Is it possible to repair or laquer over small knocks on a Butterscotch Tele ?

Gerry Lambe · March 1st, 2008, 02:06 PM

Took my beloved ( talking about my 52 reissue butterscotch blonde tele ) not my missus !!, to a jam last night and stupidly decided to take it in a gig bag on public transport ! What a nonce !!
Never again, but unfortunatly I have some small knocks on the body specifically on the outer of the guitar.

Im trying Gibson clear on it but does anyone know of anything that can be used to reduce the knocks ? ( It did have some before I got it ( it had been dropped apparently, it plays like a dream and I would never sell but any ideas would be most welcome ).

Thank you
Gerry Lambe

rhinocaster · March 1st, 2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerry Lambe

Took my beloved ( talking about my 52 reissue butterscotch blonde tele ) not my missus !!, to a jam last night and stupidly decided to take it in a gig bag on public transport ! What a nonce !!
Never again, but unfortunatly I have some small knocks on the body specifically on the outer of the guitar.

Im trying Gibson clear on it but does anyone know of anything that can be used to reduce the knocks ? ( It did have some before I got it ( it had been dropped apparently, it plays like a dream and I would never sell but any ideas would be most welcome ).

Thank you
Gerry Lambe

I'm sure that there are ways of professionally repairing finish chips, but if it's done right, it's going to have to be expensive. Also, nothing looks quite as bad as a touched up guitar to my eyes.

Dings are a fact of life, and I'd just keep taking the guitar out and playing it.

tboy · March 1st, 2008, 03:07 PM

You're money ahead. Fender would've charged you 2-3 hundred bucks to do that

But seriously, if it is real lacquer (don't know on the model) you can lay a small drop on a ding and it will melt in, blending with the surrounding lacquer. Careful sanding and polishing can make it nearly invisible, but I suggest not trying it at home.

I've had great success with it, like on Martin flat tops, and also some miserable failures. Like on a finish that had the SB color in the lacquer itself. I dropped some clear on it and all hell broke loose. A pro (very unlike myself) would have known better.

I've seen guys successfully steam out not-too-deep wood dings. Again, pro level stuff to avoid doing more harm than good. You know the drill. Ask to see the tech's past work.

Gerry Lambe · March 1st, 2008, 03:25 PM

Thanks guys it was always going to be a " players guitar " so Ill just have to put up with the dings !
Awsome sound and fantastic intonation make it a real pleasure to play, thank God nothing wrong with the guitar itself. Probably the best guitar Ive ever played for sound and playability.
Gerry Lambe

mellecaster · March 1st, 2008, 04:01 PM

If it really bugs you, I would think London would have some excellent furniture repair shops, that could make it disappear.

blue metalflake · March 1st, 2008, 04:03 PM

If its a player, just accept its gonna be like that.

IMO nothing looks worse than badly repaired damage. It'll look better as it is, and think of lots more to come.

Rob DiStefano · March 1st, 2008, 04:11 PM

It would take a full refinish to make any "knocks" (dings, dents, scratches, etc) completely disappear. Not worth doing with that guitar (or most any guitar, for that matter). You'll have a good chance of pulling out dents with a damp rag and a soldering iron. Actual nicks/dings that go down to the bare wood could first be restained/pigmented as close to the blonde finish as possible (pretty much anything's better than bare wood) and then slightly overfill with clear epoxy - when it cures, use a single edge razor blade to scrape the overfill almost flush to the surface. Not much can be done with scratches.

Bill · March 1st, 2008, 05:19 PM

I've taken an electric and an acoustic using gigbags on the tube and been fine. I was wondering what exactly caused the dings and dents? Any idea?

LemonLess · March 1st, 2008, 05:21 PM

I personally like little dings in my guitar, as long as they dont effect tone or playability. Gives it personality in a way.

BroadMaster · March 1st, 2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

I'm sure that there are ways of professionally repairing finish chips, but if it's done right, it's going to have to be expensive. Also, nothing looks quite as bad as a touched up guitar to my eyes.

Dings are a fact of life, and I'd just keep taking the guitar out and playing it.

+1. it's natural relicing. It's not a bad thing. Did it change the way it plays?
No?.... then it's of little consequence in the big picture. Don't want to nick/ding/scratch you guitar, don't take it out to jams for sure, but really anywhere it's gonna come out of the bag/case to be played. Best put it under the bed for someone to come across 50 years from now. yeah, an underbed vintage 52RI classic.
Wonder how much that will fetch.......

March 1st, 2008, 02:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gerry Lambe TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London Age: 47 Posts: 33 13 Photos	Is it possible to repair or laquer over small knocks on a Butterscotch Tele ? Took my beloved ( talking about my 52 reissue butterscotch blonde tele ) not my missus !!, to a jam last night and stupidly decided to take it in a gig bag on public transport ! What a nonce !! Never again, but unfortunatly I have some small knocks on the body specifically on the outer of the guitar. Im trying Gibson clear on it but does anyone know of anything that can be used to reduce the knocks ? ( It did have some before I got it ( it had been dropped apparently, it plays like a dream and I would never sell but any ideas would be most welcome ). Thank you Gerry Lambe

March 1st, 2008, 04:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,774 17 Photos	If it really bugs you, I would think London would have some excellent furniture repair shops, that could make it disappear. __________________ I have never owned an Ipod or Blackberry..and doubt that I ever will......

March 1st, 2008, 05:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,668 59 Photos	I've taken an electric and an acoustic using gigbags on the tube and been fine. I was wondering what exactly caused the dings and dents? Any idea? __________________ B i l l B a e c k A journal of our year in London

March 1st, 2008, 03:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 684 8 Photos	You're money ahead. Fender would've charged you 2-3 hundred bucks to do that But seriously, if it is real lacquer (don't know on the model) you can lay a small drop on a ding and it will melt in, blending with the surrounding lacquer. Careful sanding and polishing can make it nearly invisible, but I suggest not trying it at home. I've had great success with it, like on Martin flat tops, and also some miserable failures. Like on a finish that had the SB color in the lacquer itself. I dropped some clear on it and all hell broke loose. A pro (very unlike myself) would have known better. I've seen guys successfully steam out not-too-deep wood dings. Again, pro level stuff to avoid doing more harm than good. You know the drill. Ask to see the tech's past work.

March 1st, 2008, 03:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gerry Lambe TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London Age: 47 Posts: 33 13 Photos	Thanks guys it was always going to be a " players guitar " so Ill just have to put up with the dings ! Awsome sound and fantastic intonation make it a real pleasure to play, thank God nothing wrong with the guitar itself. Probably the best guitar Ive ever played for sound and playability. Gerry Lambe

March 1st, 2008, 04:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
blue metalflake Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ireland Age: 55 Posts: 2,343 10 Photos	If its a player, just accept its gonna be like that. IMO nothing looks worse than badly repaired damage. It'll look better as it is, and think of lots more to come.

March 1st, 2008, 04:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,791	It would take a full refinish to make any "knocks" (dings, dents, scratches, etc) completely disappear. Not worth doing with that guitar (or most any guitar, for that matter). You'll have a good chance of pulling out dents with a damp rag and a soldering iron. Actual nicks/dings that go down to the bare wood could first be restained/pigmented as close to the blonde finish as possible (pretty much anything's better than bare wood) and then slightly overfill with clear epoxy - when it cures, use a single edge razor blade to scrape the overfill almost flush to the surface. Not much can be done with scratches.

March 1st, 2008, 05:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
LemonLess TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 50 2 Photos	I personally like little dings in my guitar, as long as they dont effect tone or playability. Gives it personality in a way.