TIP #1
REFINISHING YOUR GUITAR

Wondering about painting or refinishing your guitar? If you don't have the experience and the right tools and materials, you probably won't end up with a satisfactory job by doing it yourself...

In many areas, there are professional instrument builders that can perform this very specialized procedure for you. However, there are lots of locations where there is no one available to do a high quality job. So you may think!

Check with your local auto-body technician to see if they would be interested in helping you with your project. Auto-body paints and sealers will come out looking like a factory finish job when done by a qualified technician. Plus, many auto shops will be able to offer you different styles and effects, like sparkle finishes, translucent tints on top of solid colors, sunbursts, and more! A professional auto body shop has the right equipment, the right materials, dust-free spray areas, and they have the knowledge and expertise to see your project through to the end with success.

TIP #2
POLISHING YOUR GUITAR AND REMOVING SCRATCHES

For those of you who are perfectly happy with the paint job you already have on your guitar, it still wouldn't hurt to polish it up and make it shiny and happy once in a while. The typical spray-on, wipe-off polish is fine for everyday use, but if you want to do a really professional polish job that will also remove many of those fine scratches, and give you a strong luster, follow these simple instructions.....

Once again, think "cars". Your local auto parts store will probably sell "Meguiar's Mirror Glaze", which comes in a variety of styles. You'll want to get two different bottles, number 4 and number 7.

• Number 4 is a professional cleaner, which you will apply with a clean, soft, dry cloth. It will leave a dull, chalky look as you apply it in a circular motion. It will fill in many of the lighter scratches as you rub it in.
• Number 7 is the professional sealer and reseal glaze, and applying it with a clean cloth will clean off the white film, and you'll notice that the more you work with it, the more your scratches will disappear.

A few reminders:

1) Don't use the same cloth for both bottles. Use one cloth strictly for the cleaner, and a fresh cloth for the sealer glaze. Change to a clean cloth as often as necessary.

2) As always, be sure to read the directions thoroughly before using any chemical products.

3) For guitars with lots of scratches, you will need to repeat this procedure, perhaps a few times. Each round of polishing will make your guitar look better and better!

Tips kindly provided by Kevin Crossett of
Play It Again Sam
www.guitarsam.com
Electric and acoustic guitars, amplifiers, keyboards, percussion, and accessories.
66 Main St. Montpelier VT 05602 USA
Tel (802) 229-0295 Fax (802) 229-0755
E-mail playitagainsam@drbs.com

TIP #3
HOW TO GET THAT SITAR SOUND...

A thin, flat piece of rubber (slice of an eraser will do) installed over the bridge (right below the strings) can make an electric guitar sound like a sitar, and create great new tones depending on the material and thickness.

From Goutham Kurra kurra_gautam@yahoo.com
Bangalore, India