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Topic: Fender Deluxe Refinishing & Chrome Buffing Questions |
Mark Helm
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2024 7:25 am |
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Hey, folks!
Just bought what looks to be a late 50's/early 60s Fender Deluxe 8. Electronics and everything are in great shape, but a lot of the paint's peeled off the body.
Now, I've refinished a Dual Pro before and it turned out nice (see pics below), but I'd welcome any tips from others who have done it. I think I'm just going to sand off the remaining paint and clear-coat it.
I'm a little worried about getting the fretboard up without damaging it (the fretboard on the one above was ruined, but I was lucky to find the ones I put on).
Also, anybody know if the chrome damage can be buffed off and shined (I'm sure some car guys might know?
Anyway, thanks! Any advice much appreciated!.
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Remington Steelmaster S8 w/ custom Steeltronics pickup. Vox MV-50 amplifier + an 1940's Oahu cab w/ 8" American Vintage speaker. J. Mascis Fender Squire Jazzmaster, Hofner Club bass, Ibanez AVN4-VMS Artwood Vintage Series Concert Size Acoustic Guitar. 1920s/30s Supertone Hawaiian-themed parlor guitar. Silvertone parlor guitar. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 26 Nov 2024 9:10 am
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Pits are the PITS!  Buffing mimics what is there. At least that is what I found to be the case. 
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2024 11:45 am Re: Fender Deluxe Refinishing & Chrome Buffing Questions
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| Mark Helm wrote: |
Also, anybody know if the chrome damage can be buffed off and shined (I'm sure some car guys might know?
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A few years back I acquired an old Ultratone that's paint was in the process of flaking off, so I decided to take a chance on refinishing it. It was an arduous endeavor, but the repaint turned out alright, using StewMac Colortone rattlecans:
Its trapezoidal chromed metal pickup and bridge mounting plate was badly corroded and pitted. I found a specialty plating shop in Tucson that specializes in plating motorcycle parts who was able to strip the old plating and re-plate it as good (if not better) then new, and for a reasonable price:
https://www.cmf-capitalmetalfinishing.com/ |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2024 1:24 pm
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About 30 yrs ago, when I was living in Nashville, I took some vintage car parts to a place in East Nashville for chrome plating. Might have been S&H in Madison. They've been around that long. Whoever it was did a good job - the door handles and exterior parts are still looking good 30 years later. If you don't have any luck getting a decent quote from a plater, I've got a control plate for a Deluxe 8 I'd sell you for $70 shipped. It's not perfect, you can see some pitting in the picture, but it looks better than the one that's on there now.
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Mark Helm
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2024 5:30 pm Re: Fender Deluxe Refinishing & Chrome Buffing Questions
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Thanks so much guys!!!
Bill, I sent you a PM.
And, Jack, what did you use to strip the paint?
_________________
Remington Steelmaster S8 w/ custom Steeltronics pickup. Vox MV-50 amplifier + an 1940's Oahu cab w/ 8" American Vintage speaker. J. Mascis Fender Squire Jazzmaster, Hofner Club bass, Ibanez AVN4-VMS Artwood Vintage Series Concert Size Acoustic Guitar. 1920s/30s Supertone Hawaiian-themed parlor guitar. Silvertone parlor guitar. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2024 7:10 am Re: Fender Deluxe Refinishing & Chrome Buffing Questions
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| Mark Helm wrote: |
| And, Jack, what did you use to strip the paint? |
This stuff:
I scraped off the excess stripper and old paint with a plastic putty knife to do the least harm as possible to the maple body, and followed up with lotsa hand-sanding, using 180, 220, 280, and 320-grit papers. |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 27 Nov 2024 7:47 am Wire Brush
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Using a Brass Wire Bush , with that Stripper, can help get into the pits and ware-mark gouges.
Definitely wear long rubber gloves, - eye protection , and a respirator, those chemicals are brutal.
Allowing the stripper time to soak in and decompose the paint is a must too.
Get a lot of newsprint and paper towels and a trash can.
There is a "Stop" chemical but I never use it.
I may be mistaken , I believe Fender used actual Bondo Filler and Primer coats before any color,
also agree with Jack, cans from Stew-Mac work great, Less is more.
Jim Palenscar . steel guitars north county oceanside california is my choice on advice on removing the fretboard or replacing it.
Hope this will help
Mr.Boards
_________________
GeorgeBoards S8 Non Pedal Steel Guitar Instruments
Maker of One of a Kind Works of Art that play music too.
Instructional DVDs
YouTube Channel |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2024 9:05 am
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It looks like the fretboard is held in place by little brads.
You can get under the fretboard and gently pry it up to loosen the brads and remove the fretboard.
Erv |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 30 Nov 2024 9:14 am
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Here's the bridge cover I sent
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Nov 2024 9:57 am
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I don't know if that bridge cover will work or not.
It appears that his bridge doesn't have to pointy ends to hold the bridge cover.
The early bridge covers screwed down. |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 30 Nov 2024 12:47 pm
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The refinishing looks really pretty and I think if you're going to keep the guitar that's fine. You should definitely please yourself because it is your guitar.
...but in most cases the way to keep the most value of an item is to keep it as close to original as humanly possible.
This deluxe 8 was a prime candidate for refinishing but I decided to only polish the chrome and buff the paint.
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Travis Brown
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 30 Nov 2024 3:11 pm
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| Garry Vanderlinde wrote: |
The refinishing looks really pretty and I think if you're going to keep the guitar that's fine. You should definitely please yourself because it is your guitar.
...but in most cases the way to keep the most value of an item is to keep it as close to original as humanly possible.
This deluxe 8 was a prime candidate for refinishing but I decided to only polish the chrome and buff the paint.
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I agree. Refinishing just means the world has one less unmolested guitar from 60 years ago. |
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