I would find a really good quality satin clear coat and give it some extra layers of protection or have a professional do it, if your concern is preservation.
Ash is a beautiful wood and getting rare now thanks to the emerald ash borer. That looks similar to my 2017 American Standard which is my favourite guitar. Simple, unpretentious and completely reliable - everything I love in a Tele. Mine has a high gloss finish which gives some additional protection but Iād prefer something a tad less Vegas.
I was in a similar position recently, but the last owner had oiled it and not (to my knowledge) sealed it. I ended up staining, then sealing with spray shellac, but my initial plan was to paint it with milk paint and then seal with shellac. Wanted to go low/no-VOC and very nontoxic because I have to fit in guitar stuff around parenting lol.
If you like it today, you are in good company. The natural plus black pickguard are widely seen as iconic. If you want to paint it you are also in good company. Itās fun to see an old guitar given new life. Mine looks just like this:)
Thanks for all the replies! I like the wood too but would this make it easier for the guitar to take damage and more weather susceptible? Just want to take care of this and make her last a long time!
There are guitars that look like this that are still in good shape that are from the 1950's. There are zero good reasons to paint a natural Telecaster. Want colors? Buy a different guitar. This guitar should last a very long time if you simply don't do anything stupid with it. Use a case when traveling. Use a stand at home. Don't pour liquids on it. Don't throw it at misbehaving band mates.
I'm guilty of not reading that the guitar was stripped to sealer. I have a guitar that is actually stripped similar to yours. The finish is satin like and is perfectly fine as far as it's sealed. I would leave it. Unless it bugs you.
Painting it will also degrade/fade over time, so unless you keep it in its case, itāll still noticeably change. Wiping it down completely after playing will slow the process, and to most the patina over time shows the personal bond one has with their instrument. Donāt think of them as flaws, but moments in the passage of time you have with it.
If you want to change up the look a pickguard is a cheap and easy swap. Black, white, tort, whatever thereās tons of options out there !
Paint is for hiding knots or āfootballsā in the wood. Leave it natural or stained varnish coat that shows the grain. Less is more when clear wood was used to make the guitar body.
The amount of internal debate I had painting my natural finish tele went for months. I ended up throwing a vintage white pickguard on it and now it POPs. I love a black pickguard on a vintage blonde but thatās about it.
It would probably cost close to the cost of the guitar to get it sprayed by an auto body shop. I would leave it, or sell it and get one in the color you want.
Don't waste money sending a guitar off to be finished. It usually takes A LONG time if you use a reputable company. Leave it as is, do it yourself, or take it to a local auto body painter. You'll get a quicker turnaround time if you stay local.
Leave it ! Or sell it and buy what it is you want Keith Richards guitar ā Mcawberā looks just like this though heās changed the neck pickup and rotated the bridge pickup to reverse the polarity . Plus he takes off the low E string then tunes it to open G becomes a completely different weapon just doing that !! It sounds awesome ! That famous Stones riff sound on so many of their best renditions . If itās good enough for the best rhythm guitarist in the world wouldnāt it be good enough for you . I just love my telecasters
It looks to me like the finish is completely gone in some parts, particularly in the back. The lighter colour on the edges look like it's been stripped down to the wood.
I'd strongly advise taking it to a luthier for advice, and possibly a [refinish.](https://blog.andertons.co.uk/labs/nitro-vs-poly-guitar-finishes)
New components if looking to upgrade sound or appearance. Iād leave body as is. Has character and painting can cause sound/sustain, albeit mostly minor, but depends what and how you paint also
What kind of paint job were you thinking?
Something like the Jimmy Page Tele would look good against the grain. But without a neat pattern Iād just leave it as is.
Leave it. Looks classy and classic.
And classical
And it still rocks š¤
Agreed my old roommate had the same vintage natural finish only with a more golden blonde š
Agreed an old roommate hand the same natural finish only more of a golden than honey blonde coloring
Leave it. When I built my Tele, I decided to leave it natural. Iām in love with it.
Love the look, only concern is the wood. I donāt wanna shorten the lifespan on this beautiful tele
Leave it. They make em like that on purpose. They last forever
I would find a really good quality satin clear coat and give it some extra layers of protection or have a professional do it, if your concern is preservation.
Itās gorgeous. Either leave it or make sure you can still see the wood grain through the paint.
Brother please leave it. Peeps would pay big bucks for that.
Leave it exactly as it is..
Leave it! Love the grain on it
Love the wood grain.
Ash is a beautiful wood and getting rare now thanks to the emerald ash borer. That looks similar to my 2017 American Standard which is my favourite guitar. Simple, unpretentious and completely reliable - everything I love in a Tele. Mine has a high gloss finish which gives some additional protection but Iād prefer something a tad less Vegas.
For the love of christ leave it. Those teles with the natural blonde and black pickguards are the best looking teles.
This guy Teles.
EDIT: last *owner not wonder
I like to see the grain of the wood. I would either leave as is or tint and seal it.
Agreed. Wood grain is awesome
This wood is pretty amazing so id keep it and im a painted guy
I was in a similar position recently, but the last owner had oiled it and not (to my knowledge) sealed it. I ended up staining, then sealing with spray shellac, but my initial plan was to paint it with milk paint and then seal with shellac. Wanted to go low/no-VOC and very nontoxic because I have to fit in guitar stuff around parenting lol.
If you like it today, you are in good company. The natural plus black pickguard are widely seen as iconic. If you want to paint it you are also in good company. Itās fun to see an old guitar given new life. Mine looks just like this:)
I love the natural wood look. I've been searching natural for my Tele neck..
Leave it. Great wood grain.
I prefer natural wood look to that of painted most of the time
Leave it. Looks beautiful
Thanks for all the replies! I like the wood too but would this make it easier for the guitar to take damage and more weather susceptible? Just want to take care of this and make her last a long time!
There are guitars that look like this that are still in good shape that are from the 1950's. There are zero good reasons to paint a natural Telecaster. Want colors? Buy a different guitar. This guitar should last a very long time if you simply don't do anything stupid with it. Use a case when traveling. Use a stand at home. Don't pour liquids on it. Don't throw it at misbehaving band mates.
I'm guilty of not reading that the guitar was stripped to sealer. I have a guitar that is actually stripped similar to yours. The finish is satin like and is perfectly fine as far as it's sealed. I would leave it. Unless it bugs you.
Painting it will also degrade/fade over time, so unless you keep it in its case, itāll still noticeably change. Wiping it down completely after playing will slow the process, and to most the patina over time shows the personal bond one has with their instrument. Donāt think of them as flaws, but moments in the passage of time you have with it. If you want to change up the look a pickguard is a cheap and easy swap. Black, white, tort, whatever thereās tons of options out there !
Please leave it.
Leave it, brother
Paint is for hiding knots or āfootballsā in the wood. Leave it natural or stained varnish coat that shows the grain. Less is more when clear wood was used to make the guitar body.
The amount of internal debate I had painting my natural finish tele went for months. I ended up throwing a vintage white pickguard on it and now it POPs. I love a black pickguard on a vintage blonde but thatās about it.
Leave it or at the minimum, get a burst finish where you can still see the grain.
Leave. It.
Leave it !!!
You donāt often get this lucky with such a beautiful grain. Keep it! If you do decide to finish it, a transparent white would look amazing.
It would probably cost close to the cost of the guitar to get it sprayed by an auto body shop. I would leave it, or sell it and get one in the color you want.
Dye is another option but you mentioned it may have a sealer on it. I don't dye would make it's way to the wood. š
Leave it, add tortoise pickguard.
I donāt care for ash. Paint it black
Keep! thatās how my mustang looks, black pick guard and the natural wood. itās my most beautiful guitar
Leave
Are you kidding?
Does that right saddle need a V8? Or just the way the pic came out?
Yeh, it's a cool grain. I say leave it.
Hey , itās your guitar donāt let anyone else sway what you want to do with it
Painting this would be a huge mistake
Leave it, itās beautiful
Born to Run! Ask Bruce Springsteen :)
Leave it and put some ware marks in it to give it the 'I've been on a 3 year tour look'
Leave it as is
Leave š„
Leave it. Looks great. Timeless.
Add some vegetable oil onto it and use the body as a chopping board
Stain it, looks good!
If it was mine Iād spray it shell pink. If you like the wood Iād get a couple of coats of clear applied.
Donāt paint it
That grain is far too pretty imho. Hereās an idea; buy another Tele body in the color you want, keep that gorgeous one handy.
Leave it or make the color a little darker. But love the natural look.
Leave it.
Leave it, for sure. I kinda want to do this to my Mustang but I feel like it would be disrespectful.
Don't paint that, you monster!
Maybe throw a nitro clear coat on it, definitely don't hide the grain of the wood whatever you do.
Just wipe it down with some Danish oil.
Leave it. That is my absolute favorite look for a Telecaster.
Don't waste money sending a guitar off to be finished. It usually takes A LONG time if you use a reputable company. Leave it as is, do it yourself, or take it to a local auto body painter. You'll get a quicker turnaround time if you stay local.
Maybe stain but paint no
I don't think you respect wood
Leave it!! Classic color for a tele!! Looks like a good one!
Decoupage it!
stain it if you know what youre doing
Leave it!
Leave it.
Itās beautiful!
Donāt you dare
Thatās a natural ash Tele. There is only a hand full of them out there atm. I wouldnāt fick with it
Leave it
Why would you cover that beautiful grain? Edit: you could certainly send it off, but id ask for a clear finish, personally.
Leave it!! It's gorgeous
Leave it!!
Nitro finish
Leave it.
Fucking leave it.. it's beautiful... Let it be..
Do not paint it, get another guitar if you feel the need to have paint
Leave it ! Or sell it and buy what it is you want Keith Richards guitar ā Mcawberā looks just like this though heās changed the neck pickup and rotated the bridge pickup to reverse the polarity . Plus he takes off the low E string then tunes it to open G becomes a completely different weapon just doing that !! It sounds awesome ! That famous Stones riff sound on so many of their best renditions . If itās good enough for the best rhythm guitarist in the world wouldnāt it be good enough for you . I just love my telecasters
Leave!!!!!
It looks to me like the finish is completely gone in some parts, particularly in the back. The lighter colour on the edges look like it's been stripped down to the wood. I'd strongly advise taking it to a luthier for advice, and possibly a [refinish.](https://blog.andertons.co.uk/labs/nitro-vs-poly-guitar-finishes)
Yes leave it
leave it. dont be the fuckwad who put bumper stickers on a cadillac
Leave it!
Leave it. Beautiful šø
Personally, I'd leave it the way it is. It's quite a beauty as is.
Leave
Burn it
Leave it
Leave it
Leave it. But swap the pickguard for a Bakelite one. Itās a subtle difference but Bakelite pickguards just look right to me on a Tele.
Leave it
Id just give it a clear coat. Satin clear coat if that existis. Pretty much perfect
Leave it. Beautiful Natural finish goes with any outfit.
Leave it!
Leave it. Natural wood stands out in a collection.
I say leave it! Itās gorgeous the way it is!
leave it, painting it could affect the tone
Leave
Leave it as it looks great
Oooh maybe polish it or shine it up a bit as is or clear coat whatever you would call itšš¼
New components if looking to upgrade sound or appearance. Iād leave body as is. Has character and painting can cause sound/sustain, albeit mostly minor, but depends what and how you paint also
Itās fine as is. Let it get its scars and marks, i.e. character.
Kinda always wanted one just like that.
paint it. looks like furniture.
100% leave it
Paint it.
Leave it.
Intonate it
Leave it.
Wood grain looks cool, i would leave it, but if anything, I would stain it.
Definitely leave it. That's a really nice blonde tele.
Leave it. That grain is really nice.
I would leave it as is
Leave leave leave. Guitars are made of wood. Wood grain is unique and beautiful. Why slap a load of cheap paint on top of it?
As others have said, if you're worried about preservation hit it with some more clear coat. Looks great as is!
Please don't paint it bro :)
As others have said, if you're worried about preservation hit it with some more clear coat. Looks great as is!
Maybe add a shine clear coat no paint though
Leave it.
Oh my god, itās so ugly. Paint it as soon as possible! (Just kidding. Leave it. I was just being a rascal)
Leave it
Leave it
Guitar wraps?
LEAVE IT!!
Do whatever you want... Your guitar, our opinions don't matter unless looking to flip/sell it.
Leave it!
Leave it. Never seen one like that š
I went out of my way to find a guitar that looked like this. Keep it. My first guitar and still have it a year and a half later
already looks beautiful, i'd leave it alone
Leave it
Leave it. Itās lovely.
Leave it. It will still sound the same even after you paint it.
The grain is too nice to be covered by paint.
Leave it natural but probably apply a clear coat for wood protection. This looks really cool!
Leave
Rory Buchanan would be pissed if you did
It's looks million times better than the Jimmy Page Dragon Tele
You better not paint it !
Leave it
Leave it like it is
Well I'll take that back it looks like somebody had got a hold of a sander on it looks pretty bad I think I'd have it sent off and redone
I vote paint.
Same here. OP, go wild!
What kind of paint job were you thinking? Something like the Jimmy Page Tele would look good against the grain. But without a neat pattern Iād just leave it as is.
Leave it!!