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Curing the finish...success at last!

el84ster

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2001
Messages
1,420
I have an '01 R8 and the finish has always been soft. After 8 years is still hadn't hardened up! 2 years ago I had to refinish the neck, I used some stew mac nitro and that stuff was hard as a rock in a year! The change in tone after just redoing the neck was pretty amazing too.

So I decided to get serious about getting the rest of the finish nice and hard like it should be. I had been putting it out in the sun, and that helped a little, but not a whole lot.

But I found the answer and almost have the thing rock-hard after only 2 days! I've just been parking my axe by the wood stove...keeping an eye on it so it doesn't get too hot of course. After 2 days the finish has shrunk a little so I can see the grain, it's much harder to the touch and rings very differently when I tap it.

But most importantly, it sounds like a whole new guitar! There is a lot more harmonic content coming out of it now (I guess that was previously supressed by the soft finish). It has more high end and more zing. I have a pair of 1962 Pat # pickups in there and they are able to feed a lot more information to the amp now. Huge improvement. Like I said you can hear the difference when tapping on the guitar. Also now when playing it acoustically, it's much louder!

I'm going to keep curing it; the tone keeps improving. I'd think the same results could be had with a hair dryer...but it's easier to let it sit for a length of time near a stove, etc.

Anyway, thought I'd help out my historic brothers and sisters. :hippy
 

access

New member
Joined
Dec 3, 2001
Messages
1,625
Sweet!

I wonder how good it will sound if you put it IN the wood stove?!

J/K
 

Cogswell

The Duke of Dumbassery
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
Messages
15,717
For the past year I've left my R7 sitting in a stand in my studio. The finish has hardened up a lot.
 

bjm007

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2001
Messages
1,123
+1 Leaving mine in the full sun for 3-4 weekends straight has "cured" a few of my favorite guitars.
 

RamiLP

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
1,247
so you have cooked your finish on low heat for some time?? :)

leaving mine in the california sun a couple days did the trick, i also always leave my guitar on a wall hanger as well. it rarely sees the case unless im taking it outside the house.
 

soulwobby

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Messages
167
Sweet!

I wonder how good it will sound if you put it IN the wood stove?!

J/K


euh actually did is to my std a while ago in an accidental kinda way to the point where smoke came out of it ^^

luckily no wood damage when cooled off, a bit finish-fucked though ^^

sound has definitely improved :rofl
 

MRTONEMAN

New member
Joined
Mar 6, 2006
Messages
778
I am sure you have heard the cliche, that often, vintage mint case-queen guitars sound mediocre. It gets said they were not played because they were not that good. The real reason is likely, that the well played beat ones sound better because the paint has hardened, checked, or all together fallen off.:rofl
 

RamiLP

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
1,247
I had this idea, nad actually started to do this once. The guitar got really hot really fast, and I got nervous and checked online. I found some message board somewhere were I was told this was not recommended, and I stopped doing it. I can't remember the reason not to do it, but is this really ok?

well i didnt mean leave it in the sun all day, but i used to leave it about 3-4 hours a day, for about 5-6 days of sun light, and i wouldnt do it on a very hot day, i usually do it in days that are 80 degrees F or less. i had no harm yet.
 

CocoTone

Les Paul Froum Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2004
Messages
1,007
Doesn't sunlight fade the finish? Man you guys are hardcore fanatics!!:wah

CT.
 

Cogswell

The Duke of Dumbassery
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
Messages
15,717
UV light will fade ther finish. If you just leave your guitar out of its case long enough the solvents will gas out faster & lacquer will harden up. You don't need high temps.
 

RamiLP

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
1,247
i kinda wanted a little fade, but so far it hasnt been drematic, with the amont of sun time my gutiar has seen the difference is slight, but i still have enough cherry burst to spare for years to come

img_0062-copy.jpg

img_0063-copy.jpg

img_0064-copy.jpg

img_0065-copy.jpg


as you can see there is a little fading, you can see darker amber under the picguard, slight fading under the ring in the 1st pick, but most obviouce to see is under the pup ring, but like i said there is still plenty of cherry to go
 

el84ster

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2001
Messages
1,420
If you want to try this, just be careful, too mauch heat can warp some of the plastic parts.
 
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