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January 25th, 2011, 07:55 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: netherlands
Age: 37
Posts: 11
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5120 with satin finish
After I've slowly started to mod my 5120 and grew more confident of what I was doing, I finally got the nerve to take it to the last step. I always liked the satin finish on the vintage Gretsches better than the high gloss shine of the poly-finish. I had read on various forums about "sanding" a guitar with scotch brite pads connected to a handheld mouse sander. I started out using a schotch brite pad by hand rubbing the back of the neck wich made it ever so smooth, really improved the playability of the neck! I inmediately liked the look of the satin neck and took the plunge; I sanded the total body of the guitar with a little machine. It's hard to make pictures of the result doing it justice, but here are a few anyway to give you an idea.
Specs:
- GFS Locking Tuners
- Graphtech nut
- HS Filtertrons
- Compton SS bridge
- Switchcraft pickup selector
- Paul Setzer G-brand sticker
Greetings, I hope you like it.
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January 25th, 2011, 08:02 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Age: 43
Posts: 1,206
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Looks good!
I did that to my 6120, and it looks way more vintage, and feels better now.
Is that G brand a sticker???
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January 25th, 2011, 08:04 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: netherlands
Age: 37
Posts: 11
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Hello Sroux, yes its a sticker from a nice guy called Paul Setzer.
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January 25th, 2011, 08:09 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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Gretschified
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Little Falls,MN
Age: 58
Posts: 14,649
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Looks good!
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January 25th, 2011, 08:33 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ann Arbor
Posts: 1,848
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Looks awesome. I've a notion to try it with my Rose. But is this a reversible mod?
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And, swelling with disdain,
Appeal'd to many a poet's page
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January 25th, 2011, 08:38 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: netherlands
Age: 37
Posts: 11
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I think the urethane finish is quite thick, so one could always polish it back to shine.
It would keep you busy for a day or so... I don't think I would have had the guts to try it on a pro-line though.
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January 25th, 2011, 09:14 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Age: 43
Posts: 1,206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hulst
Hello Sroux, yes its a sticker from a nice guy called Paul Setzer.
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Yep, Paul's the man!
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I'm an easy going guy, but I've always got to have my way - Eddie Cochran
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January 25th, 2011, 09:15 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: belgium
Age: 25
Posts: 362
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aha i'm just doing such a thing like you
so is the lacquer then Poly satin?
about the sticker thing istn gretsch selling this on their official site?
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January 25th, 2011, 09:30 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: netherlands
Age: 37
Posts: 11
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The finish on a 5120 is high gloss poly urethane, I sanded it dull but I guess on some places where there is arm friction it will turn back a little shiny.
As for the sticker; I didn't find them on the Gretsch webpage but if you want one just contact Mr. Setzer here on this forum he can supply you with great stuff!
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January 25th, 2011, 09:36 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 211
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hulst,
She's a real beauty! I bet she sounds just perfect too!
Cheers!
TJ
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January 25th, 2011, 09:42 AM
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#11 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: netherlands
Age: 37
Posts: 11
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Hello ToneJunkie, you are absolutely right the tone is off course the most important!
I like to think that sanding it down mechanically for a few hours the vibrations loosened up the whole guitar and it's sound. (Could be just wishfull thinking though)
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January 25th, 2011, 09:44 AM
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#12 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Clinton, Tn
Age: 44
Posts: 1,966
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Very nice hulst! That satin looks killer!!! You made a good decision on that.
That G brand looks good too.
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January 25th, 2011, 09:46 AM
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#13 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Diego
Age: 49
Posts: 424
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I really like that satin finish! Looks great...
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January 25th, 2011, 10:06 AM
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#14 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: 108 MIle Ranch BC
Age: 58
Posts: 89
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I like it a lot. May do that to mine too. Thanks for sharing!
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January 25th, 2011, 10:10 AM
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#15 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Age: 33
Posts: 438
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Wow, the binding really pops now without that yellow tinting on it. Looks great.
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January 25th, 2011, 10:15 AM
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#16 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Age: 49
Posts: 468
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I Love that !
Id never have the courage to try it on mine though
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January 25th, 2011, 10:55 AM
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#17 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: belgium
Age: 25
Posts: 362
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how many coats did you apply? did you do the sides with that mouse thing as wel?? seems to be tricky if so
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January 25th, 2011, 11:25 AM
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#18 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Clinton, Tn
Age: 44
Posts: 1,966
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Hey hulst. Can you go in to more detail on how you got that nice satin finish? What color of scotch bright pad did you use? The grey one?
You said you used a sanding machine. What grit paper did you use?
It sure does look good! Wonder what it would look like on a walnut 5120?
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January 25th, 2011, 12:54 PM
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#19 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: netherlands
Age: 37
Posts: 11
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Hi Samdevos and 68GuitarPlayer, I didn't apply any coats at all and I didn't use sanding paper, it's actually much more simple then that. I got the idea from a guy at the les paul forum; the thing is you use a mouse sander:
and then you take a piece of the finest scotch brite sanding pad and cut it into the sanding machine's shape and then you simply apply it underneath it:
The thickness of the pad gives you the freedom to also reach curved areas like the sides of the guitar. After I have treated all of the guitar (removing all the hardware) I used a car finish cleaner / polisher product to remove any of the very little scratches the pad created. (This is not very nescessary because of the smoothness of the scotch brite). Finally I applied a thin layer of car wax to bring back a little, more natural shine. Took about 3 to 4 hours in total. |
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January 25th, 2011, 12:54 PM
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#20 (permalink)
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Synchromatic
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Frederick, MD
Age: 49
Posts: 739
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Wonderful job - the satin finish looks really great. I have a G100 Synchromatic with a satin finish and your satin finish looks just as nice. Cheers!
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