sorry ... more questions!

ok, so I'm stuck with a Midnight Wine guitar, which was my favourite out of the options available, but not Arctic White or OIympic White, which is what I really wanted. Or a butterscotch blonde with black pickguard...

so I've been staying up way too late reading way too many forums, creating this idea in my head of refinishing the tele one day. Before you read on, keep this in mind: if I stuff up, I can't afford to replace my telecaster.

The MIM's are finished in Polyester, which I hear is quite painful to remove, and pretty much won't come off with chemicals. I read at Harmony Central that the best way to remove the Poly is to clamp the body to a bench, get a heat gun and a paint scraper, and start melting and scraping! Again, if I stuff up, there's no money to replace this one, and there probably won't be a wife to offer sympathy.

I have a friend who works in the paint industry who is keen to offer help, and he can get me nitrocellulose in any colour.

So ... strip the body and refin that way? This is cheaper, but more risky.

Or ... buy a blank left handed body from New Zealand for $150, finish that, get the holes drilled at the school where I work. Or there's a licensed Fender replacement body for $350. Then I could put the neck, pups and all the rest onto this body. This is the safer but more expensive option.

argh! what do I do!?!?

perhaps just live with a midnight wine guitar for a while, then when funds are nicer, buy the $350 body for a hobby.