71'tele refinished,what'da ya think?

spirochete · July 3rd, 2008, 10:46 PM

Ok,here's the story,bought a badly refinished 71'tele(was a sunburst finish originally),the paint started peeling off so helped it and it looked really bad so decided to refinish it.
Started by rubbing down the top as it had loads of dents,then used rustoleum grey primer to get a smooth finish.Decided to use rustoleum metallic cobalt blue but after a few coats didn't like it so then used rustoleum bright blue.Took the shine down with a scotchbright pad and then used minwax poly for the finish.The paint and poly went on really well to give a super hard finish.Took it down again with the scotch bright pad and gave it the relic treatment.
Put in a set of SD quarter pounders.
Deglossed a new PG then yellowed it and reglossed it with the minwax poly.
Reinstalled the original jack cup but was loose so drilled two tiny holes and screwed it in place(did have an LP styel plate)
The bridge is a 70's reissue,slightly rusted and reliced,the chrome saddles sounded bad so used some reliced brass saddles,also better for string spacing.
The finished tele sounds great,less twang more rock.

Pic in 4th reply!

T-bone Tone · July 3rd, 2008, 11:18 PM

Ace. Well done. I just love those early to mid '70's teles. With the glut of vintage spec strats and teles in the last 15 years or so, sporting the '50s style decal, I now prefer the late 60's-70's style.

Gotta be honest, though. I didn't think it looked too bad to start with.

However, ggod for you for getting it how you like it. I bet it plays and sounds just bloody great.

A lot of purists would be all sniffy and superior, no doubt, and waffle on about original finishes, etc. What they totally miss is the fact a lot of musicians from the 60's and 70's actually used their guitars....to play....regularly....so they became worn...and replaced bits...and refinished their guitars, instead of buying a new one.

Ahhh, those halcyon days when musicians bought Gibsons & Fenders and not lawyers or hedge fund managers or premiership footballers.

Refinished guitars are one of the best vintage bargains out there. Some of the early to mid '60's strats had, frankly, quite appalling, poor quality 'target' sunbursts.

An old family friend used to work for the sole UK distributor in the late 50's to '64, and he tells me they refinished an awful lot of sunburst strats to solid colours, especially salmon pink - the Shadows were a huge influence in the UK from '59 to the mid '60's, and Hank Marvins Fender was salmon pink.

spirochete · July 3rd, 2008, 11:31 PM

Thanks,it was never going to be all original again,so got it how I like it.A bit hit or miss but the finish came out really good.

spirochete · July 6th, 2008, 03:53 PM

Ok here's a few pics.

July 3rd, 2008, 10:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
spirochete TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bermuda Posts: 94 8 Photos	71'tele refinished,what'da ya think? Ok,here's the story,bought a badly refinished 71'tele(was a sunburst finish originally),the paint started peeling off so helped it and it looked really bad so decided to refinish it. Started by rubbing down the top as it had loads of dents,then used rustoleum grey primer to get a smooth finish.Decided to use rustoleum metallic cobalt blue but after a few coats didn't like it so then used rustoleum bright blue.Took the shine down with a scotchbright pad and then used minwax poly for the finish.The paint and poly went on really well to give a super hard finish.Took it down again with the scotch bright pad and gave it the relic treatment. Put in a set of SD quarter pounders. Deglossed a new PG then yellowed it and reglossed it with the minwax poly. Reinstalled the original jack cup but was loose so drilled two tiny holes and screwed it in place(did have an LP styel plate) The bridge is a 70's reissue,slightly rusted and reliced,the chrome saddles sounded bad so used some reliced brass saddles,also better for string spacing. The finished tele sounds great,less twang more rock. Pic in 4th reply! Last edited by spirochete; July 6th, 2008 at 03:54 PM.

July 3rd, 2008, 11:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	Ace. Well done. I just love those early to mid '70's teles. With the glut of vintage spec strats and teles in the last 15 years or so, sporting the '50s style decal, I now prefer the late 60's-70's style. Gotta be honest, though. I didn't think it looked too bad to start with. However, ggod for you for getting it how you like it. I bet it plays and sounds just bloody great. A lot of purists would be all sniffy and superior, no doubt, and waffle on about original finishes, etc. What they totally miss is the fact a lot of musicians from the 60's and 70's actually used their guitars....to play....regularly....so they became worn...and replaced bits...and refinished their guitars, instead of buying a new one. Ahhh, those halcyon days when musicians bought Gibsons & Fenders and not lawyers or hedge fund managers or premiership footballers. Refinished guitars are one of the best vintage bargains out there. Some of the early to mid '60's strats had, frankly, quite appalling, poor quality 'target' sunbursts. An old family friend used to work for the sole UK distributor in the late 50's to '64, and he tells me they refinished an awful lot of sunburst strats to solid colours, especially salmon pink - the Shadows were a huge influence in the UK from '59 to the mid '60's, and Hank Marvins Fender was salmon pink.

July 3rd, 2008, 11:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
spirochete TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bermuda Posts: 94 8 Photos	Thanks,it was never going to be all original again,so got it how I like it.A bit hit or miss but the finish came out really good.