Members Guitar Heel Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 [or...I want a goldtop but all I've got is this vintage red PRS SE.] So, the boyz and I were chatting over in the OMG thread a few weeks ago, and I was saying that I love my SE Soapbar, but the finish wasn't doing it for me. It's nice and all, certainly well-applied, but I thought it was a little boring. I've been wanting a McSoapy Goldtop for some time, so I starting asking around as to the feasibility of refinishing the SE in the McSoapy's image. It was soon discovered that I had neither the work space nor aptitude to take on this project, but that's where Elias Graves enters the story. I can only assume he was quite drunk, because he said that, not only would he do it, but that he wanted to do it... So, before he was able to regain sobriety, I did this: Stripped all the parts, as you can see. Then, per EG, I ordered all of this from ReRanch: Sealer, Primer, Clearcoat, and original Les Paul Gold. A few days later, it was on a Fed Ex truck headed for Oklahoma... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 IN!!! gonna be mag{censored}ingnificent GH!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 So the guitar arrived at my place in one piece. Went to work with the sandpaper. I got excited at first since the red disappeared quickly and I saw wood. Kinda thought PRS used a thineer finish than my Epi did. No such luck. Only the red layer was thin. After that, another foot of clear. Ugh. This is what it looks like after one session with the paper. Plannig on spending this afternoon working on it. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 BTW, GH, which is the "extra" hole in the top? EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted March 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 BTW, GH, which is the "extra" hole in the top?EG The middle one. For the television audience: I purchased this guy used for around $350. Absolutely a top-notch guitar, and among my best players. The prior owner modded this by adding an extra volume knob. But, of course it wasn't lined up well, on either axis, and I think the extra knob takes away from the PRSness a bit. Mostly an aesthetic issue for me, since I rarely use the pickups at different volumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boxcarmonument Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Subscribed!! I love goldtops and would like to see the method from start to finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WildWill Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 So the extra hole is to be plugged and the guitar re-wired back to stock? (since the goldtop is going to be an opaque finish and all...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted March 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 So the extra hole is to be plugged and the guitar re-wired back to stock? (since the goldtop is going to be an opaque finish and all...) Very possibly. If it's gonna suck to do though, then I'd rather EG not do it, since he's already doing everything else (and I already feel guilty). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members snowaie Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 {censored}in right brothers. killer idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted March 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 {censored}in right brothers. killer idea. Not to be confused with the Wright Brothers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newbuilder Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 I dig the {censored}ing Right Brothers! Why is this thread so long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jelloman Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 plugging the extra hole is not that complicated...you just need to match a dowel to the hole (may require re-drilling to the proper size), glue it in place then sand down the excess flush to the top... ...because your finish is going to opaque the alignment and appearance of the plug are not critical, just how smooth the finished product is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jpnyc Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Went to work with the sandpaper. Is the finish tough enough that it takes that long with an orbital sander or are you doing it by hand to avoid damaging the body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jelloman Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Went to work with the sandpaper. Is the finish tough enough that it takes that long with an orbital sander or are you doing it by hand to avoid damaging the body? EG is pretty psychotic...he probably just went to work with paper and elbow grease... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Into Nation Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Coincidentally I just added another volume knob to mine. I centered it better... But either way, this guy with a gold top should be cool! Edit: Gold top hats and cream covers FTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Yes, here is my sander. Power sanders are just too easy to gouge wood with. I prefer the old fashioned way. Today's progress. Most of the red is gone and I even found some wood. This polyester finish would make a good replacement for tank armor. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 As far as the plug goes, I don't think you'd ever know if it was plugged. While a gold top is somewhat opaque, it's fairly complete coverage and any grain you see through it is faint and kind of indistinct. I seriously doubt anyone could pick out a plug seam by looking. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WildWill Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 You do damn fine work EG. Damn fine work. I bet that thing is beautiful when finished. The wood looks pretty nice in that last photo, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 See that little dot right below the holes? That's wood.All the rest is still covered with the clear polyester. I may be sanded all the way through by 2016. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted March 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 See that little dot right below the holes? That's wood. All the rest is still covered with the clear polyester. I may be sanded all the way through by 2016. EG Lookin' good EG!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members littlemilo Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Yes, here is my sander. Power sanders are just too easy to gouge wood with. I prefer the old fashioned way. EG God bless ya, man. I'd have busted out my Makita for the initial stages, anyway. Is this finish thicker than that SG you did in Silver? And the real question- is only the top going to be gold? I think that would be cooler, but not sure how you would make the change from gold to natural without binding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alphamarquis Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 God bless ya, man. I'd have busted out my Makita for the initial stages, anyway. Is this finish thicker than that SG you did in Silver?And the real question- is only the top going to be gold? I think that would be cooler, but not sure how you would make the change from gold to natural without binding. Perhaps natural binding via masking tape? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveAronow Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Yes, here is my sander. Power sanders are just too easy to gouge wood with. I prefer the old fashioned way EG The old fashioned way, is to use a scraper. Subscribed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Preacher Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Perhaps natural binding via masking tape? :eek:Wow, would that be hot! But nice work, EG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alphamarquis Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 The old fashioned way, is to use a scraper. Subscribed. I actually think a nice sharp scraper would be great in this situation, it would prevent from sandpaper getting gunked up with poly. I use them all the time to strip down to a stupid smooth level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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