Guitar refinishing in the UK? (West Midlands preferably)

MrJamesBrown · Post by **MrJamesBrown** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:27 am

Say I wanted to get a guitar that had previously been refinished (kinda poorly) rectified (in this case, from a fairly bumpy natural finish to a straight up black), does anyone know of anyone who would be willing to do it, and how much it would possibly cost?

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 7:04 am

http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk

Or for a little less.

http://www.theguitardoctor.co.uk

Either way a professional refinish isn't going to be cheap.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:52 am

Matt just payed Â£150 to have his Tele refinished by a guy who works for a local garage. A few years ago I was quoted Â£80 for a CAR refin on the Swinger, should have taken it.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:13 am

That's a good route to go. The first guitar I ever got refinished was a '65 Mustang that had been stripped back in the day. There was a tech at my art school who use also did a lot of custom car spraying that did it for me (for free cos I knew the guy), best refin I've ever seen. Matched the paint in the cavities etc too.

MrJamesBrown · Post by **MrJamesBrown** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:19 pm

I might be getting a '72 Musicmaster in a trade. It's been refinished apparently kinda poorly, but apparently plays great

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:21 pm

I'd try a garage as well. They may ask you to prep the body but it will still be way cheaper than a guitar luthier/tech.

MrJamesBrown · Post by **MrJamesBrown** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:21 pm

Yeah, seems like the way to go. But would they do the nitro finish? I'd like to get the guitar as close to it's original state as possible. Or am I talking out of my arse...

This is what I want- SO HAWT

MrJamesBrown · Post by **MrJamesBrown** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:25 pm

Oh, here's the one I'm getting:

I can't wait!! Will probably get a neck pickguard cut and just stick with the one neck pickup (the original neck pup needs rewinding, but it also comes with a 70's Seymour Duncan prototype which is cool)

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:18 pm

MrJamesBrown wrote:Yeah, seems like the way to go. But would they do the nitro finish? I'd like to get the guitar as close to it's original state as possible. Or am I talking out of my arse...

This is what I want- SO HAWT

A 72 would probably not have been nitro.

If you do get a garage to do it, tell them you want it sprayed in cellulose paint. TBH though, if you are going to do the prep yourself you might as well do the whole thing. As long as you are patient, and read up a load before doing it the worst that can happen is that you lose Â£20 of primer and paint.

Personally I'd play it as it is for a while though

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 8:52 pm

I'd imagine they would use Two Pack wouldn't they Nick?

Black is one of the most difficult colours to get a good diy finish, others may disagree. I want a Jazzy body finishing in black but I know from my last venture it is a money pit using Halfords paint and then the finish is hardly great.

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:53 pm

Fran wrote:I'd imagine they would use Two Pack wouldn't they Nick?

Black is one of the most difficult colours to get a good diy finish, others may disagree. I want a Jazzy body finishing in black but I know from my last venture it is a money pit using Halfords paint and then the finish is hardly great.

Two pack has pretty much been phased out now in favour of a waterbased paint, which is a bitch to spray. Two pack is evil stuff though - has arsenic in it IIRC.

Fran, if it's just a generic black you want then car boots and markets yenerally have some cheap primer and paint. If you aren't the best at spraying then lots of coats and wet and dry/polishing till smooth works well. Takes fucking ages though, especially on black which shows the scratches. FWIW, I sprayed half a car with Â£20 of rattle can primers, Â£20 of paint and Â£10 of thinners - I do have a compressor and spray gun though.

You are right though, black is a bastard to spray well, it shows blemishes more than any other colour.