Source
r/Guitar•
eviljames

Please help me with my favorite axe.

Hello all, I've got a Vantage guitar (my first electric) that unfortunately sat in a woodshop (yes, literally) for a few years. Long story short, someone close to me was going to do some work on it (small filling & drilling stuff) but lost track of it, and over the years it just sat there collecting dust. Sawdust, to be precise. Now it's all over the body and neck, which are both very glossy - can someone recommend the right steps to cleaning this up? I'm really trying to avoid sandpaper, because the paint job is just too nice (black, but in certain lights fades to a forest green sunburst).

I'll have pics when I get home (about 8 hours from now, sorry) that might shed some more light on the matter, if need be.

Thanks in advance, heroes of r/Guitar

Posted Nov 3, 2011, 2:18 PM UTC

37
kkuehlPRS/Hughes&Kettner•

Has the sawdust somehow adhered to the clear coat? Otherwise I don't understand why you would need sandpaper.

If it were as simple as just covered with sawdust, it would seem that blowing it off with an air compressor would do the trick.

3
eviljamesOP•

Yeah, the sawdust seems pretty stuck onto it, blowing it off with a compressor has precisely zero effect. Thanks, though.

1
kkuehlPRS/Hughes&Kettner•

Can you scrape it off in an inconspicuous place with a fingernail? Is it perhaps paint over spray rather than sawdust? I don't see how plain sawdust would bond to the guitar.

1
teamhex•

If its just sawdust then take a wet rag to it first. After you get most of that off your going to want to take the strings off and get under and around the bridge, ect. I would then recommend getting some Ernie ball wipes and oil the fretboard and finish on the body(two different wipes). Now the thing is...that guitar sat for awhile. You are going to want to make sure its even worth messing with. If the neck is warped(twisted sideways) then you may as well trash it.

*Edit I dont know much about that brand...when I say trash it...I assume its a cheaper guitar. Some guitars you can unbolt the neck and replace it. Others have to be glued in. This one being the one you started on...maybe you should just sand her down, repaint/stain, and finish it.

2
eviljamesOP•

The brand is almost 100% guaranteed to be some kind of cheap imitation, and it's been sitting in a wood shop w/o strings or anything on it for approx 3 years now. I'll sink money into it, just for sentimental value. Neck is bolt-on, so replacement isn't going to be terribly difficult if I need to.

A wet rag seems to have little or no effect, but I may just need to be persistent with it. I'll check into the Ernie Ball wipes, great suggestion, thanks!

I'll probably have to pull the pickups out of it as well, it seems that a fair bit of sawdust has collected around them.

1
teamhex•

Ohh boy...without strings for 3 years in a non climate controlled room :(! If a wet rag doesn't come off then its most likely binding to that finish. If thats the case then refinish the wood on it. I mean you do work in a wood shop right? Lol The wood most likely isn't the best...but if it has nice grain I would strip it, stain it, and finish it.

1
go1dfishSupro/Line6/Carvin•

The Made in Japan Vantages are decently made guitars, hopefully it didn't warp. I have a Vantage LP copy myself and it's quite solid.

Good luck; wish I had some helpful advice.

1