover machine heads laying around, pretty sure they would fit, can't guarantee mind, though you are more than welcome to them. Give us a shout and they are yours, I will even post them to you free, it would be pleasure to help a budding guitarist.
 
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I may take you up on the Grovers offer once I have fully decided on full rebulid or just fixing the broke bits.

I have 4 other electrics right now, the main one being my Fender Corgan sig Strat (in black). Also have a squier fat strat (in pink), a PRS termonti SE and an INDIE manufactured SG (its not labelled as an indie though and is based on the Gibson voodoo).

To give you more of a story behind my ideas, the guitar was my first guitar, but was not actually bought for me, it was due to be my dads (quo fan) until I decided I wanted to play, so when he collected it he put it away until christmas. So although it is my guitar, if a can I want to to feel more like 'mine'. (That probably makes no logical sense though).

Have an image in my head, mid/dark cherry stain with cream plate, or no plate and cream pickup surrounds. Like I say,not fully decided yet as want opinions of those that have been there and done it, but a guitar should be played as far as I'm concerned, otherwise its just a waste.
 
jmc007 said:
No, to be more precise I should have said tone; the holy grail of all guitarists. :D I thought all guitarists knew that the finish, affects the tone of a guitar? Didn't you? Or was your doubt based as a non-believer, sorry; non-guitarist?
For your information: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/ToneTipsLetItBreatheGuit/
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Ah, I most definitely DON'T believe the finish of a guitar alters the "tone".

I'd go as far as to say "BS" to that to be honest. :p

That's worse than saying the guitar cable you use will have an impact on the "tone" of the guitar.

(yes I do own a guitar).
 
:) It most definately does; whether your ear is accute enough to hear it is another matter.
http://www.mother-of-tone.com/lacquer.htm
Also google "finite elements of an accoustic guitar", it is less apparent on an electric for sure, though every aspect of a guitar can alter it's tone. :)
Call it BS, placebo, e.t.c.; it obviously it isn't going to make you sound better, though it is there non-the-less.
 
jmc007 said:
:) It most definately does; whether your ear is accute enough to hear it is another matter.
http://www.mother-of-tone.com/lacquer.htm
Also google "finite elements of an accoustic guitar", it is less apparent on an electric for sure, though every aspect of a guitar can alter it's tone. :)
Call it BS, placebo, e.t.c.; it obviously it isn't going to make you sound better, though it is there non-the-less.
Click to expand...

An acoustic guitar, I can understand, an electric guitar however, BS.

The wood itself doesn't resonate the sound on an electric, the strings moving induce a current through the pickups. I can understand that the density of the wood itself has effect on the sustain of a string due to it absorbing more or less of the strings energy vibrating, however, outside of the density of the wood absorbing energy from the strings, the finish and "type" of wood isn't going to alter the sound of an electric guitar because the guitar isn't relying on the wood itself to produce its sound.
 
The guitar resonates and different materials can make that wood resonate differently, altering sustain and tone.
 
It was back in 1985 and basically instead of concentrating on playing I was more bothered about how the thing looked. It was a very basic crude job I did, stripped and then sanded it to the wood and got some black spray paint, lightly sanding inbetween the couple of coats I gave it. :D
That's it really, just something I have regretted doing.
 
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