How do I make my Les Paul white again?

[Phil G]

About 5 years ago I bought a Les Paul. It was a lovely pure white colour. After a while when it started to look not so pure anymore I started thinking to myself "why didn't I buy a black one?". Anyway, now it's gone from a not so pure looking white to an almost yellowy colour in some places. Has anyone got any ideas how I can get my guitar back to the lovely white that it once was, preferably a method with a low chance of cocking it up and ruining the guitar?

[pchorman]

Phil: is it yellowing from age right through the nitro-cellulose finish, or from sweat (more superficially) underneath the area where your playing arm rests on it? There may be hope if it's the latter: a product called Novus 2.

Phil

[foo]

The yellowing of which you speak is highly prized - like the mellowing of a fine red wine or the patina of a fine piece of Regency period furniture, it imparts a look of distinction to a well-played instrument.

Enjoy!

foo

[pchorman]

chee-sey

[Phil G]

Actually, it just makes it look dirty and horrible. I'd much rather have it back to pure white.

[gnarled]

Obviously, this is a prime example of the problems our country faces with race mixing. Stop playing any Hendrix or James Brown with it immediately and contact your a local Aryan Nation or KKK group! They can probably help show it the way back.....

JK

[Treeline]

Or, you could send it to me. I'll be happy to keep it out of sight while you get a brand new one...

I agree with Foo. This isn't a defect; it's the nature of nitrocellulose finish. Your axe is going vintage on you...

[Phil G]

I'd call the colour changing from white to yellowy in just 5 years a defect. God I wish I'd got a black one. I mean white just doesn't go with metal anyway. Maybe I should part x it for a Les Paul custom in black. Now they look cool.

[foo]

How does this guitar sound?

How does it play?

Oh! ... Wait a second ...

It's how it looks that counts!

Well, duh!



foo

[Wallycleaver]

tone and playabilty is only half of the guitar, the other is how cool I look with it straped on looking in the mirror doing my rockstar looks!

[pchorman]

I agree. The look is at least 50% of the appeal. For he who says it matters not, take a key and scape it hard and repeatedly across the front of your guitar's body.

I dare ya.

(no, don't do this, the thought alone hurts me and I don't even own your guitar)