Stratele Refinish

Grampa · May 2023

This could turn into a complete dogs dinner, but here goes....

There are many things I like about Strat's, there are many things I like about Tele's, but never liked either enough to keep one for long. Browsing e-bay on a quiet day at work this came up....
https://i.imgur.com/6qSlrHw.jpg
A Warmoth Strat/Tele hybrid. Agreed a very reasonable price with the seller and it duly arrived on my doorstep. Everything I love about Strat's & Tele's, none of the bits I don't. Bonus of it being fitted with a very early set of Oil City Route 66 pickups, Mojo cap's, Switchgear jack and Oak Grigsby switch. Apart from a higher action than I like it plays beautifully, sounds awesome, but I bloody hate the colour, metallic Jaffa together with sparkly matching headstock.
Time for my first refinish attempt....
https://i.imgur.com/tMD2ekG.jpg
Body prep underway for respray. After much YouTubing I'm painting over the original Poly finish. Surprised at the number of minor imperfections (now repaired) in the body when flattening the Poly finish. Also discovered that it had been pre-drilled for a narrow bridge but had a wider Fender American Vintage Hardtail (for sale at a very reasonable price) bridge installed, slightly mullered mounting holes that have been filled with Ronseal High Performance ready for redrilling and the fitting of a replacement.
To be continued.

Funkfingers · May 2023

I dispute the hybrid description. That Warmoth is a Stratocaster in all but outline. Without a stamped steel bridge and a pukka T style treble pickup, it is not a sonic hybrid.

Of course, this might be precisely what you desire.

Route 66 pickups meet with my approval. Perhaps, Ash at Oil City could be persuaded to wind a Tele-voiced Strat-sized bridge position pickup?

Failing that, a DiMarzio DP184 The Chopper.

Grampa · May 2023

Of course, this might be precisely what you desire.

Precisely what I desire, hardtail as opposed to Trem, and after playing it for a while absolutely no need or desire to change the pickups.

I apologise if the Hybrid description offended you

Grampa · May 2023

Body sprayed with a couple of coats of primer ready for colour coats. Bridge holes redrilled square and in the correct position. Surprised at the quality of finish that can be achieved using modern spray cans, obviously moved on a bit from the dodgy spraying of filled rusty car panels back in the 70's.
https://i.imgur.com/WSBQAtu.jpg

Grampa · June 2023

Finally found some time this weekend to spray a bit of colour, couple of misting coats followed by one wet coat. It'll now have to hang in the garage until next weekend when I'll hopefully get a chance to do another couple of wet coats. Fingers crossed that should be enough before the clear gets applied. Feels like there's ample paint in one 400ml can to easily complete a single body.
https://i.imgur.com/55rxiVt.jpg

Grampa · June 2023

Two further colour coats followed my a final dusting coat as recommended for metallics, job done. Was a bit worried after the final wet coat as the finish dried rougher than a badgers arse but a bit of Googling confirmed this is quite normal with metallics. Probably won't get a chance to start clear coating for a couple of weeks, lots going on. Tempted to begin with a few coats of tinted lacquer as the LPB is just a wee bit too blue for me, if that makes sense? Sod all idea if what I'm doing is correct but I'm enjoying doing it.
https://i.imgur.com/OFLi1Nu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nysXmOt.jpg

Grampa · June 2023

Hmmm. Inspected the body on Saturday with the thought of starting the clear coats. Love the colour, 100% better than the bloody orange, but still far too sparkly for my liking, looks like a prop off of Strictly. Time for a rethink, possibly sand back and go for a solid colour? Luckily no time constraints so no rush to decide, will take another look next weekend.

Grampa · June 2023

Busy weekend so the body will have to wait but did find an hour late this evening to update the scratchplate. Not a huge fan of the white on white so replaced the pickup covers, control knobs and switch tip with black items.
https://i.imgur.com/5UMPNfI.jpg

Grampa · July 2023

Colour part 2!
After being less than pleased with the sparklyness of the LPB (though I did like the colour) it was off to @SteveRobinson MGT website to choose a replacement solid colour and gloss clear coat. Just to qualify the LPB was gifted by a mate and not from MGT. Settled on the Dakota Red and very happy with the result. Hugely impressed with the quality and ease of application with Steve's Nitro, also watched his videos & copied his technique. Below is the result of 3 coats of three passes on each coat. Have included the swatch from the website to show the actual colour as the harsh lighting in the garage and crappy phone camera don't do it justice. Will check next weekend before applying the clear coats but for now there are no signs of runs/sags that would necessitate sanding prior to clear.
https://i.imgur.com/Q9UXCJP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8U8FQEQ.jpg

guitargeek62 · July 2023

That's looking great, and it's going to have a rad 80s vibe with the black-on-white plastics too

Grampa · July 2023

guitargeek62 said:

That's looking great, and it's going to have a rad 80s vibe with the black-on-white plastics too

Thank you. Once the clearcoat goes on and the body is put aside for a few weeks I'll get to work on the neck. Not 100% sure where I'm going with that but a few ideas kicking around.

Grampa · July 2023

Right, body has been treated to a complete can of gloss clear coat. Four wet coats of two passes each back front & sides. After fiddling around with the phone camera I managed to get a picture that represents the finished colour pretty well. Hands off now for at least a month, did think it actually looked smoother and glossier today than when I took the pic last night. Also found time to rub down the neck, orange sparkly head gone forever. Not sure what Warmoth coat the back of the neck with but I think it's put on with a trowel, total bugger to remove but done.
https://i.imgur.com/3UlvmPa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FfOf61S.jpg

Grampa · July 2023

Decided to keep it simple with the neck, 3 or 4 coats of tinted lacquer. Will then add waterslide of preference, probably Warmoth (not very imaginative I know), before finishing with satin clearcoat.
https://i.imgur.com/UFT7fCe.jpg

Grampa · July 2023

Sprayed a total of 5 amber tint coats and very pleased with the colour and uniformity of the finish. Bit busy the next few days so will leave it to sit until I have some spare time to proceed with the next step.
https://i.imgur.com/UYwhQqy.jpg

Grampa · July 2023

Found some time earlier to apply the headstock decal, looked a bit stark & anaemic against the amber background so sprayed a couple of light coats of tint over the top to tone it down. Might get a chance to apply the first coats of clear tomorrow, might not.
https://i.imgur.com/XI2Csjs.jpg?1

SteveF · July 2023

That amber looks great.

Grampa · July 2023

Not much visible progress but managed to lose the outline of the headstock decals through 2 wet clear coats, flat sand then another 2 wet clear coats and flat sand. The whole neck, minus fretboard, was then treated to half a dozen wet clear coats before being hung up in the garage. Next job will be to wet sand and polish the body but probably won't get the time to start this for another couple of weeks, 5 weeks plus after the final lacquer coat so should be good to go.

Grampa · August 2023

Half an hour me time last night and again this afternoon. All cavities treated to a couple of coats of Rustins shielding paint. Finally retired yesterday so hoping to move this along, though after working away for the last 25yrs Grandma has a rather long to do list for me.
https://i.imgur.com/tNDKFr8.jpg

PeteC · August 2023

Cool. Happy Retirement!

Grampa · August 2023

PeteC said:

Cool. Happy Retirement!

Many thanks @PeteC much appreciated.

SimonRF · August 2023

Looks blinkin' lush that red, nice work. Lie to Grandma, tell her they've asked you to keep working... then use the time for more guitar builds.

Grampa · August 2023

Who ever thought retirement would be so busy, definitely fall into the "no idea how I ever had time to go to work" camp.
Couple of peaceful evenings over the last week while Grandma caught up on Casualty allowed me to get the neck sorted. Wet sanding should be offered as a therapy it's so relaxing and satisfying, well chuffed with my first attempt....
https://i.imgur.com/3mFeFmP.jpg

SteveF · August 2023

Very nice! May I ask what grits you used and what you did for the final polish?

Grampa · August 2023

SteveF said:

Very nice! May I ask what grits you used and what you did for the final polish?

Hi Steve, 800 - 1200 - 1500 - 2000 - Meguiars Scratch X 2.0

SteveF · August 2023

Great, thanks

I’ve been spraying my neck over the last couple of days so will be doing my own in a week or two.

Roland · August 2023

SimonRF said:

… tell her they've asked you to keep working...

I had an uncle who “changed jobs” a year before he retired. He rented office space, caught a later train every morning, read the newspaper, had lunch with old friends, snoozed in his office after lunch, and caught the early train home.

Roland · August 2023

Grampa said:

… Grandma has a rather long to do list for me…

I already had a list. One item had been on it for 16 years.

Grampa · August 2023

Roland said:

Grampa said:

… Grandma has a rather long to do list for me…

I already had a list. One item had been on it for 16 years.

I think my oldest item goes back to 2007

Grampa · October 2023

Poor old Grandma laid up with the Covid so between tea and sympathy I finally started to wet sand the body. Took about 3hrs in total and too knackered from running up and down the stairs to finish polish more than the belly cut, came out OK. 1200 - 1500 - 2000 - 2500 - Meguiars Scratch X 2.0 on the belly cut.
https://i.imgur.com/GNVOynJ.jpg

Grampa · October 2023

Grandma still coughing and wheezing so sat for an hour in relative peace at the kitchen table with a bottle of Meguiars and an old tea towel to gave the body a quick once over. Far from factory perfect standard but easily good enough for my needs. No more sparkly paint and, more importantly, no sand throughs, result. Now just need to put it all back together.
https://i.imgur.com/FzcPT8m.jpg

Roland · October 2023

Do you find that retirement gives you the patience to do these things?

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