South African Girl needs some help with this Vintageguitar

SX guitars came out of the same factories as Squier Korean guitars. They had some cheaper models but yours looks like one of the 'vintage' model line. They had better wood, controls and hardware. Gold hardware is a sign it's an upper specification model, the vintage tinted neck too.

I'd get that setup and cleaned, rosewood oiled. Looks like someone loved and played it a lot - we have a saying here that well played guitars usually means it's a good one, and they acquire a charm through their player wear and patina from human contact.

 

Welcome to TDPRI ...

 

Three things, OK?
The bridge. Are you having trouble with the intonation? No reason the change it unless you are, and you really don't know that until you put on a set of your preferred strings. Those are way cooler saddles than the six-saddle style, unless it won't play in tune.
The pickguard looks way cool.
I like the finish, but if you want a solid color (or opaque pattern), make room for a mess. It's a messy job.

 

If it were me, I'd remove the strings and use lighter fluid (naptha) to clean everything. But I really would then oil that fretboard- it looks dry. Pretty dry in South Africa, correct? Don't just use any oil, there are internet searches and products you should use.

 

Clean it up.
Get some scratch remover and buff it out by hand or with a buffer. Touch up the edges with Black Paint.

Get the Control Pots sprayed with Electronics Cleaner.
ReString it and call it good to go.

Or get a Guitar Wrap from Skinyourskunk and cover the front after you touch up the edges and buff the back.
They have all kinds of cool wraps.
I wouldn't refinish it. Too much work.

 

I use Baby Oil.
On my fretboard.

 

Check out my threads in the Other Guitars forum here.
I bring beat up guitars back to playing form...
FG

 

Here's a good intro to cleaning from a reliable source: https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-ideas/tool-demo-videos/how-to-clean-a-guitar.html

 

Hi charni , and welcome , looks like a fun project , you might want to take alook at some of fendergyrl;s threads on some of the repairs she has done ,(pretty advanced stuff by some accounts ) but focus on the cleaning and restringing of the guitar, once the guitar is playable then look at the refinish , to do it all at once will be a daunting task by all stretches , it could be a great learning expirience for you .
by the way looks like a nice instrument

 

If I was cleaning that up, I'd do the following.

1. Take the neck off. Much easier to work with.
2. Naptha makes for a good wood cleaner. Go with the grain and go easy on the naptha.
3. When rosewood is clean, use masking tape to tape off the frets. When you're done, the fretboard will be covered with tape and the frets exposed. Grab some extra fine steel wool and get to work on the frets. Use a piece of thin leather to polish them up.
4. Oil the board. I just use 'lemon oil', which is just thin mineral oil with a lemon scent. $5 a 1/2 litre and the same stuff they sell in a guitar shop for $15/80mL. I wouldn't use gobs of it, go slow, get it into the wood, wipe up the excess.

Save the rest for a tech to setup.

 

Welcome to the forum, Charni. You’re off to a great start! There are a lot of good ides here already. Good luck!

 

a kid in my school band had an SX vintage model strat..... sounded pretty good too,.... nice guitars...

I'd clean it up, re string it and rock it.....

 

Charni,

You have been offered a lot of great advice.
It all seems to point to, "cut the old strings off, clean it up, oil the fingerboard, wax the body, buff it all off, and then re-string it".
Replace some missing bits.
I agree with all of that.

Listen to FenderGyrl most importantly.
She's wise.

Sparky

PS I am friends with Robbie Schofield of Durban, South Africa.
He was a pro surfer visiting Hawaii when I lived there years ago, and we were friends.
Robbie is an airline pilot down there now.

 

First, welcome! Looks like a nice guitar. I had an SX bass and it was solid and well made. The electronics weren’t the best but were certainly adequate.