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Old 10-10-2017, 02:09 AM
SpiderTrap SpiderTrap is offline
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Default Martin X- Series Face Paint


Curious if anyone has successfully painted / Varnished , Laquered , or whatever a non painted X Series Face with NO Disernable change in guitar sound . I have 2 RAEs, They're wonderful , but am used to Glossy or at least satiny tops . Dont care for the bare wood . PICS if you have and material used.
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Old 10-10-2017, 05:05 AM
lowrider lowrider is offline
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The MartinX does have a finish on the top but like you posted, it does look like raw wood. I polished mine and finished it with Minwax Finishing Wax. After removing the stings, I taped it off around the sides, neck, bridge, and pick-guard. Then I hit it with 0000 steel wool, then auto scratch remover, then auto polish. Finally, 5 coats of Finishing Wax.

It took lot of polishing to get it swirl free but now it has a nice polished luster that you can read the reflection in, if the writing is big enough!
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Old 10-10-2017, 09:28 AM
SpiderTrap SpiderTrap is offline
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Thanks for Quick Reply . WO W - wHat A Story ... Sounds like alot of work . had tops go dead on me before messing with them and do not want to do the same .... never thought of polish but would seem the least likely to screw up the sound than anything heavy like lacquer Etc ,. Thanks, ...anyone else to chime in ...... ??
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Old 10-10-2017, 11:43 AM
Goat Mick Goat Mick is offline
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I sanded the sealer off of my 000X1AE and then hand rubbed a light stain and finished it off with several coats of hand rubbed Tung Oil. Turned out great with a nice tint to the top to give it a little character and the tone wasn't affected at all. Not a great pic but here it is at a recent show.
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'59 Gibson J-45 "Spot"
'21 Gibson LG-2 - 50's Reissue
'94 Taylor 710
'18 Martin 000-17E "Willie"
‘23 Taylor AD12e-SB
'22 Taylor GTe Blacktop
'15 Martin 000X1AE

https://pandora.app.link/ysqc6ey22hb

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  #5  
Old 10-10-2017, 11:23 PM
SpiderTrap SpiderTrap is offline
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Thanks , glad to see progress . mine are blinding .. I like the aged look but no sound change is way more important as these 2 and sound better than 3 - I had in the 80s + cost a fortune . Put my FG730s Yam and a nice Alvarez to shame . Those blinding tops have to go tho ... Thanks .
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  #6  
Old 10-11-2017, 03:43 AM
SpiderTrap SpiderTrap is offline
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Default Thanks X SERIES TOPS

Thanks for all the input . not having any real experience in REDOING Tops ,
Think Best leave well enough alone and let them age naturally . . One is 2 0r 3 shades a lil darker than the other anyway. I didnt know they had a coating that had to be removed . I remember I did some crazy stuff to an epiphone top about 40 years ago and it went deader than a dorknob , so dont want anything like that occurring again . These guitars are a real joy when set up right and low action , perfect intonation and fun sweet sounding.... just got that feeling in back of my mind, if anything could go wrong , it likely would ...
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Old 10-12-2017, 12:17 AM
SpiderTrap SpiderTrap is offline
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After reading thru several other forums . Looks like a very very light sanding , and a few rub ins with ( TINTED ) BRIWAX Should do the trick . Will try one first . Thinnest of anything I can find which has NO Liquid.. NOT USING LIQUID STAIN ...and see how it turns out . White Face just spells FACTORY Brand New guitar . I Like the satiny Brownish " Normal " acoustic face look . maybe Pecan .
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Old 11-22-2017, 02:07 AM
SpiderTrap SpiderTrap is offline
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I left it alone due to ----too many concerns . Sits under florescent lamp 24.7 and is slowly tanning nicely .
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