I remember that someone on here has done this before, but I can't remember how they did it. I was wondering if anyone knew how to remove the black paint from a B60 to just make it all chrome? Or even just to remove a little to make it look a little "worn".

Any thoughts?

I would think paint remover would do the trick. You might just try steel wool, #0000.

I once found a product called 'aircraft stripper,' it was just a particularly raunchy aerosol paint stripper. Probably perfect for the job...I know it worked on the polyester finish on a mid-80's Ibanez.

-m

heat-gun/hair-blower?

Yep, paint stripper. Take the Bigs off the guitar. Use the stripper and let it soak. You may have to use several applications. Use a toothpick and or old toothbrush to remove the crumpled up paint. Use some lacquer thinner or Naptha to cleanup an remaining residue.

I would think paint remover would do the trick. You might just try steel wool, #0000.

NOT steel wool, please. I know I've read posts on this forum about steel wool causing aluminum to pit - Bigsby's are made of aluminum.:eek:

On the other hand: If you were going for a really antique/grungy look, then steel wool might get you where you want to go.:p

I would pop it in the bead-blast cabinet, then buff it up on the wheel...but most folks probably don't have that stuff in the garage.
I'm actually scheming a little Bigsby customization...I'll post some pics if I muster up the guts to do it.

This is just a B60 from a 5120. Are they made of aluminum as well? I thought that they were made from something different. They still work great whatever they are made from!

Charlie, we are coming over to hang out in your garage!!!

Is it alright to take the Bigsby off the guitar and leave it off of there for a few days without ill effects to the neck?

The B60 on the 5120 is indeed aluminum. They're licensed to be be constructed in accordance with Bigsby specs. No aluminum, no license!

Un-stringing your guitar to take the Bigsby off won't destroy your axe's neck, as long as you keep it in a safe and regulated environment, like it's case. If this were a problem, I don't know how luthiers would ever finish building a guitar before the neck warps.

Is it alright to take the Bigsby off the guitar and leave it off of there for a few days without ill effects to the neck?

No problem, I would loosen the truss rod nut a little if it will be for a few days.

I would pop it in the bead-blast cabinet, then buff it up on the wheel...but most folks probably don't have that stuff in the garage.
I'm actually scheming a little Bigsby customization...I'll post some pics if I muster up the guts to do it.

Yeah, I got that setup in the garage. Not too messy as long as I have the vacuum running!:)

heat-gun/hair-blower?

I tried that.....
No dice...

Please post if someone has success with paint stripper, etc., as I need to get rid of the black on mine:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/Gretsch%206120/P1040890.jpg

I tried that.....
No dice...

Aren't dice for the volume knobs?:cool:

Forget paint stripper. Too messy.

Go to Wal-mart or an Auto parts store and buy a can of this:

http://images.shipstore.com/ss/images/geo/geodull.jpg


Nevr Dull will remove the blacking paint. It will take several applications, but that simply lets you control the removal process. And it's alot easier than using a liquid or gel paint stripper. The Nevr Dull compound is impregnated in the wadding material.

HOWEVER-- WARNING: Nevr Dull is safe for chrome and nickel plating, but KEEP IT AWAY from GOLD plating! it will strip gold plating like butter.

Hey Tartanphantom, can that be applied with the Bigsby still on the guitar? Trying to save a trip to "hell" aka wal-mart, what is the application process of that stuff?

Remove the bigsby before you try to clear off the black paint. It's just not that difficult to do. You will have a much easier time removing the paint with the bigsby off. Some of these methods could damage your guitar finish just with their FUMES.

Other methods require scrubbing, scraping and you just don't need to add that stress to the top of your guitar or the bolt joint of your bigs. Just remove it and it will be easier in the end.

You do not have to remove the Bigsby, but doing so will make it easier to remove the paint (you can hold the Bigsby in your hand for greater control), and will lessen the possibility of damage to your guitar.
Nevr Dull is impregnated into a soft cotton-like substance. All you do is pull off a bit about the size of a cotton ball, and just rub it on the target area. Elbow grease always helps, but I would rub vigorously initially, then let it sit for about a minute between applications. A haze will form, then wipe off with a soft dry cloth or paper towel. Repeat as necessary. The compound is NOT ABRASIVE, but it does contain mineral spirits (like paint stripper). However, the beauty of Nevr Dull vs. paint stripper is the ease of application and removal, and the ease of controlling how much you wish to apply.


Nevr Dull website:

http://www.nevrdull.com/index.html

That Nevr Dull sounds like some really cool stuff.

Are you looking for the "aged" look, or "been beaten to hell on world tours for the last three decades" look? You could also consider pulling the Bigsby, busting out the dremel and using an assortment of wire wheels and buffing wheels...Mind you, I ain't ~recommending~ this, as such. Just saying you ~could~ if you were looking for the battered antique look. Regardless of method, I'm thinking it's best to do it off the guitar. If nothing else, do you really want to have to clean the guitar when you're done? :D I've pulled some of my guitars apart for weeks on end without problems.

-m

another reason to remove the Bigsby before working on it is that if you aren't careful, the weight of the Bigsby flopping around with no string tension holding it in place can very easily rip the screws right out of the end block. it happened to me. learn from my FAIL.

OUCH! Find yourself reaching for the glue & toothpicks, or did you have to drill, plug, re-drill?

-m

Learn from his fail!

I would think, if the Nevr-Dull works, it would be no problem leaving the Bigsby on and strung up.
If you get some on the guitar, wipe it off...it's not like it's acetone or MEK or something...it's metal polish.
I have an Epi that had a big, dorky E on the trussrod nut cover and pick guard.
I don't know what made me think of Nevr-Dull, but that took them right off without any harm (or even haze) on the plastic.
Depending on what the finish is on the Bigsby, it may or may not work.
There are so many plastic coatings being used these days. I wouldn't be surprised if they are filled with a little plastic (polyester) powder and heated.
In that case, the Nevr-dull probably won't work and heat would be your best idea.
You could use a heat gun, or even pop it in the oven.
Powdercoat is applied at about 400 deg. F. and that temp will soften it right up.

Depending on what the finish is on the Bigsby, it may or may not work.
There are so many plastic coatings being used these days. I wouldn't be surprised if they are filled with a little plastic (polyester) powder and heated.
In that case, the Nevr-dull probably won't work and heat would be your best idea.


Excellent point. I have successfully used Nevr Dull to remove blacking enamel from silver jewelry with no problems. However, It does depend on how the enamel was baked and how thick it is. Once you apply the Nevr Dull, a little judicious work with an old toothbrush (before the application dries) may help quite a bit.

glue and toothpicks. i will never, ever do extensive work on a Bigsby'ed guitar again without removing the Bigsby. i done learned my lesson.

I guess that makes sense, when you think about it in terms of a big honkin' slab of aluminum held to your guitar by three or four itty bitty screws at one end where leverage can make a mess of things quick!

-m

http://members.cox.net/fieldhdj/5120TDF.jpg

Done with thinner. I didn't even remove the Bigsby, just masked it off and worked very deliberately.

http://members.cox.net/fieldhdj/5120TDF.jpg

Done with thinner. I didn't even remove the Bigsby, just masked it off and worked very deliberately.
That looks great Doug.

I've done this over four times on Gold and Chrome Nickel Bigsbys. JASCO Paint remover it bubbles up, rinse with water and use a tooth brush to get the small cling ons while rinsing.

Does your bridge really need to be that slanted to get the intonation right?

Heres a mod of a bigsby I did for a guitar I made

Does your bridge really need to be that slanted to get the intonation right?

No, when I masked the guitar I loosened the the strings enough to slip some of the blue masking tape under the bridge and it slipped a bit. I snapped the pic as soon as I was done, not even noticing the angle of the bridge.

I have had it at an angle like that with some alt tunings sometimes - its no biggie to return to standard and intonate, once you get used to floating bridges.

It looks great man, big congrats on the nice job! and thanks for the pic!

Yep, paint stripper. Take the Bigs off the guitar. Use the stripper and let it soak. You may have to use several applications. Use a toothpick and or old toothbrush to remove the crumpled up paint. Use some lacquer thinner or Naptha to cleanup an remaining residue.

A big hearty +1 here for anyone thinking of attempting this down the road

thread is kinda old ... nevertheless : Nevr-Dull didn´t work for me regarding the gold. I had hoped to get rid of both the black and the gold. black yes, gold no. The gold even brightened up. No gold residue in the Nevr-Dull pads left.
I then soaked the bodies of the gold and an aluminum Bigs in thinner for 2 days. Effortless & perfect. Black came off of both completely. Just had to polish off the residue slightly.
As for aluminum, even a normal household sponge resulted in scratching the surface - beware, it´s a very soft surface. Had to polish up the surface after that to make it shiny again. Got even scratches from my fingernails when attempting to remove black residue from the inner edges of the bigsby body.
Not sure what to do with the gold plating which already has come off partly from normal use, so I wanna get rid of it completely. I´ll try a jeweller´s shop to have the gold plating removed if it´s reasonable costwise.
BTW the gold one is not a real Bigsby but a B-700 knockoff with the plastic washers. For a cheap Chinese product it seems to be loaded with gold, they must be rich over there...:D

Aqua regia (Nitric acid and hydrochloric acid mixed) dissolve the gold, it probably give the aluminium a good "eating" too... (it is the only thing i know that dissolves gold, and Platina, it is allso very dangerous)

I recently attempted this with stunning success. I had a Gold Bigsby for my Gretsch Duo Jet. I didn't have to use chemicals AT ALL. It took me 3-4 hours but it looks great without scraping any of the gold. What I used was plastic forks, knives, and spoons. I broke a couple along the way but they worked perfectly without any damage. Now I have an ALL GOLD Bigsby. http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/members/howlinwulf-albums-guitar-gear-picture6132-my-custom-gretsch-duo-bolt.jpg

We used to get a light silver paint from the hobby store to cover the Weatherking logo on bass drum heads; it matched what appears to be a white drumhead. Perhaps, instead of removing the paint, rather pour some light silver paint on a rag and rub over the black to fade it a bit. The light silver should match the metal color of the Bigsby pretty well. I don't know, just a thought.

I only have to touch gold plate and it's gone, i'll send you some sweat in a jar!! ;)

Heres a mod of a bigsby I did for a guitar I made

way cool guitar!