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Location: North Texas | Has anyone completely removed the clear (laquer?) finish from an acoustic? I'd like to redo my Matrix top if the process won't damage it. The rest of the guitar is in great shape as is. Comments will be appreciated. |
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Location: closely held secret | Good question, Bucky. I've been wondering the same thing, for my Balladeer. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | need to know what the finish actually is on a matrix. |
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Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Has been, can be done but to be done right it should be a factory job.
They have used several poly-epoxy type finishes. These do not work like a lacquer and any later layers or build ups will be visible.
When CT does a top they pull the bridge and neck, sand it down and reshoot.
You can sand it down with out neck removal but it will leave some tattle tales behind. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | What kind of finish to you want on the top, gloss, semi-gloss or satin? Is it a burst pattern? Why do you want to change it? Need details.
If it's changing a clear satin to a gloss that's easy. Anything else is harder. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It's a polyesther finish and a bitch to get off. Leave it and buy the guitar you want. |
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Location: closely held secret | Same for early 80's Balladeers? |
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Posts: 6192
Location: Phoenix AZ | They should have made the old Ovation tops dual sided. That way when the first side got dinged, lacquer cracked, etc. you could just peel the top off the tupperware, flip it over and stick it back on. Thereby doubling the effective cosmetic life of your investment. Dave |
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Location: Upper Left USA | To augment Dave's post i would just like to add the following sounds:
"Phwoo-up"
"Phwapp-p-p-p" |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Woodster,
How many times did you actually open and close the tupperware container to work out the phonetics?? |
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Location: NJ | And whattaya gonna tell the wife when she asks what happened to all of the pudding?? |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Like Cliff says, it's a gift (curse). |
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October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | If the final coat is a polyester, what would be the right chemical to soften it up? Acetone, MEK, aircraft stripper? The questions really concern damaging the top/tone of the instrument. I'm not a pro painter, but I do believe it's possible to improve the appearance of my 31 dollar, antique, deep bowl, Matrix. I already have all the guitars I want. This is a project to restore an old one. Like fixing up an old car. You don't go out and buy a new one, you redo the old, back to original. That's the fun of it. There may be some intrepid members who've already done some finish fixin', so, chime in. The repair job does not have to be "easy". Cheers! |
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Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | I have been using Aircraft Stripper and 50 grit to strip the solid bodies. Very stubborn finish to remove. Melts in your mind, and on your hands. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Buck,
What's the problem with the finish?
If no problem, then why do it?
If there is a problem, there may be a way to fix it without too much work. |
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October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | Do the solid bods have a poly, or a laquer? I know it's a messy op. Those fumes really set you free. A fan will be used. That Matrix has an elevated binding, unlike a regular top. I'll try some chemicals (on the guitar) and see if I can come up with a slick method. There has to be a way to do the job, it's just a matter of uncovering it. Pun. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Buck,
Get the stripper and the sander and go for it. Your project will take longer than you think.
If you told us what the problem was there may be an easier fix.
Good luck. |
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February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Buck, Is your Matrix top plywood? If so you'll probably want to just leave it as is and get a shiney new guitar (GAS attack :eek: ) and keep your Matrix all original!! The plywood top is extremelly thin so if you have to strip & sand to much.....you might wind up sanding thru the layers and maybe even end up with a guitar that looks like Willie's "Trigger" |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I was thinking the same thing. I thought all Matrix had plywood tops. I think my manual even puts a positive spin on that. If you sand through the Spruce veneer, you're hosed. |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Yep! ;) |
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October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | Yes it's laminated. There are discolored cracks behind the bridge and a humongous crack below the hole. I don't feel any cracks inside so I assume the cracks are in the clear coat, and the top is ok. It's a cosmetics thing. Since the rosette is gone, I tried some solvents there. Wow, the finish is hard as a rock. Even lacquer thinner had no effect, and that stuff usually cuts anything. That veneer on the top is thin, looks to be less than .015". Maybe half of that.
I did cut the saddle way down and got the action lowered dramatically. It plays like a high end guitar now. I'm still debating what to do with the top. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | WoodGrain ContactPaper. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Sears Green Goblin Latex, best with a roller |
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December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | I have some left over from Tony's Viper redo!
It has a few Oreo Cookie crumbs in it. Matter of fact, just throw some more crumbs in and make it look like an elite T or the old "polane" paint jobs!
Textured roller required. :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | best to use the ones for stucco... |
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Refinishing
