Paint removal from a vintage Hofner flat top

Atmarama

Hey guys,

So I picked up a 60's vintage Hofner classical guitar from Gumtree pretty cheap. She seems altogether in good nick especially since she was manufactured in the 60's and is rather pretty lookin'. The only thing is...

The previous owner had the fantastic idea of spray painting the bridge black, which left me dazed and confused ? Does anyone know a safe way to remove the paint? A blot on the landscape to be sure but probably the reason I picked her up so cheap..

Thank you in advance for your help!

joealien22

Nice find. A mate of mine gave me the same hofner flamenco 2 years ago I think. His sister was going to throw it away and he saved it for me. She had put steel strings on and the bridge had completely lifted.

After a repair, it is now an absolute beaut! Sounds amazing. Not sure why previous owners of these haven't treated them as such though.

Unfortunately I can't help you on the paint removal issue, but I can tell you that you have yourself a great guitar there. If it's anything like mine you are going to be very happy with it. ? ?

Atmarama

Luc wrote: Nice find. A mate of mine gave me the same hofner flamenco 2 years ago I think. His sister was going to throw it away and he saved it for me. She had put steel strings on and the bridge had completely lifted.

After a repair, it is now an absolute beaut! Sounds amazing. Not sure why previous owners of these haven't treated them as such though.

Unfortunately I can't help you on the paint removal issue, but I can tell you that you have yourself a great guitar there. If it's anything like mine you are going to be very happy with it. ? ?

Thanks for the encouragment Luc! Ye she feels great man, can't wait to have her playing again... Apparently it's brazilian rosewood under that paint too!! Hope I can get it off safe ☹

AlanRatcliffe

scrape it off with a blade. Mask off the top properly first.

Atmarama

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: scrape it off with a blade. Mask off the top properly first.

Won't the blade potentially cut into the wood?

I guess it was hard to tell in the first pictures, but the spray job extends to about 5mm over the bridge onto the guitar top, all around the bridge.. This pic should illustrate a little better.

Why would someone do this?!? Your help on this mission is appreciated, thank you...

Chocklit_Thunda

Atmarama wrote: Won't the blade potentially cut into the wood?

I guess it was hard to tell in the first pictures, but the spray job extends to about 5mm over the bridge onto the guitar top, all around the bridge.. This pic should illustrate a little better.

Why would someone do this?!? Your help on this mission is appreciated, thank you...

the blade wont cut into anything if you scrape with it ?
as for that 5mm thing... You may have to scrape that off too... Mask around it and try scraping of as little as you can to save the finish there. go really slowly and gently. otherwise for that part, try some really fine sandpaper and just rub it down.

AlanRatcliffe

Chocklit_Thunda wrote: the blade wont cut into anything if you scrape with it ?

Exactly. Hold it at right angles to the wood.

Atmarama wrote: Why would someone do this?!?

I stopped asking that particular question after seeing my hundredth bolt and Pratley putty hack job. Actually that makes me suspicious - I'd guess that the bridge has come loose and been reglued at some point. You may well find some damage to the top (filled with glue) and/or ugly bolts through the bridge. Inspect carefully before proceeding.

Depending on what you find, I might say mask off carefully (double layer), use a chemical stripper with the scraper blade and then remask and refinish the bare parts of the top. If there is damage to the top you'll want to avoid compounding it by scraping or sanding the top wood any thinner.

Atmarama

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Chocklit_Thunda wrote: the blade wont cut into anything if you scrape with it ?
Exactly. Hold it at right angles to the wood.

Atmarama wrote: Why would someone do this?!?
I stopped asking that particular question after seeing my hundredth bolt and Pratley putty hack job. Actually that makes me suspicious - I'd guess that the bridge has come loose and been reglued at some point. You may well find some damage to the top (filled with glue) and/or ugly bolts through the bridge. Inspect carefully before proceeding.

Depending on what you find, I might say mask off carefully (double layer), use a chemical stripper with the scraper blade and then remask and refinish the bare parts of the top. If there is damage to the top you'll want to avoid compounding it by scraping or sanding the top wood any thinner.

I really hope that's not the case... I asked the seller why he spray painted it and he said he just wanted a change or something like that. The guitar seems in great condition and apparently was sitting in his friends grandfathers store room for ages, so hopefully no bolt hack job there!

I will proceed with caution - what chemical stripper/s would you recommend Alan? Apparently it's just the usual plascon spray paint...

AlanRatcliffe

Doesn't have to be anything special - Nitromors or similar.

Atmarama

Ok so I used some thinners yesterday and voila, the paint came right off... Alan you were spot on about the hack job fix... You can see some white epoxy residue showing.

Although there is a distinct marking around the bridge that seems to look like the original bridge was replaced, the previous owner swears that it is the original bridge. He also says that he re-finished the top with a clear spray laquer, so I assume he sanded to wood, then painted the bridge to mask the white epoxy/bridge hack job, and then applied the laquer - that may explain the markings around the bridge i guess...

So it is now raw wood around the bridge. The thinners also ate through the laquer a little around the bridge, and in one or 2 places on the top (my fault) as well. What is the suggested way forward from here? I would think I may need to fine sand the top and re-finish either the whole top or just around the bridge but matching may be problematic...

Your thoughts and help are appreciated!