Step By Step Restoration-1979 Gibson "The SG" P4
Buffing...The Sandpaper Slayer
The SG has been totally wet sanded to 2400 grit and
left to dry. The next step requires an orbital buffer which
can be purchased for about $20 at an auto parts store.
While you are there, pick up some Maguire's Liquid
Polish or equivalent. This type of polish contains a small
amount of abrasives which bring out the brilliant shine
quickly. The real trick while buffing is to not stay in the
same area longer than a few seconds...forget this, and
you may buff through the new laquer. Remember to
enlist a friend or willing spouse to hold tightly to the
guitar while you happily buff. Be cautious, or you will
launch the axe to the moon, poison the air with
profanity, and weep bitter tears!
Poly Bags Are Your Friend
If you remember to catalog, label and poly bag your
parts during disassembly, putting everything back
together will prove to be much easier. Don't lull yourself
into a false sense of security, thinking you remember
where everything goes...
When installing pots, tuners, and phone jacks, use a
small socket wrench to preserve your impressive new
finish. Pliers used in these situations will slip and totally
ruin your day. When installing tuners, just snug the nuts
and don't overtighten...the headstock could crack or the
headstock laminate could become overstressed. Work
slowly and methodically as you rebuild the guitar...avoid
sudden movements. Remove all screws and hardware
from your workbench and place them in a container off
to the side to avoid marring the guitar...a surplus piece
of soft carpeting, or in my case, a soft welcome mat
work well topping your workbench.
The SG has been totally wet sanded to 2400 grit and
left to dry. The next step requires an orbital buffer which
can be purchased for about $20 at an auto parts store.
While you are there, pick up some Maguire's Liquid
Polish or equivalent. This type of polish contains a small
amount of abrasives which bring out the brilliant shine
quickly. The real trick while buffing is to not stay in the
same area longer than a few seconds...forget this, and
you may buff through the new laquer. Remember to
enlist a friend or willing spouse to hold tightly to the
guitar while you happily buff. Be cautious, or you will
launch the axe to the moon, poison the air with
profanity, and weep bitter tears!
Poly Bags Are Your Friend
If you remember to catalog, label and poly bag your
parts during disassembly, putting everything back
together will prove to be much easier. Don't lull yourself
into a false sense of security, thinking you remember
where everything goes...
When installing pots, tuners, and phone jacks, use a
small socket wrench to preserve your impressive new
finish. Pliers used in these situations will slip and totally
ruin your day. When installing tuners, just snug the nuts
and don't overtighten...the headstock could crack or the
headstock laminate could become overstressed. Work
slowly and methodically as you rebuild the guitar...avoid
sudden movements. Remove all screws and hardware
from your workbench and place them in a container off
to the side to avoid marring the guitar...a surplus piece
of soft carpeting, or in my case, a soft welcome mat
work well topping your workbench.
Check out this mirror refinish!
These images show what
careful wet-sanding and light
buffing with an orbital buffer
can accomplish.
These images show what
careful wet-sanding and light
buffing with an orbital buffer
can accomplish.
The original Gibson headstock
laminate- shown with final
mirror gloss.
laminate- shown with final
mirror gloss.
Remember to poly-bag and
label your parts! It will make
re-assembly so much faster
and easier!
label your parts! It will make
re-assembly so much faster
and easier!
As a good preventative
measure, spray the
potentiometers with an
electrical lubricant and
move the pot up and down
throughout its range for
thirty seconds...it will make
the pots sound as if they
were new!
Products such as Lube Job
are available at
Stewart-Macdonald Luthier
Supply. Click on the can to
go there online. Don't forget
to come back!
measure, spray the
potentiometers with an
electrical lubricant and
move the pot up and down
throughout its range for
thirty seconds...it will make
the pots sound as if they
were new!
Products such as Lube Job
are available at
Stewart-Macdonald Luthier
Supply. Click on the can to
go there online. Don't forget
to come back!
Build a Benchtop Buffer!
Some vintage guitar folks prefer a like-new finish on the
original hardware, others prefer to leave the hardware
oxidized during restoration. I understand both sides, but
on this guitar I figured I'd roll the odometer back to
like-new.
It is certainly possible to use jewelry cleaner and a cloth
to brighten the finish on vintage hardware, but a
benchtop buffer is much faster. Just purchase a
benchtop grinder and remove the grinding wheels.
Replace them with at least three layers of six-inch
cotton buffing pads. I use the gentlest abrasive sticks I
can find...it's much better to be very conservative with
buffing abrasives. You should be able to put this type of
benchtop buffer together for under fifty dollars!
To see our totally restored 1979 Gibson "The SG" in
better than original condition...see the glamour shots on
Page 5!
Some vintage guitar folks prefer a like-new finish on the
original hardware, others prefer to leave the hardware
oxidized during restoration. I understand both sides, but
on this guitar I figured I'd roll the odometer back to
like-new.
It is certainly possible to use jewelry cleaner and a cloth
to brighten the finish on vintage hardware, but a
benchtop buffer is much faster. Just purchase a
benchtop grinder and remove the grinding wheels.
Replace them with at least three layers of six-inch
cotton buffing pads. I use the gentlest abrasive sticks I
can find...it's much better to be very conservative with
buffing abrasives. You should be able to put this type of
benchtop buffer together for under fifty dollars!
To see our totally restored 1979 Gibson "The SG" in
better than original condition...see the glamour shots on
Page 5!
