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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Massachusetts | Hi everyone, newbie here, seeking opinions.
I am the proud owner of what I believe to be a 1972 Tornado, Model # 1232-4, Serial # J 044.
This guitar is 100% original, and complete. It has the Bigsby style tremelo, and natural finish. The top has a lot of weather checking cracks in the clear coat, as well as a few on back. One of the tuners is stripped and won't tune up to pitch. The p'ups & electrics are inoperative. I am thinking about returning it to a playable instrument by retrofiting it with basicaly all ES-335 hardware & electrics. If I do this, I will keep all the original pieces, so it can be returned to original if needed. With what little info have been able find, it does not seem to be a particularly valuable instrument on the used market. I know this is a subjective question, but here goes: Would it be a sin to refinish just the spruce top in cherry red, or should I just leave it with the original "patina", cracks & all? | |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | My personal opinion is worthless to anyone but me, but that's what it is. I can't see the value in taking something that is somewhat rare or "collectible" and "upgrading" it with parts that are neither rare nor collectible. If you want to keep it for your use, then do what you need to in order to make it fit your use. If you want to "restore" it, then return it to original condition. This is also my opinion on the BMW and Porsche sites. It's easier if I just apply one opinion to several different circumstances. | |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Whatever floats yer boat! In my personal experience, I have a very early Tornado/Thunderhead mutt that is entirely checked on every surface, and the binding has yellowed to a great shade. I smoothed the checks and gave it a quick coat of thin wiping finish and it just oozes character out of every one of those pores.
I'm very glad I didn't refinish it! | |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Welcome.
Don't change a Cheetah into a Leopard.
If you want an ES get an ES.
Sell it to me so I can turn it into a Tornado! :D | |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | WARNING - DO NOT REFINISH IT.
I tried it and it is a bitch of a job. The problem is that the clearcoat us very thick and tough as nails. Industrial airplane paint stripper would not touch it. So I sanded, and sanded, and sanded ... You need to sand off the complete finish. But here is the rub (no pun intended). The spruce top is a plyeood top and the outer thin veneer is VERY thin. Virtually impossible to sand off the finish without sanding thru to the 2nd ply. Then you've got a hell of a quandry on your hands. I ended up buying a 2nd identical guitar with a bad neck and electronics and making one good one of the pair.
I would recommend either fixing up the electronics and hardware that does not work, so cutting your loses and getting the 335 that you probably really want anyway.
Dave | |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Massachusetts | Thank's to all that replied.
I was leaning toward the "no- refinish" side, and your input has helped me make up my mind.
I'm not really looking for an ES. the Tornado was given to me several years ago by the original owner who never realy played it. I think that it must have gone thru some severe temp. variations
I have looked high and low for replacment p'ups, and can't find anything even close to the same dimensions. I thought about having them rewound, but closer inspection revealed one piece ceramic magnets, reminecent of very low-grade instruments of that era. The pots are also very small, and of questionable quality. That being said, the guitar itself, seems very good acousticaly, the frets & board have very little wear. It definitely could be setup to my liking. I'm going to get some pickguard material to cover the original route holes & accomodate the humbuckers. I think this guitar could be a very good "player" with a few mods. I will put away all the original parts for safe keeping. My #1 is a 62 'caster, that looks like hell, I picked it up for real short money in the early 80's. I have had it refretted once, and have changed out much of the hardware & electrics over the years, but i still have all the original parts. I can't believe what some folks would be willing to pay for it now, but I will never sell it unless someone offers to trade a house for it! To quote Mitzdawg, this thing not only "oozes character", but oozes TONE too! It has become an integral part of my playing. I think the Tornado has similar potential.
Whew! that was a long post! | |
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to refinish or not to refinish?