Staninator Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Hello! I recently purchased a new 2011 SG '61 Reissue from a Long & McQuade and in giving it a good look over I noticed that on the neck binding (on the side with the dot fret markers) from frets 10-22 the top (closest to fingerboard) 3/64" or so of the binding has been quite badly scratched. It looks as if the scratch has gone all the way through the nitro finish and down to the binding itself (although I'm not 100% sure if it went all the way through the nitro). What's the best way to try and buff or even the scratches out? Would something like 600 grit sandpaper do the job? If evening the scratches out means sanding to the entirety of the neck binding to make it all look even and the same, I'm OK with that. Or should I just leave it alone? Please no responses about how it's new and shouldn't have damage like that or that I should return it or whatever. It's a 3 year old guitar that has no doubt been sitting on display the entire time and it's no doubt not the worst that could happen to a display guitar. It's not that big of a cosmetic issue either. I'll also try and get some pics up if I can. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Hello and welcome to the Forums! Mr. Erlewine is here to help You: Good luck... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staninator Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 Hello and welcome to the Forums! Mr. Erlewine is here to help You: Good luck... Bence Excellent. I've already blown my guitar budget for the next little while so maybe the buffing will have to wait. That being said, any suggestion on what to do if it is more than just a surface finish scratch and the finish has actually been taken off and the binding itself has become scratched? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Hello! Could You please post close-up pictures of the area? Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staninator Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Hello! Could You please post close-up pictures of the area? Cheers... Bence Here's a couple of pictures. Hopefully you can see what I'm talking about (sorry for the blurry pics, but the scratch runs right on top of the marker dots). One thing I will add is that when I run my fingernail from the scratched to unscratched side of the binding, there isn't that noticeable of a bump that you'd expect if the finish was completely scratched off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Is it feel....or more the look that bothers you??? Since your budget is 'blown' anyway....you have time to "think about it"...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staninator Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 Is it feel....or more the look that bothers you??? Since your budget is 'blown' anyway....you have time to "think about it"...! It's not a big feel thing at all, it's entirely that it just looks awful. It's a shame it's not on the other side of the binding where I don't have to look at it every time I play. But whatever. It's still a wicked guitar and it plays great. And maybe "blown budget" was the wrong wording. It's just been a pain trying to sell my old amp and other guitar. Once I get that done I'll be back on track. And I have way too much time to think about it. But it might be worth it to try the Micro-Mesh and see how that works. Some day I'll probably get an estimate to get the finish touched up, but that'll be a ways down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 That almost looks like what happens when they smooth the edges of the binding at the factory. I believe the finish is applied before the smoothing is done. For me, I wouldn't worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staninator Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Looking at it under different light at a different angle it doesn't look so bad. Just looks like some surface scratches. But I ordered some Micro-Mesh pads so hopefully those will take care of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staninator Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 For anyone that cares, I just finished buffing the scratches out with the Micro-Mesh pads. Those things are absolutely fantastic and every guitar owner should have them. The scratches are gone and you can't tell that they were ever there to begin with. Best $20 I've probably ever spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 ...any pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staninator Posted April 26, 2014 Author Share Posted April 26, 2014 ...any pictures? Here you go. It's kind of hard to see (hopefully you can), but the scratches are completely gone. As I also suspected, there were a few very small spots where the finish was completely gone (right at the top where the fingerboard is), but they're not even that noticeable anymore. I am extremely happy and this was super easy to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Oh Hell yeah! Huge difference. Great job and info! Thanks Stainator! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staninator Posted April 29, 2014 Author Share Posted April 29, 2014 Oh Hell yeah! Huge difference. Great job and info! Thanks Stainator! The difference is huge and it was super simple. That Micro-Mesh is seriously the greatest stuff ever. The only thing is that it dulled down the finish a bit on the neck, which is to be expected, so I've got some ColorTone Fine and Swirl remover polishing compound on order from Stew-Mac so I'll have to see how that stuff works (plus there's a few other spots I wouldn't mind giving a quick buffing). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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