Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
- fullerplast
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Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
The clay dots on my JM are a brownish orange, from the oil in the rosewood. I cleaned the fretboard and it made the dots even darker. Anyone ever clean clay dots? If so.... how?
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- dinosaur
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
I took my guitar in for a refret and of course the clay dots came back clean and white. I was crushed!! I'd kill to keep them orange and worn.
I don't have a clue as to how to clean them properly.
I don't have a clue as to how to clean them properly.
- fullerplast
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
I noticed how clean yours looked, and I was envious...
I hate dot-envy...
I hate dot-envy...
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- dinosaur
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
That's too funny. I really was envious of the dots in your pics too!
- fullerplast
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- zhivago
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
ok...we better get a few more opinions on what I'm about to suggest, but....I dunno...would lightly sanding them help?
(disclaimer - I've never done this or know anyone who has!!!)
(disclaimer - I've never done this or know anyone who has!!!)
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- fullerplast
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
Tried it today, John! I was afraid to get too aggressive, but lightly sanding the tops didn't help. The clay is so porous that the oil goes way down inside.
I love the neck of your '61... the rosewood is still light brown and grainy. Usually they turn almost black!
I love the neck of your '61... the rosewood is still light brown and grainy. Usually they turn almost black!
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- zhivago
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
weird! I thought that would do it....hmmmm....I guess another radical way to go is to colour match a paint or varnish of some sort and go over them...dunno what that would do the value of the guitar though!!fullerplast wrote: Tried it today, John! I was afraid to get too aggressive, but lightly sanding the tops didn't help. The clay is so porous that the oil goes way down inside.
I love the neck of your '61... the rosewood is still light brown and grainy. Usually they turn almost black!
probably nothing too good!!
hmmm....there must be something that can be done...we can put a man on the moon...should be able to brighten up some clay dots!
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
Why would one want to do that though... White clay dots look so...re-issue... Three of the dots on my '64 have almost disappeared into the background. I love that look!
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
step away from the bleach Doug
- mezcalhead
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
I love it when the rosewood goes almost black .. John, your old '64's board looks almost like ebony or like a huge block of 70% cocoa bitter chocolate .. yum. Same with my '61. So why anyone would want to unrelic their dots I have no idea.
Having said that, I still think bleach is a bad idea .. the effect on the surrounding rosewood could be disastrous, surely?
Having said that, I still think bleach is a bad idea .. the effect on the surrounding rosewood could be disastrous, surely?
So the only way to change it is to re-dye it or paint over it .. bad karma for the resale I reckon.fullerplast wrote:The clay is so porous that the oil goes way down inside.
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- zhivago
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
heheh...indeed, the neck on misty is so chocolaty, it's really nice looking.
my only real comment on clay dots is that I love the aged look, but onstage, I can't see them very well...it is a bit of a problem, actualy, especialy as I do loads of octave chords up and down the neck quickly...it can sometimes get confusing
my only real comment on clay dots is that I love the aged look, but onstage, I can't see them very well...it is a bit of a problem, actualy, especialy as I do loads of octave chords up and down the neck quickly...it can sometimes get confusing
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
Any excuse for a photo, and this one shows it quite well I think:zhivago wrote: ...indeed, the neck on misty is so chocolaty, it's really nice looking.
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
whenever I see pics of the guitar, I remember the pickguard...one of the finest examples ever!mezcalhead wrote:Any excuse for a photo, and this one shows it quite well I think:zhivago wrote: ...indeed, the neck on misty is so chocolaty, it's really nice looking.
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- fullerplast
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Re: Bleaching Clay Dots? Help!
whenever I see pics of the guitar, I remember the pickguard...one of the finest examples ever!
Isn't that the guard I flattened and filed? It spent a few days under glass on my dock....
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