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saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:18 pm
by arkivel
I have a metallic KO Marr Jaguar that I've been wanting to refinish for quite awhile. Id like to remove and save the transition era decal on the headstock. Theres no clear coat that I can see over the decal on the headstock. Is this possible? Can anyone chime in here?

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:37 pm
by Embenny
If it's on top of the clear coat, then you could theoretically get it off by carefully getting some water under the edges with a q-tip and slowly adding more until it's loose. The odds of getting it off the headstock and then handling the loose decal in a way that preserves it until you can put it back on are extremely low, though. Waterside decals are so fragile and fidgety that most people should keep a spare on hand when trying to apply even a brand new one. It's very easy to damage them and they're floating and sliding around. You'd essentially have to apply it two times, first onto a new piece of paper or plastic for storage, and then back onto the headstock.

Fender decals are super readily available, I'd save the trouble and apply a repro over the refin.

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:42 am
by FenderBob
arkivel wrote:
Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:18 pm
I have a metallic KO Marr Jaguar that I've been wanting to refinish for quite awhile. Id like to remove and save the transition era decal on the headstock. Theres no clear coat that I can see over the decal on the headstock. Is this possible? Can anyone chime in here?
What color do you want to go with? It seems those decals come off pretty easily, I've seen many where the JM signature is removed.

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:38 pm
by arkivel
Thanks for the replies. The signature logo was removed before I bought it. I want to save the decal is because I assume it will look better than a repro. Not sure where to find a decent one.

As for colour I'm not sure. I'd like something that is a little rare. Likely a Metallic like fitemist silver, yellowed LPB. I also really like Fiesta Red.

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:51 pm
by tequila_in_teacups
This is something I've wondered about, as I'd like to do a matching headstock on my JM at some stage. Not sure what the OSG protocol for posting links to repro decals is. Croxguitars has repro decals that look good, but hopefully someone with first-hand experience can attest to the quality or recommend somewhere else good.

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 3:15 am
by JSett
tequila_in_teacups wrote:
Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:51 pm
This is something I've wondered about, as I'd like to do a matching headstock on my JM at some stage. Not sure what the OSG protocol for posting links to repro decals is. Croxguitars has repro decals that look good, but hopefully someone with first-hand experience can attest to the quality or recommend somewhere else good.
Croxguitars is who I've used for the last few years and they've all been fantastic. Great range too.

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:04 am
by GreenKnee
I believe I've read somewhere that Fender shall supply replacement decals for damaged ones if you have COA, serial number etc. and you go through a Fender dealer.
I've never done this though so I may well be speaking bollocks.

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:14 am
by Bradley-Jazz
johnnysomersett wrote:
Thu Feb 02, 2023 3:15 am
tequila_in_teacups wrote:
Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:51 pm
This is something I've wondered about, as I'd like to do a matching headstock on my JM at some stage. Not sure what the OSG protocol for posting links to repro decals is. Croxguitars has repro decals that look good, but hopefully someone with first-hand experience can attest to the quality or recommend somewhere else good.
Croxguitars is who I've used for the last few years and they've all been fantastic. Great range too.
I can second that!

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 5:19 am
by terminalvertigo
GreenKnee wrote:
Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:04 am
I believe I've read somewhere that Fender shall supply replacement decals for damaged ones if you have COA, serial number etc. and you go through a Fender dealer.
I've never done this though so I may well be speaking bollocks.
I came to post this..
scratch the decal.. call fender, get a replacement, refinish and apply the new one :)

Re: saving a Fender Decal before refinish

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 8:10 am
by arkivel
I know nothing.. thank you :)