How to Refinish a Gibson Les Paul. Ugly Duckling to Mean Green Machine

This is a great refinish on a faded les paul guitar. They did a horrible yellow finish that needed more.
This isn't even a great cover shot
buy the stains here: angelusdirect.com/bigdguitars
purchase the guitar here: www.bigdguitars.com/products/...

[@bigdguitars]

you can purchase the dyes here: angelusdirect.com/?rfsn=566896.75dad582 purchase the guitar here: www.bigdguitars.com/products/y3rzcvuj3h2s61dvv7nyfl8kxkd16b

[@sharonlee4773]

How would you describe the neck size & profile please?

[@hkguitar1984]

5:09, you mention that the Kelly Green is picking up some of the black, have you ever tried mixing white glue into the black so that it becomes semi-color fast? Also, have you ever tested how the Angelus dyes fade when exposed to UV lighting? Great content Derek, thanks again.

[@wombat6]

After decades of Gibson putting garbage finishes (or even solid color) over nice tops, there's a whole market for you to tap into. Looks fantastic.

[@bigdguitars]

Yea I would do that for free for the most part.

[@spiderpignate1]

@@bigdguitars about to have you refinish my SG 😂

[@mariossavvas3108]

Stunning work as always. It's such a pleasure watching you make these guitars look so great. Greetings from Greece.

[@bigdguitars]

Thank you very much!

[@veldhuizenhenk]

Absolutely stunning!!!! What a beautiful green finish!!! Love it!!

[@bigdguitars]

thank you

[@TheRockinDonkey]

That looks amazing. It really started to show after you hit it with the steel wool, but man, after you applied that clear coat it just looks wonderful. Great work!

[@johnlloyd9613]

Great video. I’m going to start my first Les Paul refinish. That green looks beautiful!! Good job!

[@ak47dragunov]

Always a joy to watch a master of his craft at work

[@themaggot8]

If I had seen this a year ago I would've thought that it was sacrilege, but I sent my Gibson LP to refinish about 4 months ago and now I can see what a good luthier/painter/custom shop can do. That LP looks incredible.

[@danandratis]

Thanks for the video Derek - you can never go wrong with green - Cheers from Canada

[@JesseJuup]

What a transformation! Very successfull makeover! 10/10.

[@markkinney5030]

Man that guitar is sweet i love the color that you did it just pop's great job!

[@markbundy1694]

Beautiful Work!🔥

[@tfejulienewmar]

This is an exceptional job and the guitar looks great ❤

[@fanmike0615]

Wow.. just wow! Really fine work!

[@bigdguitars]

Thank you very much!

[@muurimc]

Never thought that a guitar could be refinished like this, and that it turns out that nice.

[@hobiecat901]

Absolutely much better looking. Does not even look like the same guitar. Now you have me wanting to change mine to a color instead of the drab finish I have.

[@johndavidtice]

Amazing work and A+ explanation.

[@bigkahuna100]

That thing turned out slick!!!!! I think it might inspire the next kit build I do.....

[@aussiezombie91]

Love the green and love the ormsby guitars shirt

[@p.shephard2081]

So nice, I'm doing a flying V and your techniques will help me .thanks

[@joshhuatheg3m3ni5]

I’ve always been a huge fan of green finishes in guitars. PRS was one of the first I saw that did the emerald green transparent finish and it looks so so beautiful. Such a stunning finish you got out of this guitar! Gorgeous work!

[@tonys.4657]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[@rcranky64]

Wow, that is gorgeous

[@billsguitargarage]

That is an entirely different guitar now! Amazing work!

[@neilmacmusic]

thanks Mr D for another inspiring video👍 Since watching your first videos i am now enjoying using Angelus dyes myself here in Australia having found a seller here in Melbourne All the best and thanks again !

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

Hi Neil, who sells the dyes in Melbourne mate?

[@GTruck0]

Looks amazing! Cool Ormsby shirt too

[@martinclayton7260]

That's a gorgeous colour.

[@davidrees1840]

Wow, really superb job!

[@pangyre]

You did an amazing job. I have ALWAYS hated that tear-drop burst.

[@bigdguitars]

haha

[@avielkharrat5788]

The HULK BUUUUURST !!!!! Beautiful job! Outstanding color. The front and the back fit so well together! Amazing

[@bigdguitars]

me smash

[@avielkharrat5788]

@@bigdguitars hahaha !!

[@kevinshackleford790]

Nice work, man.

[@genepoole1771]

Finisher here. You did a great job.

[@iaminbetweendays]

Awesome job!

[@thehandseesall]

Way better and not just in your opinion... nice work man, very nice

[@bridge500t]

That turned out great!

[@SapperRJMorgan]

Beautiful job.

[@RedRose4711]

That has now become one of my favourite colour. Looks absolutely fantastic.

[@kahlesjf]

Gorgeous!

[@SergiOrtiz]

I wasn’t trusting the process at times but the end result was superb!

[@ubertwerpify]

Well done!

[@RsSquier51]

That green looks great.

[@laurentiustratan7488]

Damn, your work is beyond custom shop level. Congratulations, I envy the future owner of this beauty.

[@bigdguitars]

thanks!

[@GrouchoTM]

Finisher of 30 years here! Looks really good. Getting into guitar building myself and gonna check out those stains.

[@bigdguitars]

yea I love them. I have like 30 vids on them

[@Justafeller]

So nice!

[@DaveLovallo]

love you man!! you taught me so much, i am so so grateful!! \this is my next project, green LP.

[@bigdguitars]

Rock on!

[@markbundy1694]

Best on the Net!!!👍🤘🏼👏 This Green color is Hot AF🔥

[@ericctheartofnoise8613]

FANTASTC!!!!!! One thing I would have done is lighten up the green a little to gat the flaming to come out more and to even out the top and back. Even still, it came out nice.

[@SantaAgain77]

So, sooooo nice !

[@rdykes828]

Stunning !

[@yojimbodahut2748]

Absolutely killer! Bows down before you!

[@jpoggi9081]

Made it look easy!

[@TomsGreenMind]

I love that aesthetic. I'm a big green guitar fan when it's the "right" green and you really knocked it out of the park with that.

[@MrGeroth]

You are a pro. Thanks for sharing.

[@GlenDeanII]

Stellar work, as always, Derek. I wish I had the extra funds... I'd take it off your hands.

[@j-dro6783]

Love me some green great job ✌🏼

[@mackdaddprod]

Beautiful!

[@bigdguitars]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ThomasMuseGuitars]

Looks great!

[@BBGuitars]

Looks unreal, Ive got the itch for staining now, looking at my first two builds that were just cleared and planning on stripping back to stain them

[@sebastianpereira1517]

Looks great 👍

[@alwayslearning8365]

Much improved. TY

[@ilovejapanesemusic3858]

Initially, at the beginning, I got to say a much preferred the kelly green. It looks better on TV, but I haven't gotten to the finish line yet. I'm only at 9:40 in the video. I do love what the steel wool did for it that's exceptional, The final product that does look exceptional I would love a guitar that looks like that!!!🤩

[@sharonlee4773]

OMG-That is THE best looking Lester Ive ever seen!!!🤩🥰😍

[@MangledGuitars]

Doing mine now thank you!

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I want a green Les Paul one of these days. Sweet.

[@MrBobwood22]

I f’n love that green. I need a green guitar! Nice job Derek!

[@ccchicken8889]

100% improvement!!

[@GoldenNuggetRec]

Tobacco burst is my favorite les laul finish but the green did turn out nice

[@papablue3015]

very nice!! thanks!

[@shanedingz]

Looks awesome! Reminds me of the Slash anaconda burst guitars

[@bigdguitars]

yea that was a little inspiration

[@210078]

Awesome!!

[@zepptar]

I love the green, but I love the original too.

[@scarmyguitar]

For such poor figuring to start with, you sure did make it pop!

[@Rick_Cleland]

Good stuff! 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@blagheur]

Very cool!

[@bigdguitars]

thank!!!

[@joshgreene4502]

This turned out a million times better than the stock color!

[@bigdguitars]

thanks

[@Asuraai]

Looks great, gives me ESP vibes

[@robertr4193]

Looks a lot more interesting than it did with the original finish. Pretty green nice but not great figure. Definitely an improvement.

[@aharkness5657]

I don't really like the light back with a dark top, but that is a fantastic colour and pattern on the top. Great work!

[@bigdguitars]

ahh gotcha

[@matthewstollar2678]

VERY NICE

[@davet.3587]

Very nice 👍

[@MarkRawling]

Beautiful. Do you redo the headstock silk screen on these too? Would love to see a video on that.

[@michaelmueller4946]

Looks good❤️✝️

[@Mr.Cynical92]

Is that a Classic Player Plus Les Paul? I have the same guitar and the tobacco sunburst and black p90s are what sold me on it. It reminded me of the Slash Brazilian Dream Les Paul but with different pickups. I didn't like the satin finish, so I buffed it into a gloss. I love the job you did here.

[@saarbrandvin7749]

Amazing

[@bigdguitars]

Thanks

[@hadleymanmusic]

You made it look like a firefly

[@DJBuglip]

Man, that's outstanding, D. I'll check the site and calculate what I'd have to sell, lol.

[@bigdguitars]

haha. I will take reasonable offers.

[@PaulHikes2]

This video caught my eye because I think I own the same guitar model/color. It looks like a 2018 Classic Player Plus. The color is Satin Vintage Sunburst. Personally, I love the original, but of course I'm biased. And the guitar just ROARS. Fantastic job on the refinish, though.

[@bigdguitars]

thanks

[@kjell3inge]

Hot damn. 😮That really was an ugly duckling becoming a swan😍👍👍

[@darrellhazelwood1165]

Hi Derek. The refinishing looks great. After your 8 coats of clear coat, did you wet sand and buff with you buffing wheels?

[@Johnny.D]

that looks much better then the original finish.

[@guitarsehole]

Wow! An amazing transformation! I think all of those tobacco sunburst LPs need to be refinished like this! They look awful in my opinion. And the world definitely needs more green guitars!!

[@mikes2270]

That looks awesome. I’d love to have you refinish the baby shit yellow top on my 2011 Gibson Les Paul 60s tribute. It’s one of my favorite Les Pauls to play, but gosh is it ugly.

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

I kicked Gibson to the Curb back in 2019 for Epiphone and very glad I did I have never looked back..

[@bigdguitars]

smart man

[@mattliebenau9083]

Looking good Derek. The only thing better than a nice P90 Les Paul is a green one.

[@bigdguitars]

buy it...

[@stavroblowfeld]

@@bigdguitars How much does it weigh ? Thanks.

[@tobystrickland5986]

To bad I can't afford it but that really is a nice looking Gibson!

[@maxwellblakely7952]

I have a Heritage H-150 that I’m going to remove the TERRIBLE neck finish on. Would you recommend stripper or a cabinet scraper to get the lacquer off of it?

[@twinsmm1]

What's the condition of the back, sides on this guitar? I heard you mention a headstock repair. It'd be nice on your website if you added a few back shots.

[@miltonfriedman9673]

Are the simpson strong tie plates to add more bass response to the pickups? or did I miss you explaining them?

[@SteveResor]

Oh Man that is Way Better and Cooler than what Gibson did 💚🎸🤟😃🤘

[@bigdguitars]

thanks buddy

[@marktheregulardude8651]

After spraying the spray satin finish, do you go back and sand it with really fine sand paper? (Or wet sanding?)