Need help with a finish problem

[lfmn16]

I posted this on another forum, but didn't really get what I was looking for. Not a bass, but close enough.

I picked up a Custom Shop tele cheap because it looks like a mad girlfriend took a screwdriver to it. I have no experience working with wood, so maybe the best advice would be to leave it alone, however, I'm asking the experts if there is anything that can be done here by a novice WITHOUT MAKING IT WORSE. I have no delusions of making it look new, but would like to know if there is anything I could do to make it look better, or protect the bare wood. My worst fear would be to take it to a professional and have him say, "If only you hadn't ..."

I appreciate any advice anyone would like to offer, including leave it the hell alone.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

First, I kind of like it as is.

Is the wood gouged? I don’t know how you damage the finish like that in anger without gouging the wood, unless it’s an intentional paint job—ie, purposely made to look like someone took a screwdriver to it.

 

[lfmn16]

First, I kind of like it as is.

Is the wood gouged? I don’t know how you damage the finish like that in anger without gouging the wood, unless it’s an intentional paint job—ie, purposely made to look like someone took a screwdriver to it.

There is one place that I see where the wood was gouged. I don't know anything about why or how it was done. I don't think this was an intentional paint job though.

 

[micguy]

That's the rare "you cheated on your girlfriend with her sister" level relic - highly sought after - you pay a lot for it from the custom shop because it kinda freaks out the guy who does it.

In the late 60's/early 70's, we would have put a "flower power" sticker over that.

 

[dwizum]

I don't think there is an obvious correct answer to this. There are lots of things that "can" be done, by a novice, but it really depends on what your interest level is, how much time/energy you want to put into it, and what your desired outcome is.

"Look better" is subjective. There isn't really any special reason why you need to "protect" the wood, unless you expect the instrument to be stored in really harsh conditions. Nothing bad will happen (structurally/mechanically) because of a few square inches of kinda-bare wood.

It would be pretty challenging, with no finish experience, to make an invisible repair, and the easiest way to do that would probably be a total refinish. If you don't want to do a total refinish and there is no other specific look you're motivated to try to achieve, honestly, you're probably best off leaving it as-is.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Well, the low budget standby is to go to a cosmetics counter with the guitar (or a hunk of the chipped paint) in hand, and see if you can find some nail polish that closely matches the paint. Keep laying it on until the gouges are filled and a little proud, then sand it down flush with sucessively finer wet/dry sandpaper. If that sounds like a lot of work for not much benefit.... it is. Then you will have a guitar that passes the 10 foot test visually. Somebody meant to hurt that bass, and succeeded. In your shoes, I'd sand it right back to bare wood (or at least bare primer), fill the wood gouges with bondo, prime it all over, and rattlecan it something close to the original color. How long it takes and how it ends up looking are purely dependent on your level of patience. No shortage of tutorials on YT and right here in the Rattlecan Refinishers Club on TB. If you aren't looking for Perfect, it's a weekends work, and then another week or two waiting for the paint to harden up enough to polish it up. Nice looking guitar, I think it's worth refinning, and you'll learn a new skill. Win!

 

[Dark Horse]

Yeah, that’s not gonna disappear with someone without extensive finish experience. And even then it’ll be tough to make it disappear while keeping the same color. By tough I mean impossible. If it were my guitar, I would strip the finish, and reshoot in nitro. If you’re not comfortable doing that, there are plenty of people out there that do a great job. MJT, Pat Wilkins, etc.

my 2¢

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Nitro is the easiest to shoot and polish, but about the least durable available, it effectively self destructs over time, which is why old guitars look so pleasingly beat up. If you like a relic style finish, or just something easy, Reranch sells nitro in spray cans, lots of good tutorials and info on their website.
Guitar ReRanch ~ Guitar Refinishing Products

A lot of people use Duplicolor auto paint too, it dries harder than nitro, and they have clearcoat too. I’d post this on the Rattlecan Refinishers Club, they will hook you up.

 

[Pocket4]

Anytime down the road you can check into body repair and refinishing by someone who does that. I agree it's all right if you're comfortable with it. Spot filling and tinting would be fruitless if you don't have experience doing it.

 

[Huw Phillips]

I would offer 2 solutions
1. Leave it alone whatever you do with out good knowledge of finishing and the pre prep you will make a mess in my experience, even touching it up with nail varnish the color won’t match and it’s a lot of nail varnish
2. Take it to a pro
Assuming you got a good deal a paint job will make it a lot more valuable
Good luck

 

[Scoops]

WOW

Girls gone wild.....errrrrrrr
Relic gone wild.....eerrrrrr

Girls relicing gone wild.

 

[lowendrachel]

I bought my Stingray with some cosmetic hit. Kinda looks like that but not as much as yours. I just left. But I can see where you are coming from. That's just too much. Good luck though. Good looking guitar by the way.

 

[Spidey2112]

I'm just glad it wasn't an acoustic.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I posted this on another forum, but didn't really get what I was looking for. Not a bass, but close enough.

I picked up a Custom Shop tele cheap because it looks like a mad girlfriend took a screwdriver to it. I have no experience working with wood, so maybe the best advice would be to leave it alone, however, I'm asking the experts if there is anything that can be done here by a novice WITHOUT MAKING IT WORSE. I have no delusions of making it look new, but would like to know if there is anything I could do to make it look better, or protect the bare wood. My worst fear would be to take it to a professional and have him say, "If only you hadn't ..."

I appreciate any advice anyone would like to offer, including leave it the hell alone.

View attachment 3799598 View attachment 3799601 View attachment 3799602 View attachment 3799603 View attachment 3799604 View attachment 3799605

I vote keep it as is and add a decal that says “Karen edition” lol

 

[Spidey2112]

I bet with a little research, and minimal cost, you could bring that back to life. Might surprise yourself.

Maybe get an appraisal to see if it's worth it, or not.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

Well, for what it's worth, I kind of like it as is. I'd probably keep it for a while and see if it grows on me, or starts nagging at me. If the latter, then go all-in and get a pro to finish it in a way that would blow my mind, if funds allow.

By the way, how does it play and sound?

 

[jeff62]

Definitely leave it as is. It'll look worse if you attempt anything other than a complete refinish. Personally, I think it looks cool.

 

[Ostie]

Embrace the relic! Too bad you don’t know for sure that a mad ex did the damage. That would make a great story.

BTW, there’s some serious crud in that bridge.

 

[lfmn16]

Embrace the relic! Too bad you don’t know for sure that a mad ex did the damage. That would make a great story.

BTW, there’s some serious crud in that bridge.

By the time I've had it a couple of years I'll have told the story so often I'll believe it myself!

 

[micguy]

I think if I had that, I might try to tint the wood scars red - I think that might look cool. But I'd only do that because, if it didn't work, I have an out - I'd refinish it. I know how to do that, but if you don't...leave that to a pro. Or just play it as is - if you choose to do that, develop a good story.