Golats Posted May 22, 2018 Posted May 22, 2018 I bought an HSS Squier Strat, while drunk, on eBay at the weekend. When I picked it up the next day I noticed the state of the scratchplate (see photo). It looks like it has been left in direct sunlight, in the same position for months! The only bits that remain white are the sections that were in shadow. Unfortunately the photos on the eBay listing showed this up (when not viewed through beer goggles) so I have no comeback. I've tried a few things: bleaching the plastic with 4% hydrogen peroxide (Twice) bleaching it with 35% hydrogen peroxide for four hours soaking it in a 5:1 bleach/water solution for 4 hours. Nothing works, it just stubbornly stays looking like that! It's nothing short of miraculous - anything else would be brilliant white after that treatment. Any suggestions for other ways to return it to white? I don't really want to sand it down but it may come to that. Don't buy guitars after you get in from the pub folks.
gary mac Posted May 23, 2018 Posted May 23, 2018 If you can't live with it as it is, you probably need to admit defeat and treat the guitar to a new one. 1
Golats Posted May 23, 2018 Author Posted May 23, 2018 9 hours ago, gary mac said: If you can't live with it as it is, you probably need to admit defeat and treat the guitar to a new one. I've been thinking that way myself today but finding one with 8 holes is proving just as difficult as restoring the one I have!
Cato Posted May 24, 2018 Posted May 24, 2018 (edited) If you google 'custom pickguards' there are a few UK based companies that will make a scratchplate to your specs. Theoretically if you send them the current 'plate as a template they should be able to make you something that fits perfectly. Prices seem to start at around £20+ and escalate rapidly so I suppose it depends whether you want to spend that much on a cheapish guitar. Edited May 25, 2018 by Cato 1
Golats Posted May 24, 2018 Author Posted May 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Daz39 said: Dulux Emulsion. No way I'm using that stuff - I work for them and know what goes into it! :-) 1
Golats Posted May 29, 2018 Author Posted May 29, 2018 18 hours ago, geoffbyrne said: Have you tried sanding it? G. I'm leaving that as a last resort as I don't want it to have a matte finish. The way it's going I may have to resort to that as I've used about half a litre of hydrogen peroxide and bleach on it so far! It's changing colour....but very slowly.
dlloyd Posted May 29, 2018 Posted May 29, 2018 I've sanded a scratchplate before and buffed it to a gloss finish. I wouldn't have bothered with peroxide/bleach. I used to collect vintage star wars figures and that's a method people sometimes use to return yellowed figures to white. They just go yellow again... faster than before. If I were you I'd buy a new plate. 1
Golats Posted June 2, 2018 Author Posted June 2, 2018 10 hours ago, therealting said: What colour is the Strat? It's black.
Golats Posted June 2, 2018 Author Posted June 2, 2018 On 29/05/2018 at 11:18, dlloyd said: I've sanded a scratchplate before and buffed it to a gloss finish. I wouldn't have bothered with peroxide/bleach. I used to collect vintage star wars figures and that's a method people sometimes use to return yellowed figures to white. They just go yellow again... faster than before. If I were you I'd buy a new plate. I'm going to give sanding a try. I would buy a new one but I can't actually find one anywhere. There are plenty available for HSS Strats but finding an 8 hole version is difficult. Plus....I'm stingy :-) If anybody can post a link to one please do!
Golats Posted June 2, 2018 Author Posted June 2, 2018 (edited) 2 minutes ago, therealting said: Tort guard? 😉 Could do...it's just getting one...an 8 hole one that is. Edited June 2, 2018 by Golats
therealting Posted June 2, 2018 Posted June 2, 2018 I see your conundrum, no shortage of 8-hole SSS guards, or 11-hole HSS ones. Vinyl wrap? 1
SPHDS Posted June 2, 2018 Posted June 2, 2018 Maybe a dumb question/suggestion......but would it be possible to convert an 8-Hole SSS to HSS (ie cut out a bigger hole for the bridge pick up.....)? 1
Golats Posted June 2, 2018 Author Posted June 2, 2018 1 hour ago, therealting said: I see your conundrum, no shortage of 8-hole SSS guards, or 11-hole HSS ones. Vinyl wrap? As rare as hen's teeth aren't they? Excuse my ignorance but what do you mean by vinyl wrap?
Golats Posted June 2, 2018 Author Posted June 2, 2018 36 minutes ago, SPHDS said: Maybe a dumb question/suggestion......but would it be possible to convert an 8-Hole SSS to HSS (ie cut out a bigger hole for the bridge pick up.....)? Possible I suppose, but I think the drill holes for the angled bridge pickup wouldn't be covered by the humbucker hole. Might be wrong of course - would have to compare an SSS strat scratchplate next to mine..
SPHDS Posted June 2, 2018 Posted June 2, 2018 1 minute ago, Golats said: Possible I suppose, but I think the drill holes for the angled bridge pickup wouldn't be covered by the humbucker hole. Might be wrong of course - would have to compare an SSS strat scratchplate next to mine.. Ahhhhh, fair point....didn't think of that......! Have you tried Warmoth......?
hubrad Posted June 2, 2018 Posted June 2, 2018 This looks like yer man: he'll take your existing plate and replicate it in a wide variety of materials and finishes. http://www.jacksinstrumentservices.com/custom-scratchplate-cutting.html
Golats Posted June 3, 2018 Author Posted June 3, 2018 Ended up sanding it to take it back to white......and then liked the finish so much that I've stuck with it. Contrary? me?
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