smoky or smudgy nitro finish on a 1989 '62 reissue

[Jr159753]

Hi,

I noticed the finish on my 62 reissue became (or already was?) smoky in some part, kind of white areas only visible in some angle of the light (that's why I couldnt see it when I bought it, 2nd hand).
You can see it more clearly around the pickguard screws.

I tried :

- gibson pump finish no effect
- meguiar polyshing compound, nope
- steel wool 000 + all of the above, as a little effect but leaves long scratches mostly, failed...

I'm not that much concerned because this 89 is already quite naturally reliced, but maybe I will sell it sooner or later and that might be a problem for a potential buyer.

what do you guys think about it ? miracle solution exists? leave it as it is? refinish it?

thanks a lot!

 

[Decadent Dan]

I don’t know if blush eraser wil re-flow 30+ yr old lacquer but it looks like moisture/humidity in the lacquer.

 

[Col Mustard]

If you buy an antique guitar, you will have to be okay
with the problems of aging. Old lacquer ages in many ways.
These are all part of the vintage vibe. Don't fuss with it
any more. Set it up with new strings and rock.

If you like a pristine finish, you need a new guitar.

There is no guarantee that anyone will want to buy a nineties SG
with foggy finish from you. But if you get it set up professionally you will be more likely to find a buyer. If you keep rubbing and scrubbing at the
lacquer, you are likely to cause more damage than you can deal with.

I recommend you stop fussing over perceived imperfections NOW.
Either make your mind up that you are unsatisfied, and sell it or
make your mind up to enjoy your vintage SG for what it is, and
cease to worry about what it is not. Did I mention
you should get it set up perfectly...

If you decide to play it because you like the sound and feel of it
then the setup will enhance this for you. Surface flaws make no
difference to tone.

If you decide to sell it for whatever you can get, the fact that it is
perfectly set up will make the buyer happy. Perhaps you can find
a buyer who appreciates your nineties SG more than you do.

 

[laza616]

A full picture of the guitar could be a very nice for us :)

 

[PermissionToLand]

The first picture is something you see on almost every Gibson, new and old. The screws get a hazy effect around them under the pickguard. Not sure why but it's as normal as it gets.

The second is probably a sweat stain that could be buffed out, but why would you want a 30+ year old guitar to shine like new? I'd say you're trying to "fix" what isn't a problem.

 

[Colnago]

Try Naphtha to clean that.

 

[Snake Plissken]

That’s most likely between the wood and finish, so nothing you do will clear it up. It is what it is. If it is just the top of the finish you could clean it with lighter fluid and then try to buff it out with some Meguiars Scratch-X 2.0, but with a guitar that old it’s probably better just to leave it as is, otherwise it may end up looking worse. Kind of like trying to cover up a bad tattoo with an even larger, bad tattoo.

 

[Snake Plissken]

It is interesting how people buy VOS and relic’d guitars without a thought, then get all worried about a 30+ year old guitar wanting it to be perfect.

 

[Dave]

I have a little bit of that "hazing" on my 1986 SG62 also. Probably something they used in the finish back then.

 

[Jr159753]

thanks for your advices, ok I have to accept its age, I will leave it as it is!

So here are a few more pictures for those interested. The headstock and vintage tuners... its my personal touch, old tuners were not working anymore, but I kept them in the case.
Set up is excellent, frets and nut were changed. I played it a lot yesterday and how the neck is so comfortable, the pickup powerful (changed for Burstbuckers) ! Gibson really killed the game in 1961 with that model long before Ibanez and superstrats...

 

[papagayo]

You can try a scratch remover and Zippo lighter fluid.

 

[laza616]

The guitar looks great as it is

 

[papagayo]

I installed the same tuners on my '61 Reissue, they are great. I choosed the model made for 10mm holes.

 

[Norton]

that's a great looking guitar.

 

[PermissionToLand]

The tuners and TRC are a nice touch. It's cool to think that now even reissues are becoming vintage themselves.

 

[Col Mustard]

thanks for your advices, ok I have to accept its age, I will leave it as it is!

So here are a few more pictures for those interested. The headstock and vintage tuners... its my personal touch, old tuners were not working anymore, but I kept them in the case.
Set up is excellent, frets and nut were changed. I played it a lot yesterday and how the neck is so comfortable, the pickup powerful (changed for Burstbuckers) ! Gibson really killed the game in 1961 with that model long before Ibanez and superstrats...

very true, that's why the SG has been in production ever since.
That's why we are all here... Gibson Killed the Game... I like that.
I think your guitar looks lovely.
And I love my Gibson guitars.

May you have this joy.
And Happy New Year