Cloudy/foginess from moisture on my guitar's finish

[Bambino809]

There is a foginess appearance on my guitar's finish. I just bought it like this, because I really wanted this specific guitar model. I figure there has to be some sort of way to restore the original color of this guitar, which was actually red. I've heard of the Virtuoso Premium Cleaner + Polish, and was thinking this might do the job. I have yet to try that out. What would you guys recommend? Take a look at the pictures.

[Bambino809]

Here are pics of how it used to look, with it's original red color.

Your thoughts on this are so deeply appreciated,


Thanks,
Alfredo

[super&plexi]

it's hard to say at this point, but do you know if it is a solid top, or ply-could be from inside-glue used in laminate top, although that would be pretty hinkey owing to improper curing, or has the guitar been exposed to extreme climate change, I had a '52 Les Paul that had been through Alaska in a trunk of a car that looked similar. Why it was red is anyone's guess. But #1 on list, if you ever hope to 'bring finish back' is to get those stickers off. baby diaper, lemon oil-maybe, have you tried anything, do you know if it's topical, or under coat?

is it possibly a factory botched #2nd?. if it's under coat, they're are blush removers. not saying they can fix at this point, don't know how long it's been like that. any furniture, or auto paint shops-possibly old ones, where a guy has a lot of experience, nearby? Maybe take it over, see what they think.  very hard to tell from my house, heck it kinda looks good from here...........just joking. maybe others here have more up to date info. but need to know topical-or underneath finish, before anyone/anything can start. hope that helps a little

[sluckey]

What did you use to remove the stickers?

[Bambino809]

There isn't much info on it, the guitar is a Yamaha APX-10. Pretty sure it is laminate though. But I was told the guitar endured extreme climate changes. But yes, the stickers are currently off. He sold it to me without all those stickers on it. I was thinking of just taking in it to my luthier to see what he thinks of it. Apparently all the sweat and the cold builds this moisture up in the guitar like this. Its definitely within the finish now, so I have to find a way to go right into the finish and remove the moisture. The Virtuoso Premium Cleaner is on its way, I will update you all on how that turns out. Really hope that helps my situation.

And to answer your question, sluckey, I would assume with his own fingers.

[sluckey]

And to answer your question, sluckey, I would assume with his own fingers.

Sorry, I thought you had removed them, maybe using some kind of chemical.

[Bambino809]

You know what I did not think of that. Good point. Let me ask him that.

[Bambino809]

Yeah so he just told me he took them off with his fingers. Do I need a refinish you think? That is my last resort. I want to see if theres something else I can do, without affecting the guitar's tone. Let me know if you have any idea.


- Bambino809

[super&plexi]

as i was saying, there were blush removers, and retarders when I painted, and are probably many more now, but are the kind of thing pro places have, more than local home shops. Sort of hate to say it, but if you're digging tone now, it'll probably only get better without factory fin. I had orange fin APX7, or 10 or whatever,  and sorry to say can't think off hand if was laq, or poly, but I remember thinking highly of guitar, and sound, so maybe lacquer?. if so they are usually very thin, and can be forgiving in some circumstances, but also, easy to re- fin. maybe it's time to break out the drop cloths. I'll try to look into new products, and see what's up, but bet others here are very well qualified, and more up to date.

[G._Hoffman]

In all probability, FUBAR.  

Sorry.  



It really depends on the type of finish.  With some older finishes (Shellac, Nitrocellulose lacquer) there might be a way to do something about it (not something cost effective, by the way, but something), but Yamaha's all have those thick catalyzed finishes, and while they ARE very tough, if anything goes wrong you are SOL.  Short of refinishing (which will negatively effect the sound, and will cost a not so small fortune), there really isn't anything you can do.


Gabriel

[Ritchie200]

Is it on the surface?  If it is a thick catalyzed finish, makes me wonder what one of those automotive hard refinishers would do?  Wipe on and it dries rock hard.  Very thin coat, I cant imagine it would affect tone on top of a thick Yamaha finish.  Same stuff they use on headlight refinish coatings.  I'm sure Gab is cringing in horror right now!    HOWEVER!  If it doesn't work, Tubenit told you to do it!  I'm not familiar with the guitar so I have no idea if it is worth $5 or $5000.  Of course a good playing and sounding guitar is priceless.  The break point for experimentation is relative.  That will be your decision.  Hey, people pay good money to have a new guitar aged!  It has character!

Jim errr...  Tubenit

[G._Hoffman]

Is it on the surface?  If it is a thick catalyzed finish, makes me wonder what one of those automotive hard refinishers would do?  Wipe on and it dries rock hard.  Very thin coat, I cant imagine it would affect tone on top of a thick Yamaha finish.  Same stuff they use on headlight refinish coatings.  I'm sure Gab is cringing in horror right now!    HOWEVER!  If it doesn't work, Tubenit told you to do it!  I'm not familiar with the guitar so I have no idea if it is worth $5 or $5000.  Of course a good playing and sounding guitar is priceless.  The break point for experimentation is relative.  That will be your decision.  Hey, people pay good money to have a new guitar aged!  It has character!

Jim errr...  Tubenit

It is almost certainly under the finish.  I've got a Carvin in here right now that has that problem (it is in for something else), and it's way underneath.


Gabriel

[super&plexi]

what about dessicant, from inside. also I mentioned I owned one, I now remember it was APX7 model. It did sound quite good, but more so when amplified. I think yours is bells and whistles model, and hopefully sounds even better,(mine had 2p.u.s, and blend, your's is 3p.u.s? maybe?). is it amplified sound you dig, or acoustic (un-amped?). Of course all aspects of a guitar lend to it's final voice/timbre/tone, whatever you want to call it, but in my opinion, (could definitely be wrong) if it's a case of liking amplified P.U. sound, I would go for refin.

That does look awful. OTOH, if I dug everything, sounded great,(#1 in my book)felt great, but paint was  awful, I'd live w/it, maybe even learn to like it. If Stevie Ray played one that looked just like that, people would be contacting you for details on how to screw it up like that. Others here have a wealth of knowledge, maybe help is around the bend. good luck, and how is mail order product working out?.