Stripping a MM blues.

[roots]

Hullo Everyone,

I was given a new MM blues 12 fret in March 2021. It was purchased direct from MM in that month.

I’m thinking of stripping off the paint and making it a little more mine with some engraving.

Does anyone know what kind of steel there is under there? Stainless? Plated? Or something that might rust?

Also I’m dithering between taking apart the guitar and removing the cone etc. Could anyone link in any info on how to do this so I can at least get an idea of whether that’s a terrible idea or not.

Many thanks,

Lewis

[Michael Messer]

Hello Lewis,

Personalising guitars is a great thing to do. Stripping off the paint should be relatively easy because the steel body is nickel plated. This is something my manufacturer prefers to do, rather than use primer like they did on original National steel bodied guitars in the 1930s.

Engraving a steel bodied instrument is not something I would recommend because the steel will rust. I think you might be safer sandblasting the nickel plated finish, but not going deep enough to reveal the steel.

The part of your question that worries me the most is the last paragraph. If you are unsure about how to take the coverplate off and remove the cone, you are running before you can walk. Removing the coverplate and cone is a very simple thing to do, and the fact that you have asked that question concerns me.

I have moved your thread into "The Workbench" because I think it is the right place for it to be.

We are here to help, so please ask for assistance and someone will answer.

Shine On
Michael

[roots]

Ah ha! Brilliant news, I’m so glad it’s plated.

Advice noted on the engraving.

I’ve just had a quick scan through some videos on removing the cover plate and cone. I haven’t done it before but it looks very manageable.



Thanks so much for your help,

Lewis

[Michael Messer]

My pleasure.

I’m not sure that guy in the video knows what he’s doing, so I would seek advice on here if I were you.

I don’t have a video showing how it’s done, but just go carefully and you’ll be fine.

Make sure the neck is supported by a neck cradle or rolled up towel, or something. First time you do it, don’t remove the tail piece, just slide the coverplate from under it.

Piece of cake!

Shine On
Michael

[roots]

Thanks again. I’ll have a go, take it slowly… any problems and i’ll re post.

The guitar got a nagging buzz during the hot summer of last year (In live in the south of France) so hopefully that will get cured at the same time.

All the best,

Lewis

[jamess]

Ted will steer you right on removing and reinstalling your cover plate and cone.

[Michael Messer]

It won’t work on an MM guitar because the hand rest is not removable. If the coverplate is coming off, it’s coming off and it is not a problem to reseat the cone back where it was. People have been managing fine for almost a hundred years without any issues.

Shine On
Michael