Malenkia Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 My husband recently gave me and old B.C. Rich Warlock that has nothing left to it but sentimental value. We tried to have it fixed up a couple of years ago, but the guy who did it screwed it up so bad it's now a lost cause as far as playing it is concerned. It was his first guitar and I don't want to just throw it out, so I'm turing it into a wall-peice. I'm going to strip it down and swirl it in black and blue, then replace the plate in the front with a mirror (cut to the same shape) and put a wrought iron candle holder in front of the mirror. I think it's a better future for it than the dumpster (which I know he would regret in the long run, anyway). My question is, after all the refinishing, I was going to use a basic polyurethane but I'm afraid that will be too flamable considering there will be a candle right by it. Does anyone have any other suggestions, or will it be okay once it's completely dry? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 i don't think poly is flameable once it is cured,but i am not positive..... i think if i was turning a guitar into a candle holder i would make it a mirror ball finish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 btw there are people here who have repaired even the worst catastrophes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saber Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 What's wrong with the guitar? With all the knowledgeable people on this forum, there might be a relatively simple fix for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 look here for an idea ! (Wes' idea) and HERE! This might be an alternative to the polyurethane. And welcome to PG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renablistic Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 Just a thought, is he okay with this? if i were you, i wouldn't refinish it at all. I know if i had my first guitar for a long time, and eventually i got really into guitar, i would NEVER sell it or anything. It would be my treasure. i would look at it and say "Hey! that nic was from the first time i ever tried to jump off a bass drum while playing guitar...stupid me..." "HEY! That dent is from that time my girlfriend stopped over my house while i was playing, and then she started making love to me before i took the guitar off, and it just fell off my neck, and dropped to the floor. She was my first!" "good times, good times..." my two cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malenkia Posted January 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 It originally looked like a "Stryper" reject (black and yellow stripes, horrible paint job, flaking off everywhere). So, when we originally went to have it fixed up, he had new pick-ups put in and was very specific about them not "floating" (sorry, I'm still very new at this so I'm not sure what that means). And the guy did it anyway, he also had him re-paint it and when we got it back (I should add that we were told it would be about a month and we finally got it back about 6 months later), he had painted it, let it hang for about a day and then laid it down on carpet. So the backside is a complete mess and the front has his fingerprints in it. Plus, the nut (?) keeps falling out and it won't stay tuned when we could manages to get strings to stay on it. This was my husband's first guitar, but the one he really played for years is a very loved (that's a nice of way of saying beat-up) Ibenez that he adores. When I asked him what he wanted to do with the Rich he told me to toss it, that it was ruined and just taking up space anyway. That's why, if i wasn't playable anymore, I wanted to at least turn it into something he could still enjoy. If I could get it fixed up and playable, that's be great. But from hearing him talk, it sounds like it's beyond hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 easy fix...new paint job and minor adjustments is all it would take Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 we could walk you through the fixes and you could either paint it yourself or send it to a pro...but there are ways...it would be no more work than making it into a nice candle holder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 whatever you decide to do...let us know and we will help as much as we can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtis P Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 good luck with whatever you choose, i am hopin for the restore, Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Its not just a job...ITS AN ADVENTURE! I couldn't tell you how many acoustic and electric guitars I have resurrected from the grave. Part of your hubbie's soul is worked into the wood of that guitar and it would be a shame to throw it on the trash heap. And as a few others have said, you might wind up putting just as much effort into making it "wall art" as making it play again. Let us know where you live and perhaps one of the board members who lives near you can make it look and sound nice again for you for free, with the exception of the cost of any parts that might be needed. I can't speak for everyone here but I am constantly looking for old guitars to practice and develop my skills on. That is payment enough. I fix them then give them away. There is nothing like making a guitar sing again, give it a new lease on life. I live in Victoria, BC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natethegreat86 Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 (CRAZY IDEA ALERT) you could always do both!!!!!!! restore it, AND make it a candle holder!!! Just make it so it aint messin with anythin else on the guitar. You know how pimp that would look on stage, jammin away with a candle burnin in front of your fingers. Just a thought. a crazy thought, but a thought nontheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malenkia Posted January 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Okay...I have NO CLUE about fixing guitars, I haven't even played on since I was about 7...but, if you think it's fixable, I'd rather do that for him. He'd definately be surprised. But, to keep it a surprise I can't really ask him exactly what's wrong with it and I'm not sure of the technical terms to let you guys know. I do know I want to refinish it myself, but getting it playing would be the tough part. We live in central MN (around St. Cloud). If there's someone close by, even in the Twin Cities, that's willing to help I'd really appreciate it. I can take some pidtures of it, too, if that would help. This is turning out better than I'd hoped, thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 I think you should take a few pics of the axe, particularly the problem spots like the nut and the pickup routes. Think that would be a good base for pointers on what to do with the babe. I'm nearly sure that it's NOT beyond hope, a bad paint job and a loose nut shouldn't be eough for that. Looking forward to seeing this one evolve so long ace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 There are many here that are far more qualified than me but I am just over in Sioux Falls and would be more than happy to help if I am able. From what you say it doesn't sound like that big of a project. Bring that thing back to life and you'll have him in the palm of your hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Okay...I have NO CLUE about fixing guitars, I haven't even played on since I was about 7...but, if you think it's fixable, I'd rather do that for him. He'd definately be surprised. But, to keep it a surprise I can't really ask him exactly what's wrong with it and I'm not sure of the technical terms to let you guys know. I do know I want to refinish it myself, but getting it playing would be the tough part. We live in central MN (around St. Cloud). If there's someone close by, even in the Twin Cities, that's willing to help I'd really appreciate it. I can take some pidtures of it, too, if that would help. This is turning out better than I'd hoped, thanks everyone! As long as you're not in a rush I'll be in Minnesota in April to visit my GF. She's in southern minnesota, but perhaps we could meet up somewhere before hand, even at the airport and I could look it over and tell you probably the best, or quickest, or easiest ways to deal with some of the problems. I generally take the land to air van from Minneapolis to Mankato, and there is usually a couple hours wait from the time I land to when the van leaves. Anyway, if you are interested in doing that, let me know, shoot me an email or pm and leave me a phone number, when I have my ticket and know times I can let you know and possibly something can be set up. Jeremy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malenkia Posted January 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 I took a bunch of pictures with our digital camera, but I'm not sure how to post them. I don't have a website. He does, but that would kind of defeat the purpose. I could email them to some if they're interested, though. I'll size them down first, of course. You all are such a huge help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Email them to me @ mpwelsh459@hotmail.com and I'll post them here for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Turn them into a slideshow Matt ;-) (inside joke) I guess I can speak for the majority in here to say that we'd rather go great lengths than see a guitar die, especially one with historic/sentimental value. Most of us are pretty attached to their instruments (Draks perhaps not *shakes head, still in disbelief*) and know how happy we would be if somebody restored a valued instrument for us. I might be talking out of my rear tho and Jeremy could be on the lookout to score a cheap body but I don't think so so long ace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malenkia Posted January 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 I emailed them off, thank you again... I thought it was a Warlock, but on the head it says "Raven II". On a happy note, I just found out that a freind is back in town from Washington that may be of some help, too. He went to a school in Arizona for guitars (not sure which one), he also went to Full Sail. I just eamiled him and I'm hopinghe can give some assistance. I'll still let all of you know how things are progressing, though. You've all been an amazing help. I don't know if he's staying for awhile or just passing through, either. And after all this is done, I have to get my huisband on this site, he'll love it!..Just not now, or he'll know what's going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 PICS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 I agree with rnablistic 100%....which happens not often.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 that guitar has quite a bit of potential... now see..i have my first guitar,and it is a plywood body piece of junk...it looks like crap,plays like crap,and the frets are completely worn.alot of people would say it isn't worth fixing,but eventually iwill build a new neck for it,repaint it,and set it up to play again. i think that guitar would be a perfect ressurection...you should meet with lgm...he can tell you what's up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrock Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 I'd hold on for LGM (aka Jeremy) he really does know pretty much everything. On his approval it might be worth sanding down all that nasty paint job before you see him, I'm currently in the process of modding the first guitar that I ever had and sanding the finish off might take a few days (it's a good workout though). Isn't everyone nice around here when they know it's a lady Good luck with the project and welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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