Skol303 Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 (edited) [color=#b22222][b]SEE THE END OF THIS THREAD FOR DETAILS OF THE REFURB...[/b][/color] I was browsing my local Gumtree listings over the weekend, as you do, and I came across an electric guitar going for £20 - literally five minutes from my doorstep. Well, it'd be rude not to, wouldn't it? I've been toying with the idea of buying a guitar for some time, and thought this could be a good do-er-upper project. So I bought it. The previous owner had been given it as a gift and never played it - so instead they had decided to paint it! (there's must be a logic in there somewhere; somewhere deep). So it now looks like this: I've since done some sleuthing online, and it turns out it's a 1970s Japanese copy of a Luxor guitar (a 'vintage fake'), worth around £500... if y'know, it hadn't been painted with matt emulsion and scribbled on with a marker pen. Here's what it would look like in pristine condition: [url="http://www.wutzdog-guitars.de/inventory/inventory-details/article/1979-luxor-electric-guitar/"]http://www.wutzdog-g...lectric-guitar/[/url] The frets are worn to the bone and it needs some serious setting up, but it should otherwise make a fun DIY project. And for £20 I'm happy Edited January 12, 2014 by Skol303 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Cool! I'm thinking of buying a similar price guitar coz I'm crap. So it would do for soundcloud . Tbh that guitar looks ok as it is. Nice one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnDeereJack Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I kinda like the artwork! [size=4] [/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 ^ Cheers guys. Aye, it's not too shabby at all and a great guitar for the money. I think the previous owneer just wanted rid of it, so I was happy to oblige. The artwork is quite 'unique', shall we say, and while I quite like it I'll probably end up stripping it back and re-spraying. A mate of mine has said that the last owner might end up being the next Banksy and I'll be sand-papering myself out of millions! Although I doubt it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I have to say I really like the artwork too. It certainly looks perfectly fine in your photo, although if it really is marker pen on emulsion it's probably a bit crappy in really life. Kind of like a low-budget [url=http://www.ritter-basses.com/limited-edition-shudarella.php]Ritter Shudarella[/url]! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1373375667' post='2136840']Kind of like a low-budget [url="http://www.ritter-basses.com/limited-edition-shudarella.php"]Ritter Shudarella[/url]![/quote] Indeed A very low budget version (those Shudarellas look [i]amazing![/i]). Yeah, I'm coming round to the artwork... it does look a bit cheap - it's household white emulsion paint with marker pen - but I suppose it has a certain charm because of that. I have a friend who does pen doodles as a hobby-business ([url="http://www.mosaink.co.uk/"]www.mosaink.co.uk[/url]), so I might get him to finish it and then spray the body with a transparent lacquer. We'll see. I'll keep y'all posted when the time comes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 (edited) What a bargain! [size=4]Why do I always have to pay over the odds for everything? [/size] Edited July 9, 2013 by discreet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 If it is emulsion, might be fine finish underneath. Fairy power spray and clingfilm with get it off (clingfilm stops it drying out while it works), without taking off the poly finish or being stinky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1373391054' post='2137059']What a bargain! [size=4]Why do I always have to pay over the odds for everything? [/size] [/quote] Well, Mark, you will insist on shopping at Waitrose [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1373392132' post='2137075']If it is emulsion, might be fine finish underneath. Fairy power spray and clingfilm with get it off (clingfilm stops it drying out while it works), without taking off the poly finish or being stinky.[/quote] Cheers Mr F, good tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Yeah, try to see if you can peel off that matt first, you could find a good finish underneath that at most would need a bit of polishing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Left Foot Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 [sup]As a doodler, I've always wanted to something like that, but I know it would get a similar 'mixed' reaction. That cloud crying tears onto the umbrella looks cool. Nice find dude and its always worth homing instruments for 20 - 40 regardless (or maybe I just waste money). I know you are going to strip it, but are you going to sell it on if you can restore it? [/sup] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapbassSteve Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Oh man, saw this on Gumtree and was sorely tempted as I'm often in Manchester at the moment, but decided against as I assumed it'd be a cheapo chinese copy in unplayable state... excellent buy, glad it went to a BC'er! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1373452936' post='2137691']Yeah, try to see if you can peel off that matt first, you could find a good finish underneath that at most would need a bit of polishing [/quote] It's tempting! I probably should have asked the previous owner whether they'd stripped off the original finish when they painted it... I'm guessing not, as the paint job itself hasn't been done too carefully. [quote name='Left Foot' timestamp='1373534418' post='2138637'][sup]As a doodler, I've always wanted to something like that, but I know it would get a similar 'mixed' reaction. That cloud crying tears onto the umbrella looks cool. Nice find dude and its always worth homing instruments for 20 - 40 regardless (or maybe I just waste money). I know you are going to strip it, but are you going to sell it on if you can restore it? [/sup][/quote] Yeah there are some nice elements among those doodles. I particularly like ths space invader. Not 100% sure whether I'm going to strip it or perhaps even add further doodles and laquer it. I'll almost certainly be keeping it whatever happens [quote name='SlapbassSteve' timestamp='1373585395' post='2139483']Oh man, saw this on Gumtree and was sorely tempted as I'm often in Manchester at the moment, but decided against as I assumed it'd be a cheapo chinese copy in unplayable state... excellent buy, glad it went to a BC'er![/quote] That's exactly what I'd assumed! I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered what was lurking beneath the paintwork. It needs plenty of tender loving care to restore it back to anywhere near its original '70s state - the frets are particularly knackered and one of the pickups is busted (might just need re-wiring, I need to investigate...), but it nevertheless sounds good. Typical that another BC'er was GASing over it at the same time as me Cheers mate. Edited July 12, 2013 by Skol303 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 (edited) Unless you are really adverse to it, I'd keep it as is and let it tell its story. Say it's "Rocky's Evil Twin" or something like that! After all, if it needs a fret job, then it's not going to be that collectible anyway. Great score! Edited July 24, 2013 by iiipopes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Sod original, I went through loads of 70s strat fakers 20 years ago, and they got pulled apart and rebuilt as I wanted them to be. Still got all of them, except they are now just 1 guitar made from all the best bits, and a 4 string mandolin tuned one made from the best of the leftovers. Not bothered about the value (luckily). BTW, back then they went for £25 routinely, we burnt a lot of them at gigs. No regrets (wish i could still find them at that price though, nice score Paul) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted July 24, 2013 Author Share Posted July 24, 2013 ^ Cheers fellas! Yeah I'm pleased with it for the money. I've decided to keep it 'as is' for the time being - I need to learn how to play the bloody thing properly first! - and might consider messing with it as a do-er-upper when the time comes. I've got some guitar pickups at home that my old man found in his shed, which I might consider wiring in if only I knew whether they were any good... Anyway, I do love a bargain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Great find! I'd have snatched it up for that money. Personally I'd strip it back and do a relic job on it - another way to alienate many people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Wd 40 is a solvent for marker pen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 [quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1374845521' post='2153999'] Wd 40 is a solvent for marker pen [/quote] as is isopropyl alcohol as they once said in life of brian .... you lucky ba5tard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 ^ Cheers fellas. Good advice about WD40, starting a relic project and yeah... I do feel like a lucky bar-steward for finding this bargain! Been noodling a lot with it recently and it does play (and sound) pretty good. Definitely a keeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Loving the artwork! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacker Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I liked the artwork too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted December 2, 2013 Author Share Posted December 2, 2013 Well I've finally decided to re-finish this guitar. I'm going to remove the emulsion paint using Fairy Power Spray (thanks to Mr Foxen for the tip) and then spray it a vintage Taos Turquoise colour: one can each of undercoat, colour coat and clear lacquer. The end result I'm aiming for is this: http://www.vintageandrare.com/product/Fender-Custom-Shop-Vintage-Stratocaster-56-Relic-Taos-Turquoise-Limited-Edition-Sold-29749 I'll update this thread when I get round to it - most likely over the Xmas holiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1373392132' post='2137075'] If it is emulsion, might be fine finish underneath. Fairy power spray and clingfilm with get it off (clingfilm stops it drying out while it works), without taking off the poly finish or being stinky. [/quote] I'm curious. How did you discover this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOrMHWYMpaA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOrMHWYMpaA[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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