Good candidate for stripping the finish?

[jesterbass]

Hello ladies/gentlemen.

I am planning on buying this used specimen:

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However it is slightly beat up with dings and scratches all over. It is a maple neck through with maple wings and a nice red finish. I was hoping to sand all the red finish from it and make it natural colour again. Do you think it is a good candidate for this or will I have trouble with red paint having seeped deep into the wood? Any other caveats I should pay attention to? Especially since it is a neck through and also has some holes for stringing through body (those look tricky if I won't be able to remove them)

Many thanks,
Yanni

 

[berwick63]

Usually the string through pieces come out. I've heard of people who only use the string through because the pieces fall out sometimes if they aren't used. I would think that it would take a lot to get it back to complete bare wood. I've seen a few people remove red finishes, and it usually looks natural with some red streaks through it. Kind of a cool look too though. I personally think the bass looks good as is(in the pictures at least) But it's your bass, and if you want to refinish it, go for it. Just remember it's all or nothing. Half-assing rarely gets good results. Good luck!

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Good candidate in my books.
Dirk

 

[jesterbass]

Does the wood penetration of the paint depend on the type of maple that is on this thing? I presume the maple on the neck is different (harder) than the wood on the wings.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Those are questions that can only be answered by doing, sorry to say.
Good luck,
Dirk