Univalve.net

JimTLin

I picked up a new Lester at a good price. The finish is very thin satin. I buffed it out with pollishing compound from Stew Mac and it looks great. I swapped out the pots and caps with a kit from RSguitarworks ... I just couldn't help myself (I didn't even have it a week). Big improvement in clarity. Very cool guitar. This thing sounds great through my Flexi.
_________________
Jim

macphly · Moderator Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 525

Yeah, I've been looking at them too. I like the tone, but it seems a lot of people weren't crazy about them. I would do exactly what you did...maybe even hit the top with a little more nitro and buff it to a normal shine. I certainly have liked the feel of the necks on the ones I tried. My local dealer bought several of them last year, but I don't think he's sold any of them...he's starting to drop prices. However, he's also got a really decent black Standard that he's dropped to around $1500...I certainly don't need another guitar, and I have a nice LP goldtop, but I can't always be expected to remember that!

JimTLin · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

The plain finish was actually one of the things that attracted me to the guitar (of course, the fact that it sells for $700+ less than the gloss finish didn't hurt either). I found the neck very easy to play. I have 3 high gloss guitars I ended up using 600 grit sand paper on the neck to get rid of a sticky feeling. It seems the modern nitro finish takes a LONG time to cure. This guitar doesn't have that -- of course, I still buffed out the neck anyway. Wink

_________________
Jim

macphly · Moderator Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 525

Agreed. The LP really annoyed me at first, but about 6 months later, the stickiness was gone. I pretty much had the same experience with a Warmoth neck a few years back when they dabbled in nitro finishes. I wonder how much location has to do with it? It's really humid here in VA, and I'd imagine at least a little worse in FLA.

JimTLin · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:54 pm Post subject:

I've had a Fender EJ strat for over a year and the back of the neck was still sticky. After sanding using 800 grit sand paper a few times on the neck, it no longer has that problem.

I would think humidity would definitely be higher here, but I keep the guitars inside (except for outdoor gigs) and humidity is usually well controlled through AC. During the winter, the humidity actually frequently falls below 30% ... which can be harmful, especially to acoustic instruments.

But, yes, Florida is basically a large outdoor sauna for 6 months out the year.
_________________
Jim

JimTLin · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject:

I've had a Fender EJ strat for over a year and the back of the neck was still sticky. After sanding using 800 grit sand paper a few times on the neck, it no longer has that problem.

I would think humidity would definitely be higher here, but I keep the guitars inside (except for outdoor gigs) and humidity is usually well controlled through AC. During the winter, the humidity actually frequently falls below 30% ... which can be harmful, especially to acoustic instruments.

But, yes, Florida is basically a large outdoor sauna for 6 months out the year.
_________________
Jim

macphly · Moderator Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 525

JimTLin · Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject:

Here are some pics after I polished the top

http://images.lilypix.com/thumbnails.php?album=1966
_________________
Jim

MudSkipper · Moderator Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 971