Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

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jox2000
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Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by jox2000 » Sun Jul 12, 2020 5:01 am

Hi, I got a 64 Jaguar CAR (edit: Dakota) with matching headstock. The previous owner told me, he had it refinished in the 70s. The CAR (edit: Dakota) was oversprayed with the closest red they could find, and that was "red". I always thought about letting it refinish to the original color. yesterday while inspecting it again after a few years, I found a tiny spot on the back where the refinish was rubbed off, and in the transition area I can see there is only a single thin layer RED over some darker red, what seems to be the original color.
I know, it would be a lot of work, but I want to try to restore it, or at least give it a try, when it goes wrong I can always go back to give it a refine.
So, i am very open to any tips and suggestions, and demoralization ;)

Edit: meanwhile I learned it must have been Dakota or Fiesta Red (there are no signs of silver or gold under coat)

Here are some pictures (the color looks nicer on the pics than in real life)
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Last edited by jox2000 on Mon Jul 13, 2020 6:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Ringo11
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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by Ringo11 » Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:11 pm

The Fender rule is a nice touch! ;D ;D

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FEXII
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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by FEXII » Mon Jul 13, 2020 4:40 pm

It looks like whoever refinished that guitar stripped the old finish. I can't see another finish. See what others who know more about refinishing etc say first.

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Sweetfinger
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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by Sweetfinger » Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:33 pm

Nothing on that body is CAR or Fiesta.

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Embenny
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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by Embenny » Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:37 pm

FEXII wrote:
Mon Jul 13, 2020 4:40 pm
It looks like whoever refinished that guitar stripped the old finish. I can't see another finish. See what others who know more about refinishing etc say first.
I agree with you. While there appears to be a coat of a darker red underneath the fiesta, that wouldn't be candy apple red - CAR has a base coat of silver or gold underneath translucent red, whereas this has just white primer underneath.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

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mgeek
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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by mgeek » Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:14 am

I think I can just about see a darker red under there, in a very thin area along the edge of one of the chips, and you can see from the lumps/divots in the finish that it was sprayed over another, slightly battered finish, I think?

As always the best thing would be to have a bit of an experiment under the scratchplate area to be 100% sure before you dive in.

I've successfully done this in a number of ways, and how it's achieved depends on types of paint used etc, but the best results I've had were by wetsanding with a really high grit, like, 1500 or something, but getting the body good and wet. Eventually the overspray just sort of flaked/washed off with the water. Remember to use a sanding block if you try this!

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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by jox2000 » Tue Jul 14, 2020 1:26 am

mgeek wrote:
Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:14 am
I think I can just about see a darker red under there, in a very thin area along the edge of one of the chips, and you can see from the lumps/divots in the finish that it was sprayed over another, slightly battered finish, I think?

As always the best thing would be to have a bit of an experiment under the scratchplate area to be 100% sure before you dive in.

I've successfully done this in a number of ways, and how it's achieved depends on types of paint used etc, but the best results I've had were by wetsanding with a really high grit, like, 1500 or something, but getting the body good and wet. Eventually the overspray just sort of flaked/washed off with the water. Remember to use a sanding block if you try this!
thank you, I will at least try it. the guitar wasn't properly buffed and finished - so the surface is glossy but not smooth - that's my main concern.
i am not very positive that this will go well, but maybe its worth a try. otherwise I will give it to someone who can professionally refinish it.
So, if anyone has tips for a good refinisher in EU?

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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by mgeek » Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:17 pm

your dream scenario is that the overspray hasn't stuck very well to the original finish - something that is very possible. Do have a pick around under the scratchplate- with a plectrum even, it might just come off

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jox2000
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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by jox2000 » Tue Jul 14, 2020 2:42 pm

mgeek wrote:
Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:17 pm
your dream scenario is that the overspray hasn't stuck very well to the original finish - something that is very possible. Do have a pick around under the scratchplate- with a plectrum even, it might just come off
yes, I would like to shout at it and it is gone... but I am afraid, this will not happen .. I own this guitar since a few years and nothing came off, and I always was special uncautious with the plek ;)

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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:55 am

Yep, that's RED alright!!
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Re: Remove refinish from a 64 Jaguar

Post by will » Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:39 pm

One thing to be careful about - with the color red especially, is getting the wood wet. If you wet-sand, the dust can stain the wood, and the bare spots in the wood will absorb water, swell, and crack the paint.

I've had the best luck scraping very slowly and carefully with a fresh razor blade.

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