I'm a full-time luthier/guitar tech,with years of experience using nitrocellulose laquer,but NONE with conversion varnish.A customer just brought me a Jetglo 4003 bass,with the finish on the back of the neck badly damaged.I talked him out of re-finishing the whole thing (whew!),but he wants the back of the neck stripped to bare wood.I suggested sealing it with a satin finish nitrocellulose laquer,to keep out the grime/sweat/oil/etc...,and he is cool with that.I've touched up minor dings on my Jetglo 325 with black N.C.laquer,& was happy with the results.My question is:what stripper will work best with C.V.? I've been using 3M Safest Stripper on N.C.laquer,and it works great.It's non-toxic,doesn't smell bad,gentle & slow.It WILL,however,melt ABS & Celluloid binding,so I'll have to double mask it with heavy brown Kraft tape.Will it work on C.V.,or should I use BIX,Zip Strip,or something stronger?If Jingle Jangle or Dale Fortune could help me with this one,I'd certainly appreciate their input.Anyone out there with a clue?

Jasco Premium. very strong!

Thanks,kenswear...I'll look for some tomorrow.Anyone else have a favorite that they'd recomend?

I'd recommend that you go with what you thought originally, and that's to talk with Dale F. and /or Paul W. They're the ones who know conversion varnish.

Beatlefreak,I think that you hit the nail squarely on the head...I'll email Dale & Paul tomorrow.Paul's recent 360 restoration/re-fin to Azureglo was STUNNING,& would match my Azureglo '82 4003 perfectly...thanks for your prompt input...

I'd avoid nitro as a sealer. So many luthiers know nothing but nitro, I think they have stock in nitro companies. I have had problems using nitro under CV--checking and long-lasting softening of the nitro under the cured CV topcoat; sensitivity to heat causing softening of the nitro undercoats.

RIC uses reduced CV as a sealer, as it is 100% compatible with the CV finish coats. Use it. It'll give you experience in the chacteristics and application of this material, which is not for the faint-hearted at first.

ANY stripper that I'm aware of will dissolve the binding material. I use good quality 3M tape and renew it with each application of stripper. Tape 1/4" minimum inside the binding, and use two or three layers. Then, after the stripper has been scraped and steel-wooled off and the bass has dried overnight, take off the tape and sand away the remaining CV and paint.

Ken is right. I also prefer Jasco Premium (gold can). Hot stuff.

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Rickenbackers: I love to play them. I enjoy the challenge of working on them. I love the way they sound.

Paul,around where I live Jasco premium is imposible to find,I had a hell of a time.

Thanks for the advise.I'll do just that.This forum ROCKS!!!

Just for fun...I tried the 3M Safest Stripper first...HAH! Like water off of a duck's back!That CV is some tough stuff!Looks like a trip to Lowes tomorrow for some Jasco Premium (in the gold can)...listen to Jingle_Jangle,folks...it sure is nice of him to share his knowledge with the rest of us!

Paul was right!That Jasco Premium is HOT STUFF!One coat removed Jetglo CV in less than five minutes.My customer will be VERY pleased!Thanks,Jingle_Jangle!