Peavey Predator Restoration

shawj25 · 08-01-2008, 11:06 PM

This is what I started with; a $50-$100 Peavey Predator.

My friend and I decided to give the guy a little makeover. The plan was to sand off the black paint and create a natural finish. I'm also going to put new Fender pick ups in an replace the tremelo and tuners.

The guitar taken apart:

shawj25 · 08-01-2008, 11:06 PM

The starting of the sanding:

shawj25 · 08-01-2008, 11:07 PM

The sides of the guitar are a nice dark brown, while the top and bottom are a lighter brown. Creates a nice effect:

(The guitar was dampened with a tad bit of water to show the effect that a stain would have on the would)

Completely sanded:

I still need to sand it down to get the guitar perfectly smooth. Once sanded, the guitar will be stained to bring out the color and coated with a protectant.

More updates to come!

shawj25 · 08-02-2008, 08:24 PM

I want your guys' opinions on some things before I go farther.

I want to buy a new neck for the guitar. I was thinking of getting one that has a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. Do you think this would look good? I feel that the pure maple fretboard makes the guitar look like everything blends in too much.

Also, what color pick guard should I do? White doesn't look too bad, but I've also been thinking about trying to find a wooden one somewhere.

lemoley · 08-04-2008, 02:37 PM

for the pickguard go for a tortoise shell colour

also, how much are you planning to spend on this guitar?

shawj25 · 08-05-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemoley

for the pickguard go for a tortoise shell colour

also, how much are you planning to spend on this guitar?

Well, for stain, new pickups, and a new neck, I reckon it'll cost me just shy or around $500. I might spend a bit more though on other parts, like a new pickguard, new tuners, etc.

lemoley · 08-05-2008, 02:35 PM

for $500 you could get a pretty killer axe

hhf · 01-14-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawj25

I want your guys' opinions on some things before I go farther.

I want to buy a new neck for the guitar. I was thinking of getting one that has a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. Do you think this would look good? I feel that the pure maple fretboard makes the guitar look like everything blends in too much.

Also, what color pick guard should I do? White doesn't look too bad, but I've also been thinking about trying to find a wooden one somewhere.

I own 3 of these Peavey Predator USA's, really nice guitars!! In my opinion, the necks on these are the BEST reason to own one. I stripped down one of my Predators. I picked up off of craigslist with about 4 layers of spray bomb paint jobs over the factory sealer/polyester/primer coat! Needless to say, I had to do ALOT of stripping! I finally got down to what appeared to be a poplar body, 4 piece?, with a mahagany? veneer top and maple? back.
I wanted to finish the guitar in a natural stain. Then I came across that mahagony? veneer on the front, which didn't match the wood of the contoured body. So, I decided to sand the mahogany top veneer off and stain the poplar body underneath. I finished the whole guitar over the stain and ntural maple neck with tru-oil, multiple coats. One thing I have to say, I don't know if it's because the finish was removed or the mahogany veneer but this guitar resonates for days as compared to my other 2 Predators!
I see this thread is a few months old but hopefully you didn't ditch the neck, if you didn't, and still own it, let me know how much you would want for it?

shawj25 · 04-07-2009, 05:57 PM

Thanks for the comment hhf. I did not ditch the neck. I think I will be using it for the final product but will let you know if I give it up. I haven't been able to work on this during the school year, but summer is a few weeks away and I will finish her up then. Here is a shot I took with it "put together," although it's not really put together because all of the screws are missing.

I still have to stain it and do some finishing sanding, as well as buy new pickups:

jcober · 04-16-2009, 11:05 PM

looks really good.

peaveyrules · 04-24-2009, 07:35 PM

I like. Those Predators were cheap but ace guitars.

Mr. Pickle · 04-26-2009, 02:04 PM

Says Peaveyrules

peaveyrules · 05-17-2009, 03:35 PM

Damn straight

TheDanSandwich · 10-01-2009, 08:26 AM

Looks good. I've been thinking about doing the same to my Strat. For a pickguard, I think a pearloid white looks really sharp against the natural finish. Either that or a black one.

TheDanSandwich · 10-01-2009, 08:27 AM

As far as Peavey's go, my friend has a seven string with a HH set up and he loves it.

Peg Dizzler · 10-22-2009, 09:07 PM

Wow, a Predator...! One of these was my earliest project as well. Looking back, I'd say it's not worth dumping alot of money into. I, too, wanted to replace all the neck and hardware. Keep the original neck and hardware, refinish it and replace the pickguard, pickups, and electronics... it'll still be better than expected and won't cost an arm and a leg! Save the rest of the cash for a nicer project.

strumandbang · 11-12-2009, 12:58 PM

Hi. I just bought an identical Predator to do my first refinish project and I found this thread. I have a question. If the lighter colored wood is a veneer, why does the grain seem to exactly match the darker wood? Or maybe it's just close and isn't a match. Sorry if this is a stupid question.
The more I look at it, I guess I'm just wrong. But anyway I intend to follow this thread and do my own Predator project in the next few months.

08-01-2008, 11:06 PM	#1
shawj25 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Omaha Posts: 342	Peavey Predator Restoration This is what I started with; a $50-$100 Peavey Predator. My friend and I decided to give the guy a little makeover. The plan was to sand off the black paint and create a natural finish. I'm also going to put new Fender pick ups in an replace the tremelo and tuners. The guitar taken apart:

11-12-2009, 12:58 PM	#17
strumandbang Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1	Hi. I just bought an identical Predator to do my first refinish project and I found this thread. I have a question. If the lighter colored wood is a veneer, why does the grain seem to exactly match the darker wood? Or maybe it's just close and isn't a match. Sorry if this is a stupid question. The more I look at it, I guess I'm just wrong. But anyway I intend to follow this thread and do my own Predator project in the next few months. Last edited by strumandbang; 11-12-2009 at 01:02 PM.

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08-01-2008, 11:07 PM	#3
shawj25 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Omaha Posts: 342	The sides of the guitar are a nice dark brown, while the top and bottom are a lighter brown. Creates a nice effect: (The guitar was dampened with a tad bit of water to show the effect that a stain would have on the would) Completely sanded: I still need to sand it down to get the guitar perfectly smooth. Once sanded, the guitar will be stained to bring out the color and coated with a protectant. More updates to come!

08-02-2008, 08:24 PM	#4
shawj25 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Omaha Posts: 342	I want your guys' opinions on some things before I go farther. I want to buy a new neck for the guitar. I was thinking of getting one that has a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. Do you think this would look good? I feel that the pure maple fretboard makes the guitar look like everything blends in too much. Also, what color pick guard should I do? White doesn't look too bad, but I've also been thinking about trying to find a wooden one somewhere.

08-04-2008, 02:37 PM	#5
lemoley Rock 'n' Roll Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 11,541	for the pickguard go for a tortoise shell colour also, how much are you planning to spend on this guitar?

08-05-2008, 02:35 PM	#7
lemoley Rock 'n' Roll Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 11,541	for $500 you could get a pretty killer axe

04-07-2009, 05:57 PM	#9
shawj25 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Omaha Posts: 342	Thanks for the comment hhf. I did not ditch the neck. I think I will be using it for the final product but will let you know if I give it up. I haven't been able to work on this during the school year, but summer is a few weeks away and I will finish her up then. Here is a shot I took with it "put together," although it's not really put together because all of the screws are missing. I still have to stain it and do some finishing sanding, as well as buy new pickups:

04-16-2009, 11:05 PM	#10
jcober Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kitchener On. Canada Posts: 363	looks really good.

04-24-2009, 07:35 PM	#11
peaveyrules tacos Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 973	I like. Those Predators were cheap but ace guitars.

04-26-2009, 02:04 PM	#12
Mr. Pickle Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 9,049	Says Peaveyrules

05-17-2009, 03:35 PM	#13
peaveyrules tacos Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 973	Damn straight

10-01-2009, 08:26 AM	#14
TheDanSandwich Common Reactor Join Date: May 2009 Location: On the run Posts: 48	Looks good. I've been thinking about doing the same to my Strat. For a pickguard, I think a pearloid white looks really sharp against the natural finish. Either that or a black one.

10-01-2009, 08:27 AM	#15
TheDanSandwich Common Reactor Join Date: May 2009 Location: On the run Posts: 48	As far as Peavey's go, my friend has a seven string with a HH set up and he loves it.

10-22-2009, 09:07 PM	#16
Peg Dizzler look I'm a TBF wannabe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still in the luthier's workshop... Posts: 5,065	Wow, a Predator...! One of these was my earliest project as well. Looking back, I'd say it's not worth dumping alot of money into. I, too, wanted to replace all the neck and hardware. Keep the original neck and hardware, refinish it and replace the pickguard, pickups, and electronics... it'll still be better than expected and won't cost an arm and a leg! Save the rest of the cash for a nicer project.