restoring a guitar
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I went up to our little community dumpster today and noticed a nice gigbag for a guitar in there are went dumpster diving to retrieve it. Underneath it were two more and the one had a Fender Telecaster in it. This guitar looks like someone drove around with it sliding around in the back of their pickup before putting it in the bag and disposing of it. I have totally disassembled this thing, ordered a few parts and I am going to repaint the body. Neck is brand new.Any of you guys do any guitar restoration? Any pointers?
what do you want to know? I’ve put a few guitars back together.
I used bondo to fill the deep stuff, poly primer and block it out. just like autobody.
I found that learning to play gets you laid alot, sry…that’s all i can contribute.
[quote=”jimmo” post=23940]I found that learning to play gets you laid alot, sry…that’s all i can contribute.[/quote]
you found this out or is it just hearsay :p :rofl :rofl[quote=”bobwires” post=23939]what do you want to know? I’ve put a few guitars back together.
I used bondo to fill the deep stuff, poly primer and block it out. just like autobody.[/quote]
bobwires, no problems with adhesion or shrinking on wood?
[quote=”jimmo” post=23940]I found that learning to play gets you laid alot, sry…that’s all i can contribute.[/quote]
Exactly right. My wife told me that when she met me she said to herself,” if this guy can play that guitar, I’m gonna be on him like white on rice.”
[quote=”ding” post=23941][quote=”jimmo” post=23940]I found that learning to play gets you laid alot, sry…that’s all i can contribute.[/quote]
you found this out or is it just hearsay :p :rofl :rofl[/quote]:dnc :dnc :dnc :dnc
if it’s going on bare wood then use resin as a primer. I’m a glass guy so my approach is probably different from others…
In the interior business we use MDF and filler all day long. the filler will stick like you won’t believe if you use resin to prime it, then fill, then blast the whole thing with poly to seal it all up and let the resin/filler cure 100%. block it out, and seal that with epoxy.
I just seal it up every step of the way and clear it in the end. no issues with wood moving to date.
I let this thing dry for a few days and gave it a sand and recoated it with 3 more coats of clear. Let it dry a few more days and cut and rubbed it. I have been doing some extensive research on how to do this right. I just had a professional musician come over and tell me I needed copper shielding tape in all of the pockets and on the pickguard to eliminate any backfeed hum on the amp. So I got that on order. Also ordered all new pickups.They appeared to be fried from wiring them wrong. Potentiometers seem to checkout ok on my digital voltmeter.
Still a mystery why someone threw this out. I think he probably fried it and figured it was toast. As always, any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
what a find!!! be worth afew quid!
Wow, great find. I’ve done (refinished or painted or had painted) a few guitars. Own a newer Strat with ’69 Abbey pick-us so I’m very jealous of your dumpster dive.
Why would you throw away a telecaster? Stolen?
Anyway, the fellow suggesting copper is right, it can help, but the guitar wasn’t shipped that way. Still can’t hurt. I used the copper tape that is used to keep snails and slugs away from valuable plants, peel and stick, on the Strat, cheaper than a guitar specific application, it works great at half the price. (HINT: Overlap the joints)
Fender used to be real picky about replacement decals, (60’s HS Band Jazz bass, beat to death) so if the headstock is in decent shape and has the Fender decal, don’t refinish the front of the head. Basically, if this is from a dumpster, and you have no provenance you will never get a replacement decal. Feel free to re-do the back of the neck if needed, very light rag applied urethane (IMO).
Have fun with it. Any new pics? What Pick-ups?
Hey Man Nice work, I have an Ibanez RG570 that I want to restore, is sunburst red at the moment but will be going a nice metallic blue, did you use any filler to fill any chips etc, I have a few that I want to fill, I have owned it since 1991 so it is my baby but is time for a resto… Demarzio pickups, edge tremolo etc, I will sandblast the tremolo etc as it has some rust bubbles on it and repaint.
Cheers
Chris.
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