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Post by steelarts on Aug 22, 2012 7:14:34 GMT
New guitar day was actually early. I expected my MM Lightning to turn up today but it arrived yesterday evening. I think that's the first time "Parcel Farce" have ever delivered anything early to me! I knew what I was buying: Ron's description was accurate to a t but....... cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230837078530&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123#ht_837wt_1199 Oh that finish!!!! Even I wasn't expecting anything quite so bad. No wonder it stayed in the warehouse for so long. "Bad" doesn't even begin to describe it. What a shame! On the upside it sounds and plays fantastically! Wow, what a sound; full resonance without that horrible tinny noise you get with some cheap instruments. So, here's my question. I'm going to find it really hard to live with a finish this bad. I don't mind a distressed or lived-in look but the lacquer is truly horrible - all orange peel and nasty. Someone hadn't a clue on how to give a guitar a road worn look! So the nasty lacquer has to go. Does anyone know if Nitromors (or any other stripper) will affect the nickel plating? Or are there any other methods of removing lacquer other than wet 'n' dry? I love this guitar but it really is a Cinderella that deserves a ball gown.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2012 7:46:21 GMT
When I stripped my MM blues, it took a lot of coats of nitromors, but maybe the grey paint is thicker / tougher than the lightning lacquer. The nitromors left some stains, although I quite like the stains. Should I have your lightning, I might try and convince myself its 'patina' is a good thing. Then again, I haven't seen it up close. TT
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Post by wolvoboy on Aug 22, 2012 8:02:44 GMT
Hi when i stripped my MM Blues down to the Nickel plating i used B&Q,s paint and varnish remover two coats is all it took,it does stain the Nickel, but in fairness the nickel plating had been sanded so as it could be sprayed,i resprayed my MM a different colour,their is some pics on the forum somewhere, i think it looks fantastic now wolvoboy
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 22, 2012 9:24:35 GMT
Hi Steelarts, First of all - I must explain that the guitar you bought from Ron on eBay was a PRIVATE SALE rejected instrument, that because of the finish, was not even up to Busker/MM 'B' stock standard. I completely agree with you about this guitar and that is the reason we (Busker/MM Guitars) rejected it. The instruments sold by Ron on eBay for approximately £150 less than full price are NOT sold by Busker/MM Guitars, they are guitars that we passed on to our employee to sell privately because they were not up to standard to be sold by us as 'A' or even 'B' stock. They are COSMETIC REJECTS. I have read the description on eBay and it is very clear and accurate. What was not clear on the description, was that it is a private sale. On the plus side, you have bought an excellent guitar for a very good price. ---------------------------------------------------- To take the nasty so-called 'aged finish' off > use 600 grit wet/dry with some 3 in 1 oil and then some 1200 grit wet/dry with water, and with a lot of patience and time you will end up with a beautiful aged finish MM Lightning. We rejected this guitar because to get the finish up to a standard where we could sell it as 'A' or 'B' stock would have taken us far too long. I have attached photos of one that we did a while ago using the method I have explained. It looks great, but to get that finish will take time and patience. If you have any questions or concerns about your guitar, I am always happy to answer them. Anyone buying a guitar with my name on the headstock, whether it is a private sale reject or a second hand private sale, can always contact me for help and advice about their instrument. My very best wishes, Shine On Michael.
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 22, 2012 9:25:29 GMT
Photo 2
Shine On Michael
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Post by steelarts on Aug 22, 2012 9:28:51 GMT
I just looked at your MM Blues Wolvoboy. It looks great! Spraying it sounds like a great idea and would solve a lot of aesthetic problems. Can I ask why you took it back to bare metal? I'm wondering if just sanding the lacquer would give a good key or is this not a good idea? Also, how did you make your stencil for the palm tree sunset?
I thought I might feel differently this morning Deuce and am trying to convince myself that the finish will grow on me but I don't think it's working. I could easily live with stained nickel rather than the yukky lacquer. Painting it does seem like a great option because this is definitely a guitar I want to live with. The sound is so rich and I don't think I've ever owned a guitar that's so loud!
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Post by steelarts on Aug 22, 2012 9:33:26 GMT
Michael, please don't misunderstand me, I did know exactly what I was buying and the advert was in no way misleading and I don't hold you or Ron or anyone at Busker Guitars in any way responsible.
The really important thing is it sounds and plays great. The finish can and will be sorted, thanks very much for the tips on how to do it. Boy, the pictures of the refinished one look great. That's one cool "antiqued" guitar. I can feel a purchase of Elbow Grease coming on!!!
Cheers, Marcus
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 22, 2012 9:46:28 GMT
Thank you Marcus. I just wanted to make it very clear to anybody reading this thread what our position (Busker/MM Guitars) is with your guitar. This forum is read by between 500 and 800 people every day.
The one in the photos was done by us and although it took a lot of time, it does look really good. I reckon it is worth the effort.
(Because this thread is about MM Guitars, I am moving it into MAIN STREET where it belongs. This is to keep all MM Guitars stuff in one place and away from the rest of the forum)
Best wishes,
Shine On Michael.
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Post by pete1951 on Aug 22, 2012 13:42:56 GMT
I also have had a finish-reject from Busker. The reject finish on mine was a coat of cellulose over a slight acid treated body. First remove the cellulose with thinners, then polish with Autosol or similar , you may no get all the stains out but it looks pretty good. I put some pictures of the guitar( an `Un-named Tri-cone Page 3 onf`Talking Blues ) on the forum a mouth or so ago Pete T
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Post by wolvoboy on Aug 22, 2012 14:07:46 GMT
Hi Marcus the main reason i stripped my MM to the bare metal,a i wanted to see how good the nickel finnish was and b, i was worried that the new paint i was putting on might react with the old paint, as for the stencil one of the forum members sent me a photo stat of his 30,s Triolian,mine is based on it but more simplified and i had a full sun instead of a setting sun just to make it different, i have a tracing if you would like one all you have to do is trasfer it to card and cut it out, lot of work but worth it,pm me if you would like a tracing wolvoboy
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Post by wolvoboy on Aug 22, 2012 14:11:00 GMT
marcus if you want any advise on painting you guitar let know,i,ll give you the info on how i did mine and what paint i used wolvoboy
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Post by steelarts on Aug 23, 2012 7:14:00 GMT
Thanks Wolvoboy. I think I might do as you did first and see how it looks without the varnish. If the nickel looks really bad then I'll take you up on your kind offer of advice and the tracing and paint it.
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Post by wolvoboy on Aug 23, 2012 18:10:11 GMT
I feel i should say the reason i resprayed my mm Blues was not because there was anything wrong with it , it was ''b'' grade , the paint work was perfect, and so was the play ability, i eventually would like a vintage Triolian and thought i would try and make it look like one and am pleased with the result, i dont think that i would have done it to an ''a'' grade guitar wolvoboy
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