Vintage Finisher

[afunkymonk]

Any recommendations for high quality vintage refinishing. My '63 jag needs to be returned to sonic blue. Not necessarily relic work, just a well matched colour. I have original sonic blue headstock. and it'll look strange if the body is brand new colour. I emailed Curtis Novak, but no response. (Curtis if you are there, send me a mail).

I considered doing it myself, but I think for a first attempt, I should choose something a little less valuable...

Matt

[Infliktor]

I spoke with Curtis tonight, I think hes been busy, Im sure hell get back to you, send him another email

[afunkymonk]

cool - his work looks really nice

[mezcalhead]

I know he has been very busy lately. He took on a Jag of mine recently but was kinda kicking himself for taking on extra work even though he's snowed under. I don't mind a wait though.

I did hear a few weeks back from Marc who has a guitar being refinished by Lays that they are actually running ahead of schedule.

[FireAarro]

Any recommendations for high quality vintage refinishing. My '63 jag needs to be returned to sonic blue. Not necessarily relic work, just a well matched colour. I have original sonic blue headstock. and it'll look strange if the body is brand new colour. I emailed Curtis Novak, but no response. (Curtis if you are there, send me a mail).

I considered doing it myself, but I think for a first attempt, I should choose something a little less valuable...

Matt

Is this the one that was on eBay? that was a nice one!

[afunkymonk]

yeah - one owner job from a bloke in Texas. Needs a body refin, bridge pickup fix and one tuner restoring. Otherwise its a peach...

My real dilemma is how much to age the body finish - I am unsure about relic 'morality' but it'll look weird if the body looks brand new.

[zhivago]

I say relic it as much as you have to....you're restoring the guitar so it's ok.


I used to have a vintage JM that had an original CAR headstock that was really beat up and a body-only CAR refin...it looked stupid...it really did.

[mezcalhead]

It's your guitar, so you need to feel comfortable with it of course. Personally I think your aim of getting the guitar refinshed is to have the body match the headstock, and if that involves some aging/relicing then fine.

[Jay]

Curtis doesn't do relicing of any type though so if you were to use him, you'd have to do that part yourself.

[Marc]

Yes indeedy Lays of Ohio are doing my 65 Telecaster body and when I spoke last it had already had the route repaired and sealed/white primered.

[vegasrock]

...........

[glimmertwin]

...this guy does good refin work.  He is more known around the relic circles(try the TDPRI.com - he refins lots of guitars over there), but I don't think he has to relic every finish.  I heard of his refins fooling vintage guitar dealers at a guitar show FWIW.  Lays is another big one that is suppose to be top notch.

http://www.mjtelecaster.com/index.html

[Jay]

...this guy does good refin work.  He is more known around the relic circles(try the TDPRI.com - he refins lots of guitars over there), but I don't think he has to relic every finish.  I heard of his refins fooling vintage guitar dealers at a guitar show FWIW.  Lays is another big one that is suppose to be top notch.

http://www.mjtelecaster.com/index.html

I wholeheartedly DON'T recommend using Mark Jenny for anything.  His work stinks IMO and unfortunately I have an example of why in my bedroom right now.

[dain]

i agree about mjtelecaster.com.  he's a nice guy but i don't think he prepares the wood the right way before spraying.  it definitely wouldn't fool a vintage guy.  you can see the run of the grain through the finish, its not flat at all like a real finish would be.  has anyone actually used lays yet?

d.

[glimmertwin]

...wow - didn't know that about mjtele.  I had just read decent reviews on his relic work over at the tdpri.  That sucks that it was a bunch of crap.

This brings up an important point - never listen to me.  Normally I'm just regurgitating what I have read elsewhere on the web...