To refin or not to refin... a 72 RI... that is the question

[psyched]

So I have a MIM 72 RI Thinline in natural finish, more or less looks like this fella here:



But I'm not completely in love with the natural finish. And there's something about this green that I dig:



The green is called Cayman Green, comes in a Duplicolor rattle can. I like the shade, it's a non-standard color, and I think it might look really sharp against the pearloid pg (aftermarket pgs in anything else seem hard to come by unless I order one from China). My hesitation for some reason is what if I want to return the guitar to the natural finish... I wouldn't be removing the poly from it as-is (done that before, don't want to do it again) and would just be scuffing it before primer. Could I feasibly, somewhere down the road, sand off the extra primer/paint and wet sand this sumabitch back to a gloss natural finish?

And yeah, I know that seems like sort of a dumb question, but I figure if I don't love the green I might want to have the option open, and I think it partially determines whether I take the dive on this refin (it would be my third refin, I already have a slow plan to paint a maple-neck strat in sonic blue). Don't know what else I'd do, though, the only other color I've been staring at is Fiesta Red and I think that'd look way better on a strat.

Y'all have any gut reaction to the idea?

[twangplank]

If its a mim I say go for it. I'd do it in a color that was offered at that time but that's just me.

I have an mim that's factory candy apple red. I love out because it makes the pick guard pop and out looks like it could be an original.

If you wanna paint it I say do it.

[Chautauqua]

I could never cover over beautiful wood grains (part of what I love about the "walnut" finish on my RI 72 Deluxe is that you can still see the grain but it's got that wine red tint)... if it were me I'd leave it natural, but that's my opinion so... Maybe do a tint or something where you still get to see the grain???

If you're not in love with it as is, it sounds like if you love the guitar you should probably do what you can to make it "the one"... if that means a re-finish, then go for it man.

Cheers

Dave

[PixMix]

There was a pic of a tele finished by one of the members here, in 'artesian turquoise metallic' (it appears that the images have been removed), it was hands down the most beautiful variation of greenish-blue I have ever seen on a guitar. It looked just perfect on a tele body. Check it out.

[oramac7891]

I say go for it

[huckdeuceman]

That's a really nice ''Grain'' on the wood, I think you would regret it down the road?
just my 2's

[Tonemonkey]

Originally Posted by huckdeuceman

That's a really nice ''Grain'' on the wood, I think you would regret it down the road?
just my 2's

Agreed. I'd stain it a la:



The "Colour" of your preference has no attraction to me personally....... (did I say that nicely?)!

[adjason]

I would not do it. It will cover up that sweet grain, will ruin its resale value and may well look homemade rather than professional.

[psyched]

So the picture I posted above isn't my 72 RI, I couldn't find a shot of it before. Here's what's sitting in my house:



Thanks for the comments so far, guys. I really like the way the guitar plays, it just doesn't give my eyes a boner (so to speak).

So I'm not worried about resale value, I'm just kinda "eh" about the natural finish and I think less likely to pick it up sometimes as a result. The other info it would've been nice for me to share is that I have other Teles in LPB and surf green, and the surf green one I'd refinished myself using Reranch nitro and have been pretty happy with the results. But yeah, I have Teles in colors that are kind of the in the neighborhood. I have a Squier that I've turned into an Esquire hanging in the garage right now getting refinished in flat black. So I'm not totally inexperienced at this, probably part of the reason I'm thinking of painting rather than hunting down another one in a different color. Not to mention the neck has some really sexy grain in it, and a few passes with a green Scotchbrite pad on the back of the neck + 7.25 radius + vintage frets just makes it feel like butter... I'm liking the stain idea... hmm...

[Phelonious Ponk]

I'm not all that nuts about natural finishes either, but that's some pretty wood. I'd go for something translucent.

P

[iowacarver]

Wow, that is a beautiful grained body. But I think that color and pickguard would look awesome as well. No way I could pull it off.. but if you can, that would e cool. Good luck!

Corey

[Sea Devil]

Pretty wood is overrated. I had a Warmoth Tele with a gorgeous figured top for years because I didn't want to cover up the grain, but it was always supposed to be Sonic Blue. I finally took the plunge and painted it, and I've never missed the look of the grain for an instant.

[twangplank]

There are so many natural ash teles the world won't miss one if its gone.

[dada]

Go for it. Those finishes look like eighties oak furniture to me. That's a nice green. I just did a MIM thinline shell pink from the original mahogany and it came out great.

[Controller]

Very nice color. Awesome if you can pull it off.

[Del Pickup]

Personally, I'd buff out the shine on the body's poly finish with a green Scotch pad and leave it like that.

I've never been a fan of that really thick looking shiny finish but I think the grain on that body looks good.

But, hey, it's your guitar. Do what you want with it if you're not concerned about resale value. If you'd prefer it in that green finish (which looks more blue in that picture to my eyes!) then you might play it more than you would otherwise. And that can't be a bad thing, can it??

[old goat]

Originally Posted by dada

Go for it. Those finishes look like eighties oak furniture to me. That's a nice green. I just did a MIM thinline shell pink from the original mahogany and it came out great.

+1

[Five-O]

I'd stick a black pickguard on there before I messed with that finish, it might just be what it needs to give you a rise.

[javabirds]

Paint it, paint it, paint it!

[telejoseph]

Blackguard it?

As in, butterscotch blonde finish it and drop a black pickguard on there...