Friend told me about it months ago and I finally had cash laying around to get it so I did. Here it is-
Here's what's blem'd on it-
It was obviously dropped. There's also this hair line crack that goes across the the top fin. I couldn't photo it on the black (auto zoom on camera wouldn't let me focus on it) But I go this-
I'm assuming the shock from the drop bent/flex'd the wood slightly, making the paint to crack. I guess I'll find out what happened structurally when the paint comes off.
800 bucks off : I could probably flip it on ebay and make some profit off it but I really like the way it plays and have been thinking about a custom finish, 24 fret, floyd, single humbucker RR for YEARS. Might as well make it happen.
I'm going to go the paint stripper method but I have a few questions namely around the fretboard/binding.
It has black binding but I'm not sure if the paint goes over the binding.
Should I strip it as close as I can do the binding then use some sand paper? I don't want the stripper to loosen the binding or something.
Another idea is to remove some wood on closer to the upper frets to make access a bit easier. Not quite a cut out but just some off the backside. Possibly scalloping the last 4 frets as well (20-24) but I'm afraid it would break the binding (I did it on a cheaper guitar once and that's what happened but I think I went to deep)
As far as the refinish idea I've been thinking about a natural flame top w/ blackhardware.
Sorta like these-
Or I can do a nice flame top like these-
http://img1.hugeup.com/f/09302008/8817147e8a3a.jpg
http://img1.hugeup.com/f/09302008/02fdb9.JPG
But might be too fancy for an every day, gigging metal guitar.