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Refinishing old strat

Seamas

Hero Member
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Working on my new Warmoth build (I'll post a thread of the progress there asap) got me thinking about the status of my existing Strat.

It's is a mid-1970s body---HEAVY ash.
iirc the guy I acquired it from said 1975. The markings on the  pocket are pretty much illegible.
The neck is from a mid 1980s reissue of the Mary Kaye model. It needs some fret leveling.

I've never quite been in love with it, and was originally thinking to sell it once I am done with my current build. But the sketchy provenance of it and the fact that it is no longer "vintage" (as if the 70s were ever a vintage), I'm thinking I wouldn't get all that much for it.

The tilt neck was changed to a 4-bolt neck. There is some weird blotchy "repairs" done to the finish on the back (four or five .25 inch blotches of some crap).
I have a strong suspicion it has been repainted--it is white, but not a warm Olympic white, more of a stark bright white. When I first got it, I was more into the white on white scheme, but I'm tired of it.
I'm thinking of two different options: a vintage cream/white combo.

or more of a mod '60s look of Ocean Turquoise /Pearloid .

anyway:
My main question: just how much of a PITA will it be to remove the existing paint enough to have it prepped for an opaque finish?
 
Depends on what the finish actually is..... lacquer, some kind of enamel or plastic finish? Must determine this before proceeding.
 
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