2001 Epiphone Les Paul Finish

[snydersp]

Hi everyone, I have had a Korean-made, 2001 Epi LP for 23 years and have decided to turn it into a project guitar. 

I've seen many videos online showing pros and amateurs using a heat gun to remove the lacquer from guitars and so I have been trying the same. It works OK, but not that well. I wonder if anyone knows what the finish on these guitars is, and if there's a better way to strip the finish. My guitar was made in Saein, if that helps. 

Thanks in advance!

[Phil OKeefe]

It's most likely a poly (polyester or polyurethane) finish. To the best of my knowledge, Epiphone has never used lacquer on the guitars made in Asia. 

Poly finishes are notoriously difficult to remove. Heat guns and something called "aircraft stripper" are the two most commonly used methods to remove a poly finish, but even with those, it's a tough job due to the hardness and durability of poly finishes. 

 

[Red 333]

On 4/4/2024 at 9:10 AM, Phil OKeefe said:

 

Poly finishes are notoriously difficult to remove. Heat guns and something called "aircraft stripper" are the two most commonly used methods to remove a poly finish, but even with those, it's a tough job due to the hardness and durability of poly finishes. 

 

Poly is also difficult to remove because of the way it's applied. The wood on a nitro finished guitar has grain filler applied before the nitro, to fill up open grain in the wood (think of open grain like the pores in your skin). When the nitro is finally applied, it sits more or less on top of the wood, instead of sinking deep into the open grain.

Poly is faster and less expensive to apply because it is a self leveling finish. It fills open grain without needing a filler. It may be hard to remove from some wood types because of the difficulty of fully removing it from the open grain.

Red 333

 

[Red 333]

On 4/4/2024 at 9:10 AM, Phil OKeefe said:

To the best of my knowledge, Epiphone has never used lacquer on the guitars made in Asia. 

 

The Japanese made Paul McCartney 1964 Texan and John Lennon 1965 and Revolution Casinos had nitro finishes, as did variants of these models issued in the Epiphone Elitist series, as well as some others like a John Lee Hooker Sheraton. There was also a Japanese made Epiphone LQ series that preceded the Elitists which included Les Paul models and 335s, etc.

Red 333

[Phil OKeefe]

1 hour ago, Red 333 said:

Poly is also difficult to remove because of the way it's applied. The wood on a nitro finished guitar has grain filler applied before the nitro, to fill up open grain in the wood (think of open grain like the pores in your skin). When the nitro is finally applied, it sits more or less on top of the wood, instead of sinking deep into the open grain.

Poly is faster and less expensive to apply because it is a self leveling finish. It fills open grain without needing a filler. It may be hard to remove from some wood types because of the difficulty of fully removing it from the open grain.

Red 333

 

True... and in addition to all of that, it is hardly impacted by many "strippers." The only paint stripper that works on it that I am aware of is aircraft stripper, and it's still a PITB to remove, even with that stuff. 

Another big advantage of poly finishes is the drying time. The modern UV-cured finishes dry in almost no time. Nitrocellulose lacquer needs much more time, not to mention work hours, to get it dry, sanded, and polished. 

[Phil OKeefe]

57 minutes ago, Red 333 said:

The Japanese made Paul McCartney 1964 Texan and John Lennon 1965 and Revolution Casinos had nitro finishes, as did variants of these models issued in the Epiphone Elitist series, as well as some others like a John Lee Hooker Sheraton. There was also a Japanese made Epiphone LQ series that preceded the Elitists which included Les Paul models and 335s, etc.

Red 333

Good to know - thanks!