Bailey Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Hello! Brand new to the forum. Been a guitar player since age 4. Just got a 1992 Epi les paul custom in ebony. Finish is worn and i'm thinking about stripping it down to wood and would like to know if anyone knows what i'll find underneath the paint. Is there nice finishable wood or woul this not be a good idea? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Only one way, to find out...Strip it down. If it's not, you can always repaint it, a solid color! Maybe even in "nitro," instead of Poly! Take a look (mid way down "1970-present...") in the article, at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphone CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 Only one way, to find out...Strip it down. If it's not, you can always repaint it, a solid color! Maybe even in "nitro," instead of Poly! Take a look (mid way down "1970-present...") in the article, at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphone CB Thanks CB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 By the way, Welcome to the "Nut House"...uh, Epiphone Forum! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Only one way, to find out...Strip it down. If it's not, you can always repaint it, a solid color! Maybe even in "nitro," instead of Poly! +1...That's about the truth of it. Who knows? You might get lucky. What method will you be using to strip it? Heat? Chemical? Elbow grease and sandpaper? Let me join C.B. in saying... Welcome to the "Nut House". Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 This link may be very useful. removing a poly finish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 The top will be a cr*p shoot..........Offset, two, three, four pieces......Who knows......Give it a shot.......... You can also veneer the top as well.........that IS what Epi LPs are with "fancy" tops are anyways.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I remember a thread somewhere (likely on MLP) where a member had stripped his Epi LP down to bare wood....it was multiple pieces of not necessarily bad looking wood - refinished it brown (stained, perhaps????) and called the finish "sh!tburst" I thought it came out pretty cool, was definitely unique, and not at all bad looking to my eyes, anyway. Sh!tburst .... heh ... have to see if I can dig up a pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lengle1981 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Only experience I have was with my old cherry epiphone casino. Sanded it down and it had a beautiful grain, I then wood stained it a few times until I got to the desired colour I wanted. I did over do it a bit here and there but it gave it a more vintage look but I'd be careful sanding it down, don't take off too much of the wood or it can leave an un even finish. Wish I still had mine it looked great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I just veneered a Tele top, after stripping it to find a 6 piece Agathis body. It sounded great, better than most Poplar bodies I've played. But the look was a real dog's breakfast. If you are handy with tools, it's actually a fun project. My only concern with yours would be that with the top not being flat, like the Tele was, fitting pieces might be "challenging" (it was difficult enough on a flat top). The big boys use a vacuum system to conform the veneer to the top, before activating the glue with heat. And a one-piece venner will be costly, at least $50. I got enough quarter sawn maple pieces to do 5 guitars, for under $20. And if you take your time, the seams will hide pretty well. Gluing can be done one of 3 ways. Contact adhesive, actual veneer glue or my favorite, heat activated wood glue. You take some TiteBond III and water it down a hair. Then, spread the glue on both surfaces, like contact cement. take a credit card and spread it as thin as possible and let dry. Place your pice on (or pieces, as I did, one at a time) put a piece of construction papaer of the veneer and use an clothes iron, on medium temp, to heat and reactivate the glue. It's a stronger bond than the contact cement and this method lets you to place a piece before "sticking". This allows you to fit pieces up to each other and match grains and eliminate gaps. I'll be posting some pictures and and a description soon. PM me if you have any questions. I've done this 3 times now and have learned (by trial and error) a few tricks. I would think that on your guitar, if they painted, rather than stained the body, it's probably not the best looking. But, darker stains hide a lot. Or, you might just get lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I'll be posting some pictures and and a description soon. Tweed, I hope you follow through with that. It sounds like it would make for a very interesting thread. Anyway, at least I would be interested. Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Count on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Hi and welcome here hope it doesn't look like this... IIRC this ^^ was a fake Yikes! Imagine trying to overlay that body with a flat piece of 1/16" veneer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Hello! Brand new to the forum. Been a guitar player since age 4. Just got a 1992 Epi les paul custom in ebony. Finish is worn and i'm thinking about stripping it down to wood and would like to know if anyone knows what i'll find underneath the paint. Is there nice finishable wood or woul this not be a good idea? Thanks Jeez Bailey, I forgot to welcome you and give you your Forum-warming present. Stick around, it's an entertaining place. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 Jeez Bailey, I forgot to welcome you and give you your Forum-warming present. Stick around, it's an entertaining place. +1 Wow! Thanks for all the replies and helpful info. Think I'm gonna like this forum. Everyone seems quite helpful and welcoming. Again, Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 +1...That's about the truth of it. Who knows? You might get lucky. What method will you be using to strip it? Heat? Chemical? Elbow grease and sandpaper? Let me join C.B. in saying... Welcome to the "Nut House". Willy From the info I'm getting it looks like the heat gun is the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 This link may be very useful. removing a poly finish Thanks for the link bro, very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Ah.........Now I know why you only like black guitars Pete......... .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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