Glossy guitars

3362 Views 24 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Agata0023, Jul 12, 2007

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · Jul 4, 2007

Hey everyone. I want to get the gloss off my guitar. Not the paint though, just that shine. Any idea's of a good number grit I should use to sand it off? Anyone have a kinda mini tutorial on it? Thanks

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

zdogma

· #2 · Jul 4, 2007

Why...?

I used 600 gr. wet dry paper on the back of sticky necks to give them a flat finish, and it doesn't take off much material. I think you could use the same on the body, but you'd have to take off all the hardware, pickguard, bridge and probably the pickups to do it properly.

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 4, 2007

Yeah, I know. I plan on taking it all apart, it needs a good cleaning and a new set of strings anyways. And as to the why....I dunno, I don't like the shine to it, it looks too "new" if you can understand where I'm coming from. Plus my guitar is kinda beat to hell now anyways.

zdogma

· #4 · Jul 4, 2007

Agata0023 said:
Yeah, I know. I plan on taking it all apart, it needs a good cleaning and a new set of strings anyways. And as to the why....I dunno, I don't like the shine to it, it looks too "new" if you can understand where I'm coming from. Plus my guitar is kinda beat to hell now anyways.

Fair enough. I have a couple like that.

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 4, 2007

Groovy. Now, this will probably sound pretty n00bish, but with wet/dry sand paper, how exactly do i use it? I've got the wet/dry but I've never done with "wet". Or do you mean just use that kind of paper, just stay with the dry?

zdogma

· #6 · Jul 4, 2007

Agata0023 said:
Groovy. Now, this will probably sound pretty n00bish, but with wet/dry sand paper, how exactly do i use it? I've got the wet/dry but I've never done with "wet". Or do you mean just use that kind of paper, just stay with the dry?

I just use it dry. I think the wet is mainly for metal/automotive.

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 4, 2007

Awesome. Thanks alot

Lowtones

· #8 · Jul 4, 2007

If you just to take the gloss off I would suggest that you use OOOO steel wool. It"s a lot easier but make sure that you take the PUPs out. If you are going to sand it I would suggest 2000 grit wet sandpaper. you just dip it in water and then sand as normal. It only takes a very light rub to get the gloss off. The reason for the water is to keep the sand paper from clogging. just take a bowl of water and dip your sand paper in it and start sanding. Wipe it off every once in a while, hold it to the light and look for any little shiny spots. I would advise that you use a thin rubber or sponge sanding block ,regardless of how you decide to sand it, to avoid the dreaded finger effect. Thats where you can actually see where the fingers on sand paper has actually made a slightly deeper impression in the finish. The beauty of using 2000 wet is that if you change your mind later on you can just buff the guitar back to it's former glory. If you go with a coarser sandpaper you may very well have to re-spray the guitar to get the gloss back if you change your mind or decide to sell the guitar.

Good Luck

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Greenman

· #9 · Jul 5, 2007

I think it will re-gloss itself just from every day use. Especially around the horns and forearm cut. Gloss finish is made to be gloss. I would sand it to about 800 and give it a couple of coats of satin from a rattle can. :food-smiley-004:

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 5, 2007 (Edited)

Well if I take it down to the paint, so there is no gloss, wouldnt it eventually just start rubbing off the paint instead of re-glossing itself? I plan on starting with 1200 wetsanding, then move down to 800, then 600. Seeing how it looks inbetween, then buffing out all those micro scratches (from the sanding) with the buffer I have for my car. So its completely flat paint.

You think 0000 (or whatever) steel wool with be better/quicker? Could I do both - sandpaper and steelwool?

Oh yeah, I have electric sanders as well if you guys think that'd be easier

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 5, 2007

Oh I guess I should mention its an Epiphone G-400 in the standard gibson red. I've also upgraded the pups to 57 classics and the knobs to speed knobs. So everything is coming out when I do this. I'm also thinking of doing the back of the neck to have everything uniform in color.

G

· #12 · Jul 5, 2007

Agata0023 said:
...I plan on starting with 1200 wetsanding, then move down to 800, then 600...

whoa dude....the other way around. The higher the
number, the finer the paper.

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 5, 2007

Hahaha, yeah sorry about that, I've been awake for 3 days now.

G

· #14 · Jul 5, 2007

Been there...I find that a lot of
beer helps lull me to sleep...lol

:zzz:

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Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 5, 2007

haha, yeah, but now that the day has started I might as well stay awake, I'm in the middle of renovating my basement so there is work to be done.

copperhead

· #16 · Jul 7, 2007

yep i would go with the steel wool as well extra fine

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 8, 2007

so, like the 0000 gauge steel wool then the 1200 grit sand paper? or should i use the 800? or the 600?

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 10, 2007

I also decided that seeing as how I'm taking my guitar apart anyways, i'm going to sheild it too. I've read up on it quite a bit, but they have mostly been about strats and stuff, anyone have any pointers on doing an SG?

GuitaristZ

· #19 · Jul 10, 2007

I wonder if it will be worth more after he "relics" it

Agata0023

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jul 10, 2007

haha, no, I'm not relicing it in the sense that I'm going to be purposely scratching it up in certain area's. I'm just taking the shine off. I don't like it. Plus, I have no intention on ever selling this guitar.

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