Cosmetic repairs or not?

WernHalen · #1 April 26th, 2006

I incldue a picture of two of my guitars. The Jackson and the ART. The Jackson I picked up in a pawn shop for a steal and the ART i bought new.

The jackson was propably owned by Slash because it has a bad nicotine stain on the head stock where the owner stuck his lit sigaret when he was doing a solo or something...

How do i go about removing the stain,if it is at all possible without lifting the laquer?

The ART is actually getting some well defined caracter marks around the sound hole. The satin finnish is going shiny...

I know this is part of the natural aging process, but is there nothing I can do to get the finnish back to the way it was when i bought it?

My wife loves both guitars, I wanted to sell the Jacskon for awhile but she convinced me to keep it.

nocat · #2 April 26th, 2006

I don't see a link Wern...!?!

WernHalen · #3 April 26th, 2006

Sorry about that I had to edit the post... I tapped the post button without adding the pics...

Ultimate Garage Band · #4 April 26th, 2006

first off, let me just say that of all the people that ever posted a pic when referring to an issue w/their guitar, your pics are BEST!!!!

Very big, clear, well lit, etc. Thanks!

Jackson - (this assumes you've tried to clean it using a product like Windex, Formula 409, Simple Green, etc.) The discoloration isn't just a transferred stain, the heat from the burning ember/ash on the cigarettes has caused this. The question is though, is it just the clear coat on top or has it penetrated the clear coat and actually affected the white lettering? I'd start out by obtaining some 2000 grit wet sandpaper from an auto supply store. Soak it over night in water. Using a small block, something the size of a 6 sided die, start sanding directly over the spot. Cut the sandpaper to better fit the block.

Just go a few strokes, wipe w/a clean rag and look from every angle. Does it look like the brown is starting to go away but the white is still there? Good!! Proceed slowly sanding a bit, wiping away, and looking closely. IF you're able to sand all the discoloration away then clean it w/Naptha and then hit it w/some clear poly to protect it. If you start cutting into the white to remove the brown, if you really want it gone then I'd take it to a body shop or an airbrush artist and let them finish removing what they need to and then reapplying whitle where they need to and then having them seal it up w/some poly.

Art & Lutherie dread - there's nothing you can do really except to polish the rest of the guitar to make it look as shiney as the other places. That's just the nature of matte lacquer.

nocat · #5 April 26th, 2006

I know this is not gonna be a popular statement but, I think stuff like that adds
character to an instrument, it shows that it has been well used, not just in it's case
in a closet somewhere... The battle scars, so to speak...!!!

As long as it doesn't affect the instrument's sound or functionality, I would leave well enough
alone...!!!

Cheers
Ben

allthumbs · #6 April 26th, 2006

Battle scars are cool if your the one who put them there. Some one elses battle scars takes a little more to live with.

Cedric01 · #7 April 27th, 2006

Before you hit that Jackson with sand paper, try Murphy's oil soap. Just follow the instruction on the bottle and damp a terry cloth with it. Take the cloth and if you can wipe that stain out. If that does not work, try a little bit of Borax. Sprinkle some on a damp cloth and wipe the stain with it.

Ultimate Garage Band · #8 April 27th, 2006

You could also try a buffing compound as opposed to the 2000 grit wet sandpaper. About the same thing except one is in a paste/gel form.

WernHalen · #9 May 2nd, 2006

Thanks, I think i'll try your suggestions out... I think... The ARt I have made piece with, as AT and nocat has said; Battle scars... THe Jackson I am not too sure of, I'll try the Mrurohy's if I can get hold of it Cedric, and I will have a look at the stain if it is shallow as you said I will use some rubbing compound to remove the stain. If it is deeper I might have to live with it.

I might actually take it to a luthier shop to have it removed. I need to have the Jackson set up nicely again. Some general maintenance on the Floyd Rose and the lock nuts... I am saving up for a new guitar and will get one from a luthier in Johannesburg, maybe i can get him to include the setup of the Jackson in the deal...

Thanks for the advice guys.