Can a Squier tele with a poly finish ever look like the real thing?

[dnauhei]

I want a guitar that looks like this:


I am thinking of buying a vintage white squire tele like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Squier-FAT-Telec...#ht_720wt_1097

I hate poly finishes, but are there techniques to knock down that gloss and make it look right?

thanks!

[Whiskey N Beans]

Yes. You can use scotch brite pads to take out the shine and with the thick poly FMIC China uses, you'll likely be able to return it to a clear gloss as well if ever needed. That said, Tele's have been poly for many, many years. It will look like the real thing - a nice new Telecaster, right out of the box. I have a CVC Thinline and a '99 USA Standard Tele. The Thinline is not especially brighter or more dull. In time, they will look exactly the same. The CVC has a smaller neck but they are both excellent guitars with really good tone (The USA has Moollon '52/'55 and the Thinline has a bill lawrence and a fender USA neck p'up).

Edit: just saw the picture. That cannot be vintage white. Right, it's a blond or something. I used to have a MIK Tele that looked like that. Was a damn fine guitar too.

[GuitarTone]

Hendrix had no problem with his 1968 poly Strats, and they looked right to me.

This eBay guitar is not vintage white, it's "blonde"...it will look even cooler with a black pickguard.

[Rhomco]

Beast and easiest method I have found is simply using these polishing papers all over the entire painted surfaces. I just takes away the plastic looking gloss and leaves a used lacquer appearing finish. If you want a first class look you will need to remove the hardware as much as possible.
Good luck with your project,
Rob
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishin...ng_Papers.html

[dnauhei]

Would you advise wet sanding with the polishing papers?

[larimar]

Originally Posted by Rhomco

Beast and easiest method I have found is simply using these polishing papers all over the entire painted surfaces. I just takes away the plastic looking gloss and leaves a used lacquer appearing finish. If you want a first class look you will need to remove the hardware as much as possible.
Good luck with your project,
Rob
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishin...ng_Papers.html

Interesting. You wouldn't have any pic's of some finished pcs' would you? Thanks!

[Boris Bubbanov]

This finish is actually fairly thin. Furthermore, the guitar shown is probably Cortek Surabaya. My 3 Fat Squier Teles are.

I like to polish it with something pretty fine, like Mequiar's Scratch X. It is a polishing compound, but it takes a little of the hotness off the stock mirror effect. Coarse scratches aren't necessary and look no better than stock, imo.




Yeah, I know, the neck pickup, bridge and neck are not stock.