Tony Balls

yep! that's kinda what I figured, but I had never actually seen it done

I was just thinking about this and realized i've never actually taken apart a t-o-m guitar enough to see how it's grounded. So how is it typically done? grounding wire through the body to one of the tailpiece screws?

Thanks, both Robbie and Devon for your input. Here's some further interrogation: Regarding a heat gun: 1. If i'm stripping the entire guitar with heat, i'd imagine there's some sort of special precaution taken when doing the neck and any spot near the fretboard? Does one just stick with sanding these areas, or is the glue used in such applications more resiliant to the heat? Also, anyone have any reccomendations for heat guns?

Well.....time is what I have plenty of, so that's good. I believe it's that newer finish that manufacturers have been putting on their guitar since the 80's. Polyurethane, I think.

I don't mean to come off like a dick, here, but what part of the question does everyone not understand? I'm asking what the best strip method is? Or what's recommended by you, anyway. Thanks.

Well, my answer to that would be: why? I know that i'm filling it and that the seam will surely show. To me that's no big deal I'm just looking for the most simple way to finish the guitar so that there's no bare wood areas on it.

Well.........I should clarify. I'm not concerned with getting a gallery piece out of this by ANY means. I'm looking to make a players guitar that looks moderately nice. That's why i'm not so concerned with the actual finishing of it, but more with the stripping of it, as I think THAT'S what will be more difficult to me.

I'm someone who knows my way around guitar repair just fine, but know very little about finishing. And it just so happens that i've taken on a new project which will end up in me having to refinish a guitar. So give me some help! What i've got is an odd Epiphone Firebird project from (I believe) the 80's. It's essentially the same as a Gibson Firebird, with neck through construction and all that, but it came stock with some sort of top-route tremolo. And so what I now have is a great Firebird with a hole in it where I feel a tune-o-matic bridge should be mounted. I'll be filling the old trem cavity with a Mahogany block, and I don't have any problem with that. I should be able to do it just fine. The problem is that once the hole is plugged, i'll have to sand the surrounding area smooth. So then i'll have something to refinish. Now, as you may know, the center section on Firebirds is raised by about 1/8". So I was initially thinking about only refinishing this raised portionn, trying to match the rest of the finish, but the original finish is sunburst, and I think that may be too difficult for me to match. So that brings me to the next course of action, which is to strip and refinish the whole thing. This is something i've never done before, so i'm looking for advice. First off, in everyone's opinion, what's the best way to strip a guitar and neck like this and why? Sanding? Invest in a heat gun? Chemicals??? Any tips to go along with each method? I figure that once I have it completely de-finished, i'll tackle the refinish. I'll probably do something simple for this, like a cherry stain, or just a clear coat. I'll worry about that when I get to it. So......anybody have pointers or thoughts??

You could maybe try referencing it against other pics of the same model, like these on Warmoth.com http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/bodies/vinta...seaction=jaguar

Sent you a PM. Thanks!

Best pickup manufacturer: Rio Grande. look into them.

Not exactly sure just yet, as i'm still waiting for the guitar to get shipped to me. Shouldnt be much more than 3" wide x 4" long, and I'm not sure about the depth. I'll post the dimensions when I get them. Thanks!

oh allright. no hard feelings.

Well, thanks for being a dick, then. Anyone else???

yes, I know about the links page on projectguitar.com I was more curious if anyone had any RECOMMENDATIONS.

I need some mahogany stock to fill a trem cavity on a guitar. Any body have any good suggestions on suppliers to get this from?? Or do you think for something this simple and non-guitar specific, i'd be best to go to a local hardwoods distributor?

Holy shitawesome. Thanks. I knew there was a way to do it that I just wasnt coming up with.

I'm new here. I searched around the site but couldnt find the answer to my question. Maybe it's just too easy and i'm not getting it. The question is: On a standard threaded-post style (i.e. not the kind with the bushing insert) tune-o-matic bridge, how does one thread the posts into the body of the guitar?? I don't have any of the posts in front of me, so I can't closely examine, but in pictures it doesnt look like they have a slotted head or anything for screw-driving them in. Side question: Anybody have any reccomendations on going threaded-post style or bushing style with a tune-o-matic?? I'm going to be working on a Firebird project that has no bridge, or existing holes. My thought was to go with the threaded post style because 1) they're more classic (kinda lame, I know), and 2) they're a little less evasive if I wanted to cover anything up later. Thoughts? Thanks.