Lacquer finish over water-based stain.

[Jimmy Nelson]

Hello folks,

I've got a strat body that I did in a minwax water-based red stain. I did some coats of lacquer clear over it as well. After having it for a few weeks, I've decided I want to redo it olympic white. From here, must I strip it down to bare wood, or can I just sand off the clear coat, then proceed with primer and white lacquer over the red stain?

 

[-CB-]

You might want to sand it back a bit - only for the reason of not building too much finish thickness.  Depends on how much clear coat you have on it.

If this not too thick, just scuff it up a bit, then shoot the white over it.