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Refinishing the back and neck of my SZ!


newbuilder

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I wanted to try something a little more organic for the back of the neck and the back of the guitar...and I am playing this as my main axe in the band so, I had to get it sanded down right away and start staining and tung oiling. I probably should have cleaned all of this up a little more before staining, but I am happy enough for a personal axe.

 

I didn't use anything to strip her other than two electric sanders, a drill with a sanding drum, and a little hand sanding.

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I didn't even pull the jack all the way off and kept the strings on and the front is still unmollested.

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This part is the most frustrating part of the guitar to sand when it has a factory poly finish.

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I was thinking about overhauling mine entirely at one point. I bought it used and it's gots some dents and bangs. I have the transparent black SZ720. Was thinking one day I'd strip it and leave the back natural and do a 3-tone sunburst on the top. It's great that they have a solid maple top.

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cool quick project, nice results. i got a guitar i'm doing the same thing to, but because of my work schedule the last few weeks, its just hanging in a basement, the back and neck stripped, untouched for weeks. i'm hoping monday and tuesday i'll be able to finish it up though.

 

have you ever tried Tru-Oil? i think that might be a better route than tung oil... its harder and you wont have to reapply it ever.

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I was thinking about overhauling mine entirely at one point. I bought it used and it's gots some dents and bangs. I have the transparent black SZ720. Was thinking one day I'd strip it and leave the back natural and do a 3-tone sunburst on the top. It's great that they have a solid maple top.

 

The solid maple cap makes a great natural binding and since the maple and mahogany are so different you can stain them at the same time and it gives the effect of natural binding:thu:

 

Please do a thread if you sunburst yours, I would love to see that!

 

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Looks surpisingly nice with the black front, i'd be tempted to do the same with the headstock, if it were mine
:)

 

This is the real color of the top

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I might do that at some point, but for now I like that all of the info is intact...not sure why:idk:.

 

The top is pretty damn dark when not in the sun, so that may be a rifin at some point as well...and thank you.:thu:

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I love the way that looks with the front of the guitar still painted. Very unique. If I still had mine I would copy you.

 

You have to finish the back and sides of the headstock, it would be too amazing and judging by how you have gone about the rest, shouldn't take too long.

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I love the way that looks with the front of the guitar still painted. Very unique. If I still had mine I would copy you.


You have to finish the back and sides of the headstock, it would be too amazing and judging by how you have gone about the rest, shouldn't take too long.

 

 

Me too, and your probably right about the headstock but I am ready to start playing this again...thanks alot!

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That's really nice wood.

 

How tough was the sanding and all that? I've got an almost identical SZ and the poly finish seems pretty thick.

 

If I were you, I'd definitely do the top of the guitar too. All natural would be a very cool, unique look.

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That's really nice wood.


How tough was the sanding and all that? I've got an almost identical SZ and the poly finish seems pretty thick.


If I were you, I'd definitely do the top of the guitar too. All natural would be a very cool, unique look.

 

 

The sanding was a three stage deal...a hand sander and a sanding drum for the drill (for the horns) and some hand work as well and about three actual hours of work...maybe four. It isn't that thick and use machines where you can to cut time.

 

After all of this I am going to have to do the headstock:thu:

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Ok, so the quality of my project has been called into question and you guys were right...I have to do the back of the headstock. So anyway it is still a tad early to bust out the sander but it won't be for long:evil:

 

Here is a shot with three aplications of tung oil and a wet sand but I will stop there and do the headstock before doing any more tung oil.

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