Use A Black light To Help Spot Refinished Guitars
April, 2001 Issue
By Larry Meiners
A black light really works well for showing off that great Jimi Hendrix black light poster in your jam room. It can also be used to help identify a refinished (aka 'refin') guitar. Antique furniture dealers have used this tool to help look for repairs and alterations made to expensive pieces they were considering for purchase.
Using a black light on a guitar is not an exact science. It's more like an acquired art. It can help someone if they know what they are looking for and can collaborate the information with knowledge of the production aspects of the instrument. It can also provide false interpretations to the less experienced black lighters.
The picture designated "Flying V Back", shows the back of an original 1967 mahogany Flying V guitar with an original finish. The picture named "Black light On Back" shows the blue color produced on the back and sides of the guitar with an original finish under the black light. Next, the picture labeled "Flying V Top" shows the same Flying V with a refinished sunburst top only. You may notice the sides of the guitar exhibiting many scratches and the top being fairly scratch-free. Finally, the picture named "Black light On Top" clearly shows the original finished sides of the Flying V as blue with the top being very dark, almost black. If the top were the original finish, it would appear blue under the black light on this guitar.
When using a black light, the room should be dark for best results. The black light will make various guitars appear differently due to different finishes. The only way to become proficient using a black light is to have known refinished guitars (partial or full) and known original guitars to experience the difference. Also, a great and old refinish job may appear as an original finish under the black light. Guitars that have been over-sprayed (only) also look different than a fully refinished instrument. The black light is a useful tool to add to your bag when looking at instruments, but you must exercise judgment. An experienced eye for finishes is better than 100 black lights.
In a future issue of Guitar Collector Magazine we will discuss how vintage parts can be spotted using a black light. Stay tuned!
Flying V Back
Black Light on Back
Flying V Top
Black Light on Top