Finished - '99 USA Tele

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DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852
edited September 2021 in Making & Modding
I acquired this lovely Tele recently from @JerkMoans and I did/do have his permission to refin so I'll get that in first 1 It's been a bit of a forum guitar actually. I think I'm the 4th owner on the FB. It was the subject of this previous FS thread: (SOLD ‘99 American Tele), 1991 Natural American Tele 2019 now £775, (SOLD Mex Tele) - Guitars £ Discussions on theFretBoard

It is/was rather beat up as a result of a relic attempt (from what I can gather) but as we all know, trying to do that on a polyester/urethane finish doesn't look the same as it does with nitro.

Anyway, on to the refin. After removing the topcoat with heat, I encountered the dreaded sealer. Man, it was hard to remove. Unlike any previous Fender I've done, but I eventually succeeded. At this stage, I quickly decided that I wasn't a lover of the alder grain and wasn't too bothered to do a burst. I've covered the cavities in order to show the original finish.

So, the process so far has been:

1. Heat gun to remove finish 2. Rub down with P180/P320/P600 to bare wood 3. Sanding sealer coats 4. High build primer (with guide coat to assist flatting and revealing flaws) 5. Wet flat (P600 with white spirit) 6. Surf green nitro 7. Nitro lacquer.

I'll leave it to harden for about 3 weeks and then flat and polish. 

Apologies for the multiple image posts, it's the only way I know how.






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Comments

  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852
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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852

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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852


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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852

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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852

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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852

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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852

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  • CorvusCorvus Frets: 2924
    tFB Trader
    Lovely stuff DM..  looks great.
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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852
    Thanks Bill :+1: 
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  • euaneuan Frets: 1398
    Whose nitro did you use for the colour? Assuming this was from a gun.
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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852
    edited July 2021
    euan said:
    Whose nitro did you use for the colour? Assuming this was from a gun.
    I gave the RAL code to my local paint factors and they mixed it for me bud. Yes, spray gun. Devilbiss GTi Pro on this occasion.
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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852
    Been a while but this thing is now lake placid blue (with nitro lacquer). I'm so indecisive. I stripped it back and repainted it 3 weeks ago and waited until today to flat and buff. This time I didn't prime, just sander sealed and went straight in with the colour.

    Also, I couldn't live with the 90's Fender lacquer all cracking/peeling so the neck has been refinished in a tinted sander sealer then overcoated with 2 pack polyurethane matt varnish. It feels silky smooth now. It was quite straight forward to flat back to bare wood up to the edges of the head and heel contours then blend in with the gun. I also got rid of the irritating air pockets that develop in the fretboard dots.

    Reconstruction will begin next week hopefully.





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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852

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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852
    edited September 2021
    Oh, another thing. I bought a single ply black guard with the full intention of fitting it, but now I'm thinking of sticking with the nicely yellowed original white guard. Any thoughts?


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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852

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  • JezWyndJezWynd Frets: 6021
    Nice work and a sound decision to refinish in blue. The neck looks fabulous with its new finish too. Original white guard vote from me.
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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3852
    JezWynd said:
    Nice work and a sound decision to refinish in blue. The neck looks fabulous with its new finish too. Original white guard vote from me.
    Ah, cheers Jez. Just what I'm thinking now. I always loved that limited edition Baja in the LPB/black but the white just cuts it.
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  • Nice :+1:  but guard has to be black or torty ;)
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