The easiest way to strip paint off a guitar

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  • Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
  • I never expected a Fender Tom Delonge Stratocaster to have a 7 piece body! IS THAT WHY THEY GET PAINT CRACKS?
    The competition I'm talking about will be launched in the next video after I hit 2.5k subs - it will be a free to enter competition and open to worldwide entries. More details to follow.
    Anyway... here's how I stripped the paint off my hardtail Fender Stratocaster body and pretty much how to do it for any poly finish.
    This stuff stinks, I can't stress enough the importance of wearing protective equipment and only doing it in a well ventilated area.
    The next time you see this in a video it will be to refinish it and make it back into a complete guitar again.
    Thanks again everyone.
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    UA-cam is in no way affiliated with any competition or free giveaway that I may run on this channel. That is 100% Giant Guitars run. Full terms and conditions will be on www.giantguitars.co.uk WHEN the competition begins. Hit the bell icon to find out when I upload next, so you don't miss out!
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 974

  • @bonnywoodinstruments
    @bonnywoodinstruments 3 місяці тому +22

    7 piece body on a guitar that expensive is shocking.

    • @AlanJohnPeach
      @AlanJohnPeach 3 дні тому

      Anyone paying an expensive price for a blink-182 related guitar is shocking

    • @djudlz7550
      @djudlz7550 3 дні тому +2

      It's a Fender of course, the workmanship is poor, so is the hardware and the equiptment. 2024 and they still build their guitars as if there have been no improvements in the last 50 years

    • @nick_ashley
      @nick_ashley День тому

      who cares if you can't see it? doesn't make a difference, it's arguably more stable since there are more glue joints.

  • @GC-re3gm
    @GC-re3gm 11 місяців тому +67

    Hey, the reason the original finish cracked that way was due the incompatibility between the sealer and the finish Fender used between the late '90s and the late 2000s. They found out when it was too late and so many of their instruments made in that 10+ years showed exactly that issue. I had a Malmsteen signature (big price tag guitar) from 2006 and it had exactly the same issue, for example. Love the YT channel, keep it up!

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  11 місяців тому

      Ok cool that's the first I've heard this thanks mate very interesting to know!

    • @godsinbox
      @godsinbox 7 місяців тому +1

      I have a jim root squire that had the same issue. It was mahogany body, so now it is stained natural. Win WIn

    • @Stewbert_72
      @Stewbert_72 5 місяців тому +1

      I’m about to do a Strat from exact same era

    • @diecapsule
      @diecapsule 5 місяців тому +1

      @@Stewbert_72
      Same! Was playing my 84-87 MIJ 62 reissue & looked at my 2006 MIM ‘72 reissue in Olympic White (one of my favs) hanging on the wall & realized the paint had cracked from the top to bottom & the paint was literally curling over. I wanted to cry because it had a nice yellow tint & nice natural aged look to it which I loved. I decided to start chipping away & had half the front side pulled off within 5 minutes so I don’t think it’s gonna be too hard to remove. And on the positive side it is an all ash body & so far I haven’t found any splices. Maybe I’ll be lucky lucky lucky & have a 1 piece haha.
      I think I’m gonna paint it black or else go back with the original aged white. Depends on how nice the ash body looks once it’s all peeled off.

    • @benedekgabor.
      @benedekgabor. Місяць тому +1

      @@diecapsuleYou can achive the original yellowed off white color while going with a nitro finish. It’s a win-win situation imo.

  • @slimmyjimmy2848
    @slimmyjimmy2848 Рік тому +30

    I keep finding myself watching your videos and they are very entertaining since nobody else does guitar projects like this. Keep up the great content 👍👍👍👍

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +2

      That's great to hear bud I really appreciate that 🙏🙏 and I will!

  • @jerrymorgan1752
    @jerrymorgan1752 Рік тому +196

    A kid asked me one time why almost all my guitars are natural wood. I told him it’s because they have to use the best wood to pull it off.

    • @JubileeValence
      @JubileeValence Рік тому +10

      Hi Jerry! Yep! I predict crickets on your thoughts. All the possible colors and finishes completely shroud reality. Good heavy plywood would suffice just as well in this mess. 2 or 3 piece ash would be more genuine on a painted signature instrument. But we must assume the shared responsibilties of the "assemblers" here.
      Use up every scrap.
      Make it solid.
      Paint it.
      Sell it.
      Arrrggghhhh!!!???
      Cheers!

    • @jerrysgotapewpew
      @jerrysgotapewpew Рік тому +9

      Totally agree. I love a tinted/stained maple neck that's got a color to it, but nothing SOLID that just covers up the grain, I have never understood that. I always want to see the wood grain of the neck of the guitar I'm playing, at a minimum. I don't like solid colors on guitars, really anywhere on the guitar. Love a classic Fender color with a matching headstock, but, I'd get one made from Warmoth before I'd buy a Fender...

    • @janzelf
      @janzelf 11 місяців тому +3

      Unless, they used photoflames, haha.

    • @jerrymorgan1752
      @jerrymorgan1752 11 місяців тому +1

      @@janzelf this far I only have American guitars in my collection. I have been interested in a few Paoletti guitars. Just haven’t pulled that trigger.

    • @roccocroce
      @roccocroce 11 місяців тому +10

      wood doesn't matter for electrics. all electronics baby.

  • @nomoremrnicebry
    @nomoremrnicebry Рік тому +6

    Thank you for this. I was researching this method but seeing you actually do it makes it seem so much more accessible.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Glad I could help, thanks for watching and commenting, I appreciate it 😁

  • @Bettys_Eldest
    @Bettys_Eldest Рік тому +20

    My 70's Sunburst Japanese Kasuga Strat copy was stripped in 1976 with the intention of refinishing it as Natural. When the french polisher stripped the old finish it revealed 5 mm thick top and back layers, and an eleven piece body. Initially I was ever so disappointed, but nearly fifty years on I have come to love it.

  • @interested_in_things
    @interested_in_things Рік тому +2

    Cool, looking forward to seeing the process.

  • @pitchiepeachey
    @pitchiepeachey Рік тому +3

    This channel is growing so fast because of your incredible videos. You deserved it! I'm your silent fan and subscriber

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Thank you so much mate, I still can't believe that's possible but I seriously appreciate it 🙏 comments like this keep me inspired and motivated

  • @dougsguitarlounge7927
    @dougsguitarlounge7927 Рік тому +5

    I have a 1974 Fender P bass and it's a 7 piece body. It was black original, but the old finish just was coming off so I stripped it and did a natural finish. It looks cool with all the different pieces of wood showing. Lots of different wood grains. It doesn't have the top piece like yours dose. Good luck with your finish. 👍🎸🍻

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Oh nice, I didn't realise they even used so many pieces back in the 70s too

  • @stevecassidyguitar
    @stevecassidyguitar Рік тому +7

    Thanks for this! Planning on attempting my first strip and refinish this summer - so this vid was super helpful 👍
    For the Silver Sky - I'd vote HSS (Chrome covered HB) Creme covered SC's and a Brown Tort Guard 🥸

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +2

      You're very welcome and good luck 🤞 thanks for your suggestion too 😁

  • @stevencooper564
    @stevencooper564 2 місяці тому +1

    Finally starting my project of completely customizing a BC Rich Bich I bought with my very first paycheck when I was 18. I just turned 30 and am so excited to have it finally look the way I've imagined.

  • @chrisbec3313
    @chrisbec3313 6 місяців тому

    Quarter-sawn wood is straight and very stable, better than just a slab. In that mix of wood there are very little to no voids/defects and just solid stable wood with an organized grain structure so good for stability and I'm sure it sounded great.

  • @nobuakisato4613
    @nobuakisato4613 Рік тому +3

    Thank you for uploading this video, I can confirm what people say about Fender body is right.
    I don’t care many number of pieces and surface veneer, this is the effort to produce mass products with similar weight and sound.
    But if my Custom shop Strat has same body construction, I will be feel so sorry😂.

  • @devon-aire
    @devon-aire 11 місяців тому +6

    I never noticed before, but after seeing you talk about the neck pocket cracks, I went and checked mine. Sure enough, hairline cracks about a centimetre in length. And I think you’re right about it being because of the 7 piece body.

    • @devon-aire
      @devon-aire 11 місяців тому +1

      Mine’s an ‘03 in graffiti yellow. Which is funny, because I like surf green the best. My paint isn’t pulling away from the body at all, but I hope those cracks don’t get much worse any time soon..

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  11 місяців тому

      Fingers crossed they don't get any bigger bud, I wouldn't worry all that much though they pretty much all had it - some didn't but it's rare to find now!

    • @mikefarquhar5063
      @mikefarquhar5063 11 місяців тому +1

      7 poece- fender using leftover prices of wood probably different kinds if wood or wood left to dry out at different rates of time causing inconsistencies in the overal body after the paint job Is done it can cover up a multitude of sins, these faults/inconsistencies like I said will cause cracks in the paintwork and worse because of the lack of diligence in making sure each piece is the same humidity and density a simple test using a cheap tool can determine the moisture content of each piece of wood used to match them up to prevent these un resolvable issues that fender will blame the customer for, now, that I'd shady as hell.

  • @dlux703
    @dlux703 7 місяців тому

    The 7 piece with maple veneer is common these days in Fender products, in fact I have a 90's Squire Fat-Strat that I stripped that has the same construction and veneers. I sanded off the veneers on mine and actually got some nice semi-matched basswood underneath that I shot a transluscent color over. Then I burnished the paint to make it even more transluscent and paste waxed and buffed the finish. What I like about the burnished and waxed paint is that it has the actual feel of wood even though it is painted. It feels and looks more natural to me. This can produce loads of character in the guitar because each one is eunique.

  • @jaymax3201
    @jaymax3201 Рік тому +1

    My American Performer Telecaster honey burst 2021 has a 4 piece body. Of course, I bought it with that in mind, because it was well connected and the wood grain was beautiful. And it goes without saying that the sound is the best for me.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Yeah I mean on reflection maybe I shouldn't have expected more from them (or less if we're talking about numbers of body pieces) lol

  • @yhzh2002
    @yhzh2002 Рік тому +3

    humbucker + tele neck definitely sounds like an interesting mix. I think doing a mini-humbucker in the neck would also be really cool.

  • @Tobajjass
    @Tobajjass Рік тому +9

    Great tip removing lacquer with plastic scraper. I’ve always dented the wood in the past. I vote for a Shell Pink refinish, love that color.
    On the SilverSky, you could do a John Mayer PRS hybrid and do a SuperEagle II setup with Humbucker nickelcover - mini humbucker/singlecoil black - humbucker nickelcover. Add some coilsplitting switches. Regular 3 pcs white pickguard. That would be a pretty cool guitar.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Thank you bud, yeah I discovered that one by accident last year when I was moving house and packed up all my tools so the only thing I could find was a plastic silicone scraper and it worked a treat! Never looked back. And great suggestion thanks 🙏

    • @spythetired
      @spythetired 7 місяців тому

      that is shockingly exactly what i'm going for, this was scary

  • @KennethRrvik
    @KennethRrvik 8 місяців тому

    Heat guns are indispensable! Thanks for showing yet another use 😁

  • @georgyj111111
    @georgyj111111 Рік тому +2

    That's absolutely outrageous!

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Lol I know but should have expected it, on reflection

    • @BlindingSun_
      @BlindingSun_ 5 днів тому

      Makes literally no difference

  • @edesbalazs
    @edesbalazs Рік тому +7

    That came off super clean! I tried this with a Harley Benton, maybe I did something wrong, but the paint and underneath the wood started burning before they would even consider flaking off. Maybe wasn't a poly finish, I don't know. Only way we managed is carefully sanding it, but it took almost the whole day.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Oh yeah I've had to remove finish by sanding before too and it's horrible lol 😆 I don't envy you on that one

    • @flashpadxxx
      @flashpadxxx 6 місяців тому

      What Modell exactly was it?? I have a green Harley Benton Fusion 3 and want to remove the paint...

    • @AndrewGonzalesArtistry
      @AndrewGonzalesArtistry 5 місяців тому

      @@flashpadxxxI’m about to sand off the light blue finish on a fusion III.

  • @NanoGurdian
    @NanoGurdian Рік тому +28

    OMFG I laughed so loud when you threw it in the trash can!!

  • @SotR59
    @SotR59 Рік тому +1

    I used this method on an OLP bass. The first half I messed up cooking the paint and making a gooey mess in the initial heated areas also burning the wood some but I got the hang of it and the last half looked nice and clean. Glad I tried a cheap instrument first.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Yeah I even melted a bit of paint doing this one as well, it's easy done! Glad yours worked out 😁

  • @Tonetwisters
    @Tonetwisters 10 місяців тому +1

    Graffiti Yellow is a fabulous color! In the '90s, they were made from several layers stacked up. The 2000 American Series was the first in at least a decade, to not be made from multi layers ...

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  10 місяців тому

      Like a plywood body? I've an old MIJ plywood Squier body somewhere

  • @nolancassini
    @nolancassini Рік тому +4

    Humbucker and tele single coil as you said would look really good on the prs

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Great minds and all that 😀😀 noted bud, thank you!

  • @vav413
    @vav413 Рік тому +3

    Humbucker tele single coild would be really unique! Cool idea

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Thanks 🙏 this is the most popular choice so far I think

  • @junglemast3r
    @junglemast3r 11 місяців тому

    I was using this technique to repaint a Jazzmaster and it chipped the guitar multiple times even using a dull paint scraper. also using the heat gun caused bubbles under the wood veneer that popped into splinters. If I could have redone it I would have just sanded especially because if you are repainting you can actually save time sealing the guitar and making sure the wood grain is sealed, just use finer grits around the edges or hand sand to reduce the risk of reshaping the body. Also making sure the wood is sealed and an even surface is 100% necessary especially if you are spending good money on high-quality paint. If you are doing a DIY paint job I recommend watching the stew mac tutorial, they have tons of great advice.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  11 місяців тому

      Aw sorry to hear you chipped out your Jazzmaster with this method, it's why I use a plastic scraper, very hard to do with that! And yeah gotta watch you don't heat it too much too. I totally get your logic in sanding it down and suppose it comes down to personal preference, I prefer this method and then doing that extra work to seal it again. Both ways will work just fine 🙂 thanks bud 🙏

  • @briankeenan4901
    @briankeenan4901 21 день тому +1

    I've seen paint cracks on guitars since the early 60s. It seems to happen more on cheap butcher block multiple piece guitars. So, you are correct in assuming that.

  • @kingbrutusxxvi
    @kingbrutusxxvi Рік тому +35

    It's scary that those things are going for $2,000 used right now and Fender has that many pieces of scrap wood making up the bodies. Certainly doesn't make it a bad guitar but you'd tend to expect a single slab (maybe a two-piece) for that price point. As far as the PRS I actually think a humbucker/P90 combo would be cool. Cheers.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +2

      Yeah it's a bit sad really that they weren't better build quality but I suppose Fender wouldn't have known just hope big they would get, let's hope the re-release ones are better!! And thanks for the suggestion 😀

    • @ramencurry6672
      @ramencurry6672 Рік тому +1

      It’s fine I think. However I have an import cheaper G&L guitar with a clear coat and it looks like 3 pieces. That’s a fantastic guitar

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      @@ramencurry6672 I suppose for bulk made factory guitars multi piece has to be expected. 3 piece is reasonable!

    • @ruminantmelanoid5444
      @ruminantmelanoid5444 Рік тому +2

      If it has that big "F" on the headstock, they can get away with most anything. I have a 2012 FSR American Standard Tele that has a three piece body with a *stained finish.*

    • @charlescowart5423
      @charlescowart5423 Рік тому +3

      There’s no way any MIM fender body with a solid color is going to be a two piece at least from back then. Good for them in a way. There’s no sense wasting wood.

  • @MaayanMorMusic
    @MaayanMorMusic Рік тому +5

    I love your approach to the work and the video making.
    And for the PRS I would love to see you make it with a humbucker-single configuration!
    Keep up

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Appreciate you, comments like this really help keep the motivation to do more 🙏 thanks. And I'll note your vote for the free PRS!

  • @SixString_J5
    @SixString_J5 Рік тому +1

    13:15 Thanks for that, lol. Answering the important questions. I always say as a seller:'The pocket crack is just in the finish' but as a buyer:'that crack is in the wood'

  • @MrJackrockerman
    @MrJackrockerman Рік тому +1

    Humbucker (bridge) and single coil (neck) is the best combo for PRS..
    Subscribed

  • @fluffytoaster427
    @fluffytoaster427 Рік тому +6

    Tried doing this as an absolute amateur, and it definitely shows on the body I used😅Glad to see a better execution of it for the world to see
    *Definitely* a solo humbucker for the SS mod

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      My first one was the worst thing you'll ever see 😂🤣 I hope this helped and you keep trying ☺️

  • @mrfacephone
    @mrfacephone Місяць тому +4

    Went to the pawn shop years back and bought a Dean LP style for $40. Took it home, stripped it just like this then dyed the wood a blackberry burst color, took it back to the same pawn shop and sold it back to them for $80.

  • @matthewridgeway9250
    @matthewridgeway9250 Рік тому +1

    Hammer finish could be cool. I painted my kit Les Paul a Hammer Finish blue. Looks awesome.

  • @bldallas
    @bldallas Рік тому +1

    You’re there! Humbucker Bridge, single coil mid and Tele neck pup, sort of a Nashville style combo, would be pretty cool.

  • @mikemccourt6225
    @mikemccourt6225 Рік тому +25

    I think you’re on point with the 7-piece having a hand in the paint cracking. Fender is kind of notorious for not drying their lumber properly.
    For the Silver Sky: you could do a double P90

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +2

      It's such a shame but we'll make it better now! And thanks bud!

    • @specialkonacid6574
      @specialkonacid6574 Рік тому +4

      You can actually tell from the end grain how a piece of wood will move. Quarter sawn wood is the most stable . Wood from the same board should be used or at least boards with similar grain structure. When I glue up a table top I flip grain orientation 180 degrees for every second board to add stability to the top. 🍻

    • @homeboyjon4885
      @homeboyjon4885 Рік тому

      I second double P90’s!

  • @owenmayes2128
    @owenmayes2128 Рік тому +6

    Multi-piece bodies are fairly common and don't usually suffer from paint cracking like that, I think its more likely to be an issue with the paint-curing process. Polyurethane paint is especially prone to shrinking if the temperature of the curing process isn't carefully controlled.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Fair enough, I actually just bought a 2003 MIM Fender recently with the same large cracks so maybe a factory issue around that time too

    • @tomasbalke9318
      @tomasbalke9318 Рік тому +3

      The more pieces of wood, the better the sustain, the Chinese make guitars from sawdust, this is an endless sustain, the Americans should strive for this

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      @@tomasbalke9318 I've never heard this before, what's the logic behind it?

    • @guitarmissionary
      @guitarmissionary Рік тому +5

      @@Giant_Guitars don't buy that bs, wood makes virtually no difference in solid body guitars. Just record yourself and listen to it afterwards, don't let the feeling of the guitar against your body fool you, or its unplgged sound.

    • @panzerlieb
      @panzerlieb Рік тому +2

      @@guitarmissionary well yes and no. The key piece of wood is really only between the bridge attachment and the neck attachment. The entire rest of the body really doesn’t matter that terribly much apart from comfort and playability.
      There was a guy on UA-cam that started hacking chunks off a strat body to see if the sound would change. It didn’t change until he started cutting into the area I previously mentioned. Then the sound got really thin and sustained was severely limited.
      From that experiment you can surmise that as long as you maintain the integrity of that central block of wood, the wings could be made of anything and the sound would not be appreciatively effected.

  • @rocanrola
    @rocanrola Рік тому +1

    My father has a 2006 Fender Stratocaster MIM sunburst with maple neck and have a veener. I discovered it by removing the jack.
    The body seems to be in one piece but against the light you can clearly see 3 parts but I'm sure it has 5 or 7. Even so, it is very resonant although a bit heavy.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Seems to be an early MIM thing, not sure if the new ones are still so many pieces. I might have to experiment!

  • @jesse2d
    @jesse2d 21 день тому +1

    Fender should be contacted and a new body given. 7 pieces is outrageous!

  • @quru1
    @quru1 Рік тому +3

    Man, it'd be cool to see that PRS with a single+humbucker setup!
    Excellent video, thanks for sharing!

  • @bazzathegreat3517
    @bazzathegreat3517 Рік тому +6

    If wood is properly dried the amount of pieces doesn't matter. And for a painted guitar if done properly there is nothing wrong with multi piece bodies. One of my favorite guitars I had was an old Electra X-260. The called them their Workingman series. The were intentionally made with cost in mind. The gave them natural finishes and you could actually see how many pieces of wood they are made of. It was a great guitar. I had a Les Paul around the time as well. The Electra was better than the Les Paul. Even with what some people consider inferior construction. Finishing is less about what is used and more about technique. And better finishes take a lot more time.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      You make some excellent points 👌

    • @lesblack413
      @lesblack413 Рік тому

      Right on mate. Everything you said I agree with!!

  • @PlottingTheDownfall
    @PlottingTheDownfall Рік тому +1

    I never thought of a heat gun. I had a mid 80s "metal" strat I needed to refinish. I ended up taking a plumbers torch to it to melt off the finish. Had a 3 piece body of Ash... looked cool.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Whatever works mate! That sounds great, I find ash grain lends itself to being more subtle in multi pieces, just my own opinion.

  • @davidgriffin8482
    @davidgriffin8482 Рік тому +1

    I reliced a guitar and put some big gouges in it and changed my mind later and stripped the finish and scraped out the finish from the gouges and used one of those clothes steamer and they all came out like nothing ever was wrong. Lol. I'm surprised you got crack I always heard that a lot of pisces out more stable that glue joints are stronger than the wood is itself. But wood is a living thing and may not mix well with different ages or parts of the tree out candy from example Hartwood vs new big growth stuff from a farm. The three hundred year old trees are all gone so that's the way it goes that's why I try to rescue anything from the garbage that is old hardwood on its way to the dump. It's often the best stuff that is worth 20 or 30 dollars a board foot. Doors and tables are often mahogany and maple even rosewood and walnut. The old dark walnut. Thanks for your video. I hope this inspires some of you to get dirty. You always feel funny pulling out some thing from the pile on the street as people are going to dinner and drinks and you're going for a dumpster dive. Lol

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Sounds awesome bud and yeah I appreciate turning old stuff into new things, I've started collecting free hardwood tables and cabinets to use the wood for guitar builds too

  • @cancelbubble6535
    @cancelbubble6535 Рік тому +5

    Good video, looked like a bit of a chore, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I wouldn't think the number of pieces on the body would matter in regards to contracting/expanding/causing the cracks. It's all kiln dried wood so the moisture content is very very low. Fender used 7 pieces on this for economics - they're in the business of extracting as much profit as possible. Most solid color guitars are multi-multi pieces, that's why they're solid colors (so you can't see how many pieces it is). It's the transparent finishes that get the 2 piece bodies.
    And remember, you're not paying $2k for the body, you're paying $2k for the headstock :)

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Haha your last line on that comment is true, I bought one of these necks for $400 dollars last year which I made into a pink delonge but only 2 piece body so it's totally not authentic 🤣🫢

    • @lesblack413
      @lesblack413 Рік тому

      Multi piece bodies and necks are generally more stable as they are laminated. One and two piece bodies are prone to cracking and splitting due to the higher stress levels inherent. This is why solid table tops are never screwed rigidly down to the fame. The need to contract and expand with the different weather and humidity.

  • @JohnBoy-Ramone
    @JohnBoy-Ramone Рік тому +17

    The trouble with polyurethane is that (unlike nitrocellulose) it basically hermetically seals the wood, which normally shouldn't be that much of a problem, but when you combine that with the multi piece body and what looks like a seriously thick layer of paint, then I think it may just have created a perfect storm resulting in the wood contracting under a finish that was too thick and hard to move with the wood.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      So going with nitro for the refinish like I plan to should be a better choice?

    • @JohnBoy-Ramone
      @JohnBoy-Ramone Рік тому +3

      @@Giant_Guitars the nitro will eventually sink into the exposed joins in the wood, if my '70s Les Paul with a 3 piece maple top is anything to go by.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      @@JohnBoy-Ramone 🤔🤔 decisions

    • @JohnBoy-Ramone
      @JohnBoy-Ramone Рік тому +1

      @@Giant_Guitars I've just done a Four piece body (Chinese kit guitar) with nitro a few months ago... it's fine so far, but it's early days.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      @@rossforrest I was actually thinking about this yesterday and I might use resin!

  • @Shaun.Stephens
    @Shaun.Stephens 9 місяців тому +2

    Thanks for the video. I'm going to subscribe and watch your back-catalogue. Cheers.

  • @thegigwiga6693
    @thegigwiga6693 Рік тому +1

    Again i find my self stuck on the first step of my new endeavor and voila you got the video for it

  • @PastelComGini
    @PastelComGini Рік тому +3

    I guess if my $200 Tagima has less pieces. But anyway, I don't think that it would make a difference in tone, and I believe that your cracks are caused more by the type of paint than the body joints.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Probably lol, my Harley Benton £79 Tele kit has less pieces

  • @Marco-HidalgoMusicRecords
    @Marco-HidalgoMusicRecords Рік тому +13

    SO WE PASSED THE 2500 SUSCRIBERS!!! ✌🏻😜

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +5

      And some!! Thanks 🙏 guitar comp will be launched in the next video!

    • @themiz1os818
      @themiz1os818 Рік тому +3

      @@Giant_Guitars bro you just hit 3.2k! That’s impressive!

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +4

      @@themiz1os818 it's insanity!! I can't keep up lol

    • @TimTrOn3000
      @TimTrOn3000 Рік тому +1

      Cheers, mate

    • @metalliholic
      @metalliholic Рік тому

      Congrats!

  • @dunk3793
    @dunk3793 Рік тому +2

    I can't believe the body was made from 7 pieces! I would love it see a humbucker single coil combo, with volume and tone controls :)

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Volume and tone! Noted. Thanks bud 🙏 appreciate it. And yeah not what I expected on a pretty big signature model guitar lol.

  • @allkillergaming5623
    @allkillergaming5623 Рік тому +1

    Nice! New subscriber here (came from following you on IG) and I loved this video - super informative for poly finishes! For the Silver Sky, I vote one pickup 😉

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Appreciate that bud thank you and I'll note your suggestion 😄 you know I love single hum

  • @creepingdeeth
    @creepingdeeth Рік тому +8

    100% the cracks are caused by the multi-piece body. Fender just trying to be as cheap as possible, no real concern about longevity and that's a shame.
    Good video and look forward to seeing the spraying too
    Humbucker and single would be my preference for the silver sky btw!
    Oh and shout out from Tyrone!

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Figured that! Made sense in my head haha and I appreciate it Mark 🙏 nice to see some local people on here 😀 even if I'm a fair bit away from you!
      I agree with you about the HS, I've done the single humbucker thing already on one of these and I don't think anyone has went HS yet!

  • @dp9550
    @dp9550 Рік тому +3

    If you count the two veneers its a 9 piece 😆

  • @masonianbund
    @masonianbund Рік тому +1

    I like the tip about using a plastic scraper!

  • @deanmccaskill5495
    @deanmccaskill5495 Рік тому +1

    Good job. I’m going at a Tele in the same way shortly. Wish me luck.
    I even ordered a plastic scraper on your advice

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Good luck bud 🤞 I hope the plastic scraper does the job for you

  • @TheComedyGuitarGuy
    @TheComedyGuitarGuy 9 місяців тому +1

    HS is my personal favourite pup config. Single volume. Nothing fancy.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  9 місяців тому

      I like this setup too in fairness

  • @snock5487
    @snock5487 11 місяців тому

    What you said about 7 piece "moving" is true, every piece captures a different amount of heat due to density/composition and thus, expand more and less with it

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  11 місяців тому +1

      I agree with you and still think this plays a part 🙂 despite mixed opinions in the comments here

  • @gar1109
    @gar1109 Рік тому +1

    Love it 🔥

  • @1980JPA
    @1980JPA 2 місяці тому +1

    7 piece body on a $2000 guitar while my $100 '93 Peavey Raptor (international series) is a 1 piece body with a perfect burst finish to this day.
    Still would like to own a Strat one day. The Peavey is my "strat" in my "the big 3 styles" collection and I've been pleasantly surprised that my cheapest guitar has become the one I reach for first for some reason.
    I've compared it to my friend's MIM strat and the quality is perfectly on par in comparison, except I've got a real rosewood fretboard.

  • @DonzHFCustomz
    @DonzHFCustomz Рік тому +1

    Awesome tip! I’d go with the Humbucker and tele lipstick.

  • @justinTime077
    @justinTime077 9 місяців тому

    My original TD Strat also had cracked paint in the neck cutouts or whatever you’d call them. I think you’re right. Eventually big chips of paint came off all over the damn thing.

  • @prigs750
    @prigs750 Рік тому +1

    I did this several years ago on a Tele body i bought off Ebay. When i hit it with the heat gun, the paint would pop off the body. Hardly any scraping. Under the paint was a gray primer, and it was hard to remove. Heat didn't affect it nor did stripper. Had to sand it off.
    The body was a finger jointed mess. It was about 30 pieces of unknown wood, 3 to 4 inches long, finger jointed together length wise, then glued together.
    It was so much work I started making my own bodies

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Wow that's an absolute nightmare of a job 😯 sometimes it's definitely not worth the effort but for a signature model or something you want to keep original parts then needs must. I'm lucky this was so easy for me 😁

  • @viktorlieszkovszky9683
    @viktorlieszkovszky9683 Рік тому +1

    Very interesting video! I sanded and then painted with nitro! I now use a 2-component varnish.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Nice one 👌 I'll be doing nitro refin too

  • @amphlett7
    @amphlett7 9 місяців тому +1

    I have a 2006 MIM jazz bass which had the same finish issues.
    Stripped it and refinished pink, then had my then-girlfriend do some cool graphics on it!

  • @UrzaTron707
    @UrzaTron707 Місяць тому +1

    I have a Highway One strat, body of 4 pieces..
    Ngl it sounds amazing!!

  • @Old-Skull.
    @Old-Skull. Рік тому +1

    Yes the paint problem it's bc of the wood contracting and expanding , the crack was revealing enough to assess that changes in the volume of the wood caused it .

  • @colinmiles9390
    @colinmiles9390 Рік тому

    I like your idea of the Tele pickup on the neck with a rear humbucker with a dual switch to change it to single coil. PRS are a fantastic guitar and I’ve never been able to afford one.

  • @philipbeasley72
    @philipbeasley72 Рік тому +1

    The prs with single humbucker is nice!

  • @Mr.Monster1313
    @Mr.Monster1313 Рік тому +1

    Stripped a guitar once..i used paint stripper.newspaper below.put stripper on..let sit..soak in..then light scrap off..easy.then wash and clean body off..wear gloves..light sand of body..then i brush varnished it..looked great..felt great.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Wow 😮 I thought it would be a very messy way but nice one I'll have to try it!

  • @johnhart79
    @johnhart79 7 місяців тому

    awesome !!

  • @yoshikigrg8
    @yoshikigrg8 3 місяці тому +1

    I'm planning to do this as well. 😎 👍

  • @Machine1955
    @Machine1955 Рік тому +1

    I’ve tried multiple pickup combos and configurations in a Strat body. Tele singles, rail humbucker bridge, Tele neck Nashville set up., faux WideRange bridge, Tele neck, Dimarzio Tone Zone S bridge, Injector middle, Protrac neck, Faux WideRange bridge , Injector middle, Duncan ‘59 neck, to name a few. In the end, no question: HH configuration, Lollar Imperial Humbuckers. IMHO

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Very nice, I do like a HH setup in fairness too!

  • @metalliholic
    @metalliholic Рік тому +1

    First off, great video!
    Secondly, Hum + Single coil would be cool for sure!

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Thanks, it's done! Goes live tonight

    • @metalliholic
      @metalliholic Рік тому

      @@Giant_Guitars heck yea! About to watch.

  • @guitarandcamera3392
    @guitarandcamera3392 Рік тому

    Glad I've found your channel. Similar content that I tried to make. Keep going. 😊👍🏻

  • @dp9550
    @dp9550 Рік тому +1

    2:46 a stacked single coil size humbucker in the bridge and a hidden tele pickup in the neck....now that would be clean and cool! 😎

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Oh very good suggestion

    • @dp9550
      @dp9550 Рік тому

      @@Giant_Guitars Thank you , I think so too.

  • @arnaud3825
    @arnaud3825 Рік тому +1

    I did the same thing on an Harley Benton STRAT. They glued paper on the wood in addition to a seven pieces body!! But this is a HB, not a Fender!
    For the PRS, P90 and tele single coil! Never tested it but could be fun!

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Haha brilliant but yeah like you say they are budget guitars! And thanks bud!

  • @rexdarvog
    @rexdarvog 11 місяців тому +1

    I once purchased a Squire Bullet strat to chop cut rebuild and learn a bit of luthiery, but I found that stripping off the paint was the hardest thing to do. I had an easy time with the polyurethane but the primer underneath wouldn't budge. Sanded with 400 grit and down to 150 grit, even used liquid strippers like marine paint remover and it still wouldn't budge. I didn't know it at the time but the primer layer was epoxy, only 60 grit sandpaper would strip it and I doubt that your method would have worked. After that I stained it a red mahogany color and then lost interest when I couldn't figure out the wiring, at least I learned that I need better tools to work with if I wanted to build guitars.
    Also, the Bullet was shipped from China to the US West Coast and then transported east for me to fiddle around with it. I noticed that during the shipping time between climates the likely seven-piece body cracked and warped at the thinnest part, I could see right through the middle pickup cavity all because UPS left it out in 23-degree weather. I've also noticed that my other Squire strat, the classic Squire by Affinity, has paint fractures at the neck heel but so do my Epiphones. I believe you are correct in saying that a 7-piece Fender does indeed cause paint fractures, although it doesn't just end there.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  11 місяців тому

      Oh yeah this method doesn't tackle an underseal like that especially if it was epoxy. I'd have just sanded it smooth and repainted it rather than trying to take it back to bare wood. No good obviously if you want to stain the wood.
      Sounds like you learnt a lot in the process though which is why we do these things I suppose. I hope you learnt the wiring etc and weren't put off by the experience, you should see some of my first projects lol 😂
      Thanks for commenting bud, I like hearing about things like this, sucks it was warped in the end though!

    • @rexdarvog
      @rexdarvog 11 місяців тому

      @@Giant_Guitars Yeah, it was a fulfilling experience and I wasn't completely discouraged by the first attempt. It just required more workspace and a larger arsenal of tools than what I had back then, not to mention that it also needed more funds. The whole reason for doing it though was because I wanted to start a luthiery company building my own guitars, amps, and even my own pickups.
      Also, the Bullet didn't warp too much, it just split apart at the seams between the tremolo and middle pickup cavity because it's only about 2mm thick right there. It played fine for the most part until I destroyed it.

  • @fondoman3884
    @fondoman3884 Рік тому +1

    .. a humbucker at the bridge and a single pick-up at the neck would be very nice .. one for vol, one for tone ppts .. a three way pick-up switch
    .. looking forward to see your next vid!

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Thanks bud 😊 I am waiting on the pickguard coming, hopefully arrive this week!

  • @AnimalJohn85
    @AnimalJohn85 Рік тому +1

    I wish I'd used this method to get rid of the paint of a mates bass it's so much less hassle and safer on the contours.
    Damn you you clever fella ;)

  • @snell0710
    @snell0710 Рік тому +1

    Crazy 7 pieces I will for sure buy a non painted one maybe a sunburst love the giveaway single pickup would be cool most people already have one with several pickups would love see what just one nice pickup sounded like

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Thanks bud 🙏 yeah the pickguard has already arrived - HS with Tele neck

  • @johnniecameron8829
    @johnniecameron8829 Рік тому

    Wow ok. That worked really well ....

  • @birdsfabulous
    @birdsfabulous Рік тому +1

    Front and back veneers make it a 9 piece body...lovely

  • @The_Macaroon
    @The_Macaroon 11 місяців тому

    New sub here. Great video, im amazed at how easy that came off, ive been putting off doing a similar job for years, lol. Might just go for it now

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  11 місяців тому

      Definitely try it bud, just take it slow and don't dig into the wood!

  • @chrislawlor23
    @chrislawlor23 Рік тому +1

    16:21 dope tutorial..... Silver sparkle H H for the PRS be cool. Logically that theory on the paint cracking sounds on point

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Thank you dude 😎 I'm not going to paint the PRS though! Just pickups and pickguard

    • @chrislawlor23
      @chrislawlor23 Рік тому +1

      @@Giant_Guitars cool, suppose if I win I can go all out 🎉

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      @@chrislawlor23 absolutely

  • @jimthethirdprobably
    @jimthethirdprobably Рік тому +1

    For the PRS, I think it would look great with a P90 in the bridge and a Tele neck pickup.

  • @IronLordFitness
    @IronLordFitness 3 місяці тому +1

    15 years ago, I was at my local music shop. The owner called a luthier he was working with to talk to a client who wanted to refinish three CS Stratocaster. One was a Lake Placid blue, I don't remember the other two. After that, I talked to the luthier for an hour and a half and since I was really passionate about guitar and curious about his work he invited me to his atelier. I went there and he showed me the process for stripping the paint away and so on. The Lake Placid blue Custom Shop Strat (which was around 4000€ at this time) was in 5 pieces. One was in three pieces and the third one in two. I was blown away and he told me : "oh you think it's a rare thing? You should come here more often then". Nobody believes me about that but hell, I've seen a bunch of this the years after that. Since then there's no way I put my money in Fender guitars. I'm happy with my Warmoth or Musikraft ones.

  • @kellyswoodyard
    @kellyswoodyard Місяць тому +1

    Hot Strat in the bridge, smokin' P90 in the neck.

  • @johnpick8336
    @johnpick8336 Рік тому +1

    You can use Preval Sprayers and mix your own paint and you get moe choice of colors.

  • @ObiWanAugus
    @ObiWanAugus Рік тому +1

    I think it all depends on prior notice. I agree ecologically that wood should be used to the maximum; therefore, making a 7-piece body seems correct in that sense. But as long as they notify you beforehand. For Fender prices, it's a shame that they charge you their high prices for a 7-piece guitar, without letting you know in advance of that feature.
    In my country; Argentina, there are very good luthiers... with works of exceptional quality. And the public is always comparing their prices, with those of the first brands; to determine whether or not it is justified to order an instrument from them. I hope this video is seen by many people; to balance the prejudice that is held about some brands. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      No thank you bud, and I appreciate your comment 🙏

  • @peachmelba1000
    @peachmelba1000 Рік тому +1

    And maybe for the PRS a stacked humbucker at the bridge and one of those wide range style Tele humbuckers at the neck.

  • @jasonfowble2875
    @jasonfowble2875 Рік тому +1

    Orange with TV Jones Classics Filtertrons!

  • @martinclayton7260
    @martinclayton7260 Рік тому +2

    The best sound from a strat is the neck pickup, so that PRS should have a strat neck pickup.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      😯😧😮 haha, no problems bud I'll add it to the vote

  • @LucasdeFarias
    @LucasdeFarias Рік тому +1

    I'd Love the SilverSky with a humbucker and a lipstick on the neck. Also the knobs away from the bridge.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Mmmm I like it! And noted with the knobs

  • @virginia.malone
    @virginia.malone Рік тому +1

    I would LOVE to see 3 mini humbuckers in the PRS! Chrome pickups with a black pickgaurd and black hardware.
    Contrast the "moon white" with dark hardware and punchy humbuckers
    Just found your channel (thank you algorithm.) Love your work

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому +1

      Awesome ideas and thanks for the compliments, I appreciate it 🙏

  • @MrFengen
    @MrFengen Рік тому +1

    PRS Silversky.
    Triple mini humbucker and finished off in Plum Crazy Purple.
    Then it might need gold hardware.
    Another option is an Emerald green.

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      Sounds amazing dude but I'm not painting the guitar just pickguard and pickups 👌

  • @apr6337
    @apr6337 Рік тому +1

    HSS for the silver sky

  • @flamesintheattic
    @flamesintheattic Місяць тому +1

    It's safe assume any guitar with an opaque finish will have many pieces unless proven otherwise.

  • @winston-bj7gu
    @winston-bj7gu 24 дні тому +1

    No need to add sanding sealer in this refin. the under coat is tough as nails and is the sealer coat for the original finish. Just sand smooth with 220 then 320 grit. You will have a smooth base then. After, just shoot your white sandable primer, color coat then clear. Let dry and gas out. Finally wet sand and polish.

  • @obsg2650
    @obsg2650 Рік тому +1

    oh dude it would be absolutely sick as a delonge style

    • @Giant_Guitars
      @Giant_Guitars  Рік тому

      😁 the green one sure was! I'll note your vote, cheers bud