Refinishing Sunburst JF55-12?

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Hello, I'm new on the forum and have a question I'd like to see if anyone can help me with. I have a '99 Westerly JF55-12 Sunburst that I purchased new. I had enjoyed playing it for a little over a year when the top got fingernail polish splashed on it. My wife tried to wipe it off and it damaged the hell out of the finish. It has several spots on it and one area that's about 3" square that the finish is ruined on. Since that happened it's been living in it's case. I take it out every once in a while and look at it then put it back. It was the most beautiful guitar I'd ever seen and even tho 90% of the guitar is still perfect my eyes can only see the bad spots. Any idea who might be able to fix this and how much it would cost? One thing I had thought about was stripping the top down completely and having it refinished "natural" but that would probably ruin it's value (as if it wasn't already ruined)
Any thoughts would be appriciated.
 

curt

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First off don't worry about what it's going to be worth, FIX IT. Refinishing the top isn't a big deal but you need to know if it's lacquer or enamel. The key is all preparation and making sure you have featherer edged the bad spots and that the top and old finish are as level as you can make it. Take it to a guitar tech that knows how to spray.
 

West R Lee

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Mike,

First of all, welcome to LTG. Secondly, it's really not that big a deal any more to remedy the situation. The answer is simple. Get rid of your wife!..........................................just kidding.

That is one great guitar you have there and I'm sorry it happened, but that puppy sounds too good to let sit in the case. There's got to be someone in Dallas that can do a spectacular job of refinishing that baby.

BTW, great to have a fellow Texan here. I'm about 130 miles east of you.

Good luck and enjoy this group of folks here....they're great.

West
 

Mr. P ~

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If the spill did not go deep enough into the lacquer to damage the color in the sun burst, then I suggest an "overspray" finish.

That is most likely a lacquered guitar and if the color coat is not damaged then a good tech can bring it back to "AS New" Condition with an overspray job.

Read this write up on finishes...it is good stuff.


http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/finishes.htm
 

curt

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Nail polish is very similar to lacquer and it melted into the finish. If it was left alone it might have been fine with a flat wet sand and buff. Acetone flashes off quickly and leaves very little solvent behind. If you could post a picture it might open up some options.
 

Jeff

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I agree with Curt, nail polish is little more than a form of lacquer . Perhaps a relatively mild solution of lacquer. I believe Nail polish remover is scented acetone, Neither solution particularly guitar finish friendly. Someone correct me if I am wrong .

You want to see how volatile the solvent in lacquer is, soak a small rag in lacquer thinner & wipe it across just about any painted or varnished surface. With very little effort the finish can be removed, right down to the base. Just a few seconds & the evil deed is done.

.

The lacquer finish on guitars is relatively thin, Probably, within seconds of contact, if not instantly, the nail polish softened the finish right down to the wood color & all. Trying nail polish remover to clean it up would have been a very disappointing experience. Wiping it off while still wet probably would have made it worse. Maybe even bleeding color, if any, from the polish into the wood.

It has to look hedious, Your wife must have been heartbroken

The damage to the value of the guitar is a bridge that's already been crossed. Fixing the finish likely won't pencil outbut would surely give you incentive to start playing it again. A guy might run the numbers on trading it, might be smarter. More noble to fix it.

Or you could put a Gibson decal on the headstock & leave it as is. , some people might think it was just normal playwear for a Gibson.
 
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