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So it happened. I dinged the top of someone's beautiful Les Paul. Never happened before but I suppose there comes a time for everything and that's why we have insurance. Lost control of a flat head screw driver and it went right under my protective mat and scratched it down to wood.

Cherry sunburst, the most difficult finish to repair, and beyond my skill set. Customer and I agree that I will at least give it a go but my guess is I am not going to be able to get it right so..

Anyone here recommend someone who can refinish a cherry burst top on a Les Paul? Preferable with a reasonable timeline.

It happens if you do enough. I tend to be anal about being careful on the bench but guess I was distracted or something. I did a full setup on a new gold top and dinged the top while I was adjusting the bridge height. Always seems to happen when you do something you’ve done a hundred times before.

Guess I should add that I was absolutely mortified and that the call to the client was one of the worst I've had to make.

Sorry I don't have a recommendation for someone to fix the finish.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I don't have a recommendation but my concern is you JF. I damaged my first guitar, a Strat last year. I was setting intonation with it in my lap as I always do and then I went to put it back on the bench I missed and banged a back edge into a bench edge. Put a nice dent in it.

It freaked me out because out of well over 10,000 repaired guitars for me this was my first accident. I really beat the hell out myself over it too and that's why I'm posting, don't beat yourself up my friend it will all be OK in time and forgotten.

Of course I told the customer and we tore up the set-up bill and asked him what he wanted beyond that. To our surprise he wanted a relic and appreciated the dent I did along with his dents he did.... go figure.... who would have thought it. So he said my set-ups were great and he wanted another set-up on a different guitar.

I thought about denting his second guitar but hey maybe I should charge for dents in the day of the relic?

And so it goes.

I can completely relate I felt awful over it and likely over it.

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Ann Arbor Guitars

I appreciate the community here, thanks guys. Yeah I lost sleep over this. I only take solace in knowing that I am going to make it 100% right and this guy is one of my best customers too. He texted me the other day to tell me to "not fret" over it so he's a real good guy too. The funny thing is I was also setting up one of his custom shop reliced Strats. If I had done it on that guitar we probably both would have had a good laugh.

I've done it, and it's never fun. We are human after all. A complete refin is possible, but a touch-up is the only feasible plan that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. And it will always be visible. Sorry...

And it won't help, but back in the 80's I had a client who was so scared of putting the first dent in a guitar (he traded gear all the time) that he wouldn't play it for fear of damaging it. He finally started bringing them to me to put the first dent in them so he could use them. I even let him pick out the tool, and I'd pick an out of the way spot to put a minor dent. And he'd go away happy... no charge, of course.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

No deadlier tool than the humble flat head screwdriver! None of us who work on guitars for a living gets out 100% unscathed no matter how careful we are so go easy on yourself - it can happen to anyone. I’m reminded at times of a point Evan Gluck made on the Bashkin podcast - at the end of the day, they’re only guitars; no one’s life is at stake.

You might want to check out the Loothgroup on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theloothgroup/posts - there is a small membership fee.

There are quite a few finish repair experts there, and there is a 24/7 Loothalong via Zoom through which you can get eyes on your project.

Lots of great people on the East Coast. I'll ask my luthiers buddies. The Guitar Specialist comes to mind. But he is in New York. He does really nice work.

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https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/

What part of Virginia you at?

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https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/

Should you decided to give it a try, here's a tip that might help. Get some clear glass microscope slides. Set one on top of the ding. As you gradually mix up to the matching color, you can paint a stripe on the slide and get a better idea of how close you're getting without putting something on the finish that doesn't match and having to try to get it off so you can move on.

This is the best idea I've heard on the OLF that I can use in a very long time!!! Thank You!!!

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Allan that is a great idea thanks! I will definitely remember that the next time.

David I am in Blacksburg VA, western part of the state, closest city is Roanoke. Another OLF member IM'd me a name of a guy up there that I plan on contacting soon.

I'm also talking to the owner about buying the guitar outright. Heck I've always wanted a Paul.

Thanks to all.

I can't take credit for this. It came from the guy I worked for last year. And in fairness, I think he picked it up from the Loothgroup.