: I have a Fender Japan Stratocaster 85-86 and was wodering what type of wood was used for the body as I would like to remove the candy apple red colour and finish it natural with nitro cellulous lacquer. : Thanks………tR Basswood. What you are up against, removing the red paint is a 50/50 chance you may not be able to refin in clear. Reason – absorption of factory coat, especially blacks & reds into wood. Could be some red pigment soaked in. Though we acknowledge, bodies were "sealed" first. Sometimes it can be sanded out, sometimes not. Your friends from Strat School. Seen it many times and been there.