Good mod or terrible idea?

[TimelordPupil]

I love the way natural finishes look on guitars with through necks. I would like to make my RGT42DXWH look like that. Can I strip the paint and have a nice guitar, or is the paint covering a gross cosmetic defect?

[EL-CeeDee]

Not gross, but, yes it is.

The maple top will look fine without finish if you're into that thing. The basswood however is a very dull looking wood. My advice would be to leave the finish on.

[Stygian]

Those are neck-thru mahogany guitars, not basswood. Sometimes they use a maple top under a solid finish, but they're easy to accidentally sand through, and I'm kind of doubtful they use them on the RGT42DX.

It's probably not a very helpful answer, but as to what it looks like, who knows really. If you can find out where the wood from those guitars is put together and get an idea of the overall quality it may help. I read somewhere the wood may actually be glued together/assembled in Japan, but the finish and hardware are put on in Korea. Wood will naturally always look uniquely different, that's for sure. But knowing more about the quality of it will help and checking out similar models to see if they come in a natural wood finish to get an idea.

[guitvai1]

I wouldn't do it. Sanding it will be way more trouble than it's worth. Better to leave the finish on it,sell it and use the money to put towards the guitar you really want.

[buddroyce]

You can strip it. I've done it before on painted neck through guitars. It works best if it's a maple neck.