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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2624.0. "Stripping the finish from an Ibanez" by NEWOA::DALLISON (and its cocked and loaded) Mon Nov 16 1992 15:14

    
    A friend of mine is hell bent on stripping the tatty finish off of his
    Ibanez 570. Its blue at the moment (well, apart from the shallow scrathes) 
    and he wants it a natural wood finish a la Nuno's washburn.
    
    Is this possible ? Whats the wood usually like on Ibanez Guitars under
    the finish ? He is going to have it done by a pro (stripped properly
    and laquered), but wants to know if it'll look good.
    
    He's also concerned about the logo on the headstock. He doesn't want to
    lose it but he wants said headstock stripped too - would a pro be able
    to strip round it or paint another one on ?
    
    I think he's mad, I wouldn't do that to either of mine but WTF - its
    his guitar.
    
    -Tony
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2624.1DoubtfulSPEZKO::A_FRASERThe reply below contains exactly Mon Nov 16 1992 16:0922
        Tony,
        
        I picked  up  an  Ibanez  "V"  for  about  $50 a few years ago,
        intending to do  what  your  friend  plans.    This  had a semi
        transparent sunburst finish over what looked like fancy striped
        maple on the front fading  into black on the sides and back but
        it had been kid-hacked (name scratched  in  the finish, heavily
        dinged and the neck had been snapped near the headstock).
        
        Anyway,  neck repaired and finish stripped and  it  turned  out
        that  the fancy maple front was a piece  of  micro-thin  veneer
        over plywood - I couldn't even sand the front  without  rubbing
        through,  so odds on, he can forget about a natural  finish  if
        his Ibanez is anything like this one...plywood doesn't have the
        grain, you know? :^)
        
        Andy
        
        PS I  ended up trading the "V" to a well known "decrepit" music
        store and got  my  money  back  on  the deal - it was now solid
        gloss black and looked and played nice(ly).
        
2624.2JMHOGOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Mon Nov 16 1992 18:0026
    Tony,
    
    If that's what he wants, why doesn't he just get one of the new Custom
    natural finished ones from Ibanez?  A lot less hassle and no guessing
    involved.
    
    Nobody's going to be able to tell him if it'll work out right or not,
    until the current finish has been removed from the guitar.  It might
    have good looking wood underneath, it might not. My understanding is
    that all the 500 series instruments are solid basswood, so I wouldn't
    expect to find any plywood underneath, but it may be several pieces
    glued together to make a solid piece across.  That generally won't
    finish out real nicely.
    
    If he hates the color and want's it a different color anyway, he might
    as well try it.  If the wood isn't pretty underneath, so that it could
    be finished natural, he could just have it painted another solid color.
    But if he really wants a pretty *natural* finish, I'd say sell it and
    buy a natural finish one.  
    
    Another consideration is that the prices on these guitars are such that
    the work involved in refinishing it may cost more then what the guitar
    is worth on the used market...
    
    Greg
                                  
2624.3NEWOA::DALLISONand its cocked and loadedTue Nov 17 1992 08:526
    
    He doesn't want to pay 750 quid + on another guitar. I doubt if the
    wood is plywood, but as you say, it might be several pieces glued
    together.
    
    I'll pass on your advice, thanks.
2624.4GOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Tue Nov 17 1992 13:3922
    I can understand that, but it seems to me that if he want's to be
    guaranteed one that'll look good with a natural finish, that's the
    only way.  
    
    Maybe he should think about the cost in terms of what he'll have in it. 
    Unless the one he has now it trashed, if a new one costs 750 pounds,
    then his is probably worth 400 used.  If the labor to have it
    professionally refinished is 300 pounds, he only saved 50, AND he takes
    the chance that he can't get it finished the way he wants.
    
    I read a long time ago that Fender used to select the finish for a
    guitar based on how good the wood looked.  If it was really pretty
    wood, they'd put a natural finish on it.  If it was ok, but nothing
    great, it might get a sunburst.  And if it looked like crap, then it'd
    get an opaque color.  It wouldn't surprise me if Ibanez did the same
    thing.
    
    BTW, basswood's not known for it's beautiful grain.  I'd guess that
    Nuno's Washburn guitars are made of something harder with a prettier
    grain pattern, like poplar or ash.
    
    Greg
2624.6Might helpGOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Tue Nov 17 1992 14:083
    What geographic region of the world do you live in?
    
    Greg
2624.7NEWOA::DALLISONand its cocked and loadedTue Nov 17 1992 14:145
    
    Greg
    
    Well, second hand the axe is worth 300 quid and the labour cost is only
    about 75 quid.
2624.8Give it a shot!GOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Tue Nov 17 1992 14:175
    Ah, that certainly makes that a much more attractive option then. 
    Refinishing (by someone qualified) is an expensive proposition over
    here.
    
    Greg
2624.9CAVLRY::BUCKmaybe love will come again my friendTue Nov 17 1992 14:375
    Funny Tone,
    
    My White Ibanez RG550 is getting REALLY beat up of late, and I was 
    also considering just sanding (or burning) the damn finish off to
    natural.  
2624.10MSDOA::BLAIRShut up and eat your notemealTue Nov 17 1992 14:4312
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Note 2624.7            Stripping the finish from an Ibanez                7 of 9
NEWOA::DALLISON "and its cocked and loaded"           5 lines  17-NOV-1992 11:14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
>    Greg
>    
>    Well, second hand the axe is worth 300 quid and the labour cost is only
>    about 75 quid.
    
    
     Ahem, better make that $150 quid  - he'll probably need to repaint it.
2624.11KDX200::COOPERI even use TONE soap !!Tue Nov 17 1992 14:497
RE: Bucks beat up 550...

Gee dood - when you sold me the pink one, it was "sorta beat up", and I 
considered it MINT !

Guys, guys... a guitar with a few dings on it is SCARED !  Don't mess with
'em !!!
2624.12GOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Tue Nov 17 1992 15:014
    I *like* beat up looking guitars, they have more character!  I'm always
    afraid I'm gonna scratch up one that looks too nice.
    
    Greg
2624.13You'll be famousNWACES::HICKERNELLWhat was Plan B again?Tue Nov 17 1992 16:154
    Buck, if you're going to burn the finish off, use lighter fluid and 
    do it on stage!  %^)
    
    Dave
2624.14NEWOA::DALLISONand its cocked and loadedWed Nov 18 1992 15:181
    -1 But make sure its not plugged in at the time 8^)
2624.15;^)GOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Wed Nov 18 1992 15:406
    re: Tone
    
    No dude, make sure it *is* plugged in at the time!  And make VERY sure
    you get it on tape!!!
    
    gh
2624.16NEWOA::DALLISONand its cocked and loadedWed Nov 18 1992 15:423
    
    And make a mention in your last Will and Testament as to who you want
    to recieve said tape 8^)
2624.17Pleeze?NWACES::HICKERNELLWhat was Plan B again?Wed Nov 18 1992 15:474
    *I* want to receive it.  I never heard the sound of any of Hendrix'
    guitars burning.
    
    Jim Morrison
2624.18 Rathole Alert SMURF::GALLODragon Dictate UserThu Nov 19 1992 10:0018
     Re: Scratched guitars 
     
     I tend to agree with Greg on the subject of beat up guitars. 
     
     I mean, who really cares if a guitar gets nicks/scratches/dents 
     in it, so long as it plays right? I'm not careless with my guitars, 
     but I don't really go out of my way to make sure they don't get 
     scratched. After all it's just a hunk of wood, plastic and wire 
     isn't it? ;^) ;^) 
     
     I don't know, should I wear my asbestos suit now? 
     
     
    Tom
    
    ---
    Dictated with Dragon Dictate.
    
2624.19GOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Thu Nov 19 1992 13:298
    My problem is that it makes me feel bad, getting a scratch in a real
    pretty guitar, so I generally try to buy guitars that have a little
    road wear on them already (or ones I really don't care about the finish
    on).  That way I don't have to worry about it...  8^)
    
    Besides, beat up guitars have "character"!
    
    Greg
2624.20Been Said...COMET::MESSAGEYou can't dust for vomitThu Nov 19 1992 14:345
    I believe Pete Townshend said it best: "I play the f***ing thing, 
    I'm not in love with it." This in response to an interviewer's
    question as to why Pete was smashing guitars.
    
    Bill
2624.21MSDOA::BLAIRShut up and eat your notemealThu Nov 19 1992 15:045
    
    
    	For me, it's not a matter of over-worrying about scratches, etc.
    	It's just that I take good care off all my stuff - guitars 
    	included.
2624.22NEWOA::DALLISONand its cocked and loadedThu Nov 19 1992 15:055
    
    Well, the guy is gonna go for it. If it looks nice I may consider
    getting mine done.
    
    -Tony
2624.23GOES11::G_HOUSEBig cheese, MAKE me!Thu Nov 19 1992 16:253
    Let us know how it turns out, Tony.  I'm curious!
    
    Greg
2624.24NEWOA::DALLISONand its cocked and loadedFri Nov 20 1992 03:581
    No problemo.