I'm Gona fix it, if it's the last thing I do!

Hi guys! New member here thought I would share my story, So when I was 14 I purchased a thunder 1a from a used furniture/nicknack shop. I eventually wrangled the Guy down to 20 quid. It had no strings and the Batteries had been left in and had corroded. Little help from my dad ( bit of an electrical bod) we managed to bring it to life... Awesome first real guitar! From then I gigged in garage bands and bedrooms but as I got older and working and gigging full time I managed to buy new stuff, and as things do it got mothballed and left. Being young it now had stickers and scratches. I could never bring myself to part with it and had a run out at parties now and again but I kept it mothballed. Now later in life I've opened a music shop doing repairs, buying and selling guitars etc.I came across a pristine condition thunder 1A at a show in Aintree. Wow.... Have one of them.... so in the gaps between jobs and sales I'm starting to get the guitar repaired slowly. it's sanded down to the wood the neck adjusted the frets polished and dressed. I'm onto the wiring now (as they say where the fun begins) all the switches need replacing. The pots are fine and the pickups are good. However the bridge is really dirty and tarnished. ( any tips for shining it welcomed) not sure if to replace or leave it old to add some age... While I'm repairing it it hangs in my shop behind the counter with me. Everyone that comes in always asks its story and is becoming a guitar that I can't wait to gig with again! Will post some pictures when I figure out how. Anyone have any advice/tips and tricks they have found on repairs please post and let me know

Cheers guys
Alan

hi scunnerlad and welcome to the forum ,  picked up a thunder 1a a wee while back (sold mines back in the 80's ) and it's bridge was also in need of a good clean , i started of by stripping the bridge and removing the grub screws from the saddles , the i started with 400 wet and dry to get the clear coat off , then 800 w/d and 1200 w/d then i finished of with some 2500 emery cloth then some autosol metal polish and it came up like this 
  
 hth , cheers
Alan

Awesome work sir!!! Looks like New will giv That a whirl. Can't seem to add photos with a smartphone will get some of mine up soon.

Just soak the bridge in thinners for a while, removes the lacquer without elbow grease.

hi , i never thought of that one westbone , i'll remember that wee trick , cheers
Alan