Refinishing a Fender neck in ‘vintage tint’

Caffeine_Vampire

Pretty straightforward, I have an AV Hardtail. Period correct pale but I prefer the ‘yellow’ aesthetic of my other AV guitars. 

Advice re products and doing a good job would be most welcome. 

munckee

Caffeine_Vampire said:

Pretty straightforward, I have an AV Hardtail. Period correct pale but I prefer the ‘yellow’ aesthetic of my other AV guitars. 

Advice re products and doing a good job would be most welcome. 

I think northwest guitars used to do a vintage tint nitro spray, not sure if you can spray straight over existing. 

Bridgehouse

Steve Robinson - Manchester Guitar Tech - he has the stuff you need!

Caffeine_Vampire

Bridgehouse said:

Steve Robinson - Manchester Guitar Tech - he has the stuff you need!

Aw man, I tried Steve but it’s not something he does. Thanks though. 

Bridgehouse

Caffeine_Vampire said:

Bridgehouse said:

Steve Robinson - Manchester Guitar Tech - he has the stuff you need!

Aw man, I tried Steve but it’s not something he does. Thanks though. 

I’d be surprised if the AV tint wasn’t just a standard amber nitro to be honest - every AVRI I’ve had/seen has looked identical to amber tint nitro sprayed necks I’ve done myself - is the AVRI a specific tint or something?

Caffeine_Vampire

Bridgehouse said:

Caffeine_Vampire said:

Bridgehouse said:

Steve Robinson - Manchester Guitar Tech - he has the stuff you need!

Aw man, I tried Steve but it’s not something he does. Thanks though. 

I’d be surprised if the AV tint wasn’t just a standard amber nitro to be honest - every AVRI I’ve had/seen has looked identical to amber tint nitro sprayed necks I’ve done myself - is the AVRI a specific tint or something?

I think you’re right but just looking for confirmation and materials before starting the job. A hint or two wouldn’t go wrong either

Zoolooter

Rothko & Frost for nitro 

SteveRobinson

Thanks Mark.

I generally wouldn't advise spraying over the existing finish though, adhesion probably wouldn't be good enough. Scuff sanding right up to the frets is tricky.

Although I suppose if it did start flaking you could always take it back to where it was by stripping off the cellulose and buffing it back to a shine?

Caffeine_Vampire

Zoolooter said:

Rothko & Frost for nitro 

Bookmarked with thanks. 

Caffeine_Vampire

SteveRobinson said:

Thanks Mark.

I generally wouldn't advise spraying over the existing finish though, adhesion probably wouldn't be good enough. Scuff sanding right up to the frets is tricky.

Although I suppose if it did start flaking you could always take it back to where it was by stripping off the cellulose and buffing it back to a shine?

Hi Steve, thanks for chipping in. I’m guessing a slow, careful removal of the existing lacquer with fine wire wool/sandpaper followed by a light spraying in stages should be ok?

thermionic

Surely if it's a nitro finish the easiest way to get it off is with solvent?

Caffeine_Vampire

Spec shere from Fender -

Model Number: 017-0177-(Color #) 
Series: Special Edition
Body: Alder 
Neck: Maple, “C” Shape, 
(Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets: 22 Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.685” (42.8 mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Machine Heads: Standard Cast/Sealed 
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strat® Strings-Through-Body Hardtail
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: 3 American Vintage '70s Strat Single-Coil (Bridge, Middle, and Neck)
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup 
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup 
Position 3. Middle Pickup 
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup 
Position 5. Neck Pickup 
Controls: Master Volume, 
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), 
Tone 2. (Bridge/Middle Pickup)
Colors: (300) 3-Color Sunburst
(306) Black, 
(Gloss Polyurethane Finish)
Strings: Fender® USA, NPS, (.009 to .042)
Unique Features: Large ‘70s Style Headstock,
‘70s Style Decal, 
Black Dot Position Inlays,
Black Plastic Parts,
Dual “T” Roller String Trees
Source: U.S.
Accessories: Gig Bag, Cable, Strap
U.S. MSRP: $949.99
INTRODUCED: TBA
DISCONTINUED: 
DISCONTINUED COLORS: 
COMMENTS: 
WRENCH SIZES: .050” Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench, p/n 0018531000, 
3/32” Truss Rod Adjustment Wrench p/n 0018622000

thermionic

Ah, I thought the AVRIs were all nitro-finished. Maybe this is a different series to the one I was thinking of.

Caffeine_Vampire

thermionic said:

Ah, I thought the AVRIs were all nitro-finished. Maybe this is a different series to the one I was thinking of.

It’s a kind of an AV/American Special deal I think. 

SteveRobinson

Caffeine_Vampire said:

Zoolooter said:

Rothko & Frost for nitro 

Bookmarked with thanks. 

Why not buy the best? https://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/shop/

A polyurethane finish on the neck is authentic for a 70s guitar.

Stripping is a horrible job but the best method is to use a scraper and Stanley blade between the frets. 

thermionic

In the Haynes Manual for the Stratocaster I think this exact thing is shown. MIJ reissue maple neck Strat, poly finish scraped off the back, frets removed and the board sanded, then refinished with poly. I can look it up when I get home if you want more info.

Caffeine_Vampire

thermionic said:

In the Haynes Manual for the Stratocaster I think this exact thing is shown. MIJ reissue maple neck Strat, poly finish scraped off the back, frets removed and the board sanded, then refinished with poly. I can look it up when I get home if you want more info.

Or I could just look at my own Haynes Strat manual and then give Steve a call after saying ‘DOH’ but thank you.