Repair/Restoring ur guitar or bass's finish... help please

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Saturday Sep 16, 2006

I have a guitar in my possession that looks like it was at one time striped EVH style with
some kind of tape
What are you guys using to clean that gunk off of the finish so as not to ruin it? Its a sticky residue on a '83 gibson V. I was afraid to use goo gone because I am not sure what it would do to the paint... and not being sure of what type of paint was used I didnt want to rub it with mineral spirits

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Saturday Sep 16, 2006

Use a soft cloth well-dampened with denatured rubbing alcohol. You can get it at the grocery store for less than a buck.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Saturday Sep 16, 2006

I have found several things that work... you can get athletic tape residue remover from a drug store. it works well, but is pricey. Goo Gone, available at supermarkets, works on some stuff, but not all, same as orange oil. WD-40 seems to work best for me, but you have to then go over it again with Windex or something to get the oily residue off.
I think the idea is not to use strong solvents, but to use something oily to soften it enough to wipe it off.
Oh, yeah, if it's old duct tape, it's really hard to clean. Don't use duct tape on cables either, buy gaff tape, it comes off clean even months later.---->JMS

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Saturday Sep 16, 2006

the denatured alcohol didnt work...

the wd40 took away 10-20%of the residue

suggestions?

paul · Post by **paul** » Sunday Sep 17, 2006

Go to any auto parts store and buy some 3M adhesive cleaner (naptha). This stuff is the shit just squirt it on and let it sit for a minute then wipe it off and the adhesive is gone. I have used this stuff since the late 80's and there is nothing better. Dont rub to hard let the solvent do the work for you as rubbing to hard will start to remove paint so let the stuff work itself even if you have to apply some more and do it again. That is basically what this stuff was made for is removing tape residue and you will be amazed. If you live close i will hook you up with some as it comes in a can that would last you forever so that will save you from having to buy a whole can.
Paul

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Sunday Sep 17, 2006

Is that a Designer Series V-83? Take a look here and see if the stripes were factory:

http://www.flying-v.ch/f_83desi/1983desi.htm

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Sunday Sep 17, 2006

no...

I actually have that page saved on my desktop, but thanks for the effort.

I decided against buying this guitar, because it was apparent to me that the stop bar and bridge were changed... the frets have excessive wear, and the bridge pickup is a tinge muddy for what we are doing. It played really nice, although I want to just make one investment.... and not have to fix a bunch of other little things... also needed case replaced...

he was asking 400, which I think is high considering what I thought it needed to be playable to me... but could be a good deal to someone else I suppose

thx guys!