Heritage Refinish

[MrB]

How does Heritage factory refinishing, stripping off an existing finish and applying a new one,

affect a Heritage guitar?

 

the sound quality,

the appearance,

the durability & longevity,

the value...

 

For various reasons, this has become a critical issue for me.

Are there any expert opinions here?

 

Thanks,

Mr B

 

[MartyGrass]

It will not affect sound quality, durability or longevity.

 

With rare exception (the Centurion is all that comes to mind) the value will not drop but won't improve much unless the guitar is really ugly.

 

It better affect the appearance. Otherwise what's the point?

 

I'd have Pete Moreno do it, not Heritage. Pete works part time with Heritage and has his own luthier shop. Pete will do the finish just as well as Heritage for less money and time.

 

Heritage has referred me to Pete several times for electronic and finish issues.

[MrB]

Thanks, Marty,

 

That helps!

It will have to be done at Heritage, however, since the issue is checking of the finish of a guitar being built,

during the recent power outage.

 

Mr B

[DavesNotHere]

Thanks, Marty,

 

That helps!

It will have to be done at Heritage, however, since the issue is checking of the finish of a guitar being built,

during the recent power outage.

 

Mr B

Now you're freaking me out Mr B!

 

[MartyGrass]

Maybe you don't want to share the back story, but there must be a good one.

 

It sounds like during the power outage the temperature dropped and the nitro cracked.

 

And it sounds like Heritage sold you the guitar anyway. Now you want them to take it back and make it right.

 

If that's the case, the value will go up. A new guitar with a bad finish is really no better than a used one with a bad finish.

[TalismanRich]

Properly done, it shouldn't affect the value of the guitar at all. They should be able to remove the lacquer and reapply.

 

My 157 was refinished due to water damage and other than getting a shade darker, it came out fine. They even filled a small ding while it was being repaired.

[MrB]

Marty,

 

Yes, there is a backstory, but not the one you supposed.

I didn't think it was appropriate to rant publicly on this forum, so I restrained myself,

but would be happy to discuss it privately if you're intered.

 

Thanks all for your comments.

 

Mr B

 

ps: Are chemical strippers used to remove the existing finish? That can't be good for the wood.

[H]

...but would be happy to discuss it privately if you're intered.

I expect he's hoping it'll be a while before he's interred

[MrB]

There'll always be another day,

until the day that there's not.

 

`,:-)

 

Yet I'll never learn to spell...

[peterbright]

let's hope

[Blunote]

The stripping agent would be acetone, which is the solvent in lacquer. So, the chemicals applied to strip it won't affect the wood any differently than when the finish was first applied.

 

So relax. Your new guitar will be as good as new.

[TalismanRich]

Depending on how much repair is needed, the majority of the nitro can be sanded off, and new lacquer applied. The new nitro solution will redissolve the remnants and bond just like you were putting on multiple coats. Any checking cracks will fill seamlessly. That's one of the qualities that makes nitro repairable, compared to polyester or catalyzed finishes. Its also why it takes so long to finish a nitro guitar. They apply multiple coats and sand smooth between coats.

[MrB]

Thanks for all the info, guys!

(and to the ones conversing off-forum)

I does help.

Hopefully, my provisional membership will upgrade to a full membership

before my 2 year anniversary.

(and before I'm too old to play)

 

Mr B