Help with removing layer from guitar body

I’m currently modifying a cheap Squier Bullet Strat.

The thing is that I’m in the process of removing the paint but it’s actually a little odd how many different layers it has.

The guitar has four different color layers. The top being white, the original color of the guitar. Under that was a black coat. Under that was another white coat. And under that was yet another black coat.

Anyway I sanded through the four layers thinking I hit the wood but it turns out that there is a layer of what looks like a wood filler. It’s very thick and hard and takes quite a lot of effort to remove.

I’m half tempted to just sand it down to this wood filler layer and paint it. But this layer is actually what is making the guitar sound awful. It’s a basswood guitar and I’m quite used to the sound of basswood.
But this guitar acoustically sounds thin, hollow and just harsh on the high end.

I managed to removed some of the wood filler layer and when tapping the exposed wood compared to the covered wood I can hear a huge difference in tonality. The exposed part sounds like basswood. The covered part sounds just like I previously described.

Anyone know an easy way of removing this wood filler layer. It’s going to take me a lifetime just to sand through it.

Here is a photo where you can see the exposed wood and the wood filler layer (along with the 4 paint coats)

 

Thanks for the inputs.

Yeah my first guess was that the filler was a way of cutting back on the amount of wood they use in the long run.
Unfortunately these strats have a thinner body than normal strats. So I’m still on the fence regarding striping it completely.
My guess is that I’d lose 1-2mm from removing the filler which would be fine for me. But I won’t be able to remove it from the pickup cavity so it will still have an impact on the tone.
Ugh maybe I should just leave it on.

 

Extremely cheap guitar. If they can save a few millimeters of wood on every entry level squier, then in the long run they will save money, keeping the price low on the guitar.
From what I can tell so far the body is composed of 3 or 4 different cuts of basswood glued together.

I don’t get the four layers of black, white, black, white paint. That just seems like a waste of money.

Yeah you are probably right.

 

I find it hard to believe too. It has to be something cheap that they are layering on these guitars.
I do know that it is extremely tough. As tough as a poly finish. If you can get a knife under it you can shatter it. But that damages the basswood underneath too much.
Odd stuff. Wasn’t expecting this when I started sanding.

 

Never actually painted a guitar before. Generally speaking, what is it like spray painting basswood as far as absorption is concerned? I thought it was meant to take paint pretty well?

 

Nearly done with completely removing the finish. It’s close to 3mm thick on the back of the guitar.

Because the body is thinner than normal strats the cavity routes for the pickups on the top and the tremolo spring system on the back, merged together making a hole through the body. They had crudely glued in some kind of wood to cover up the hole. I removed it because I’m sure it was also contributing to the bad acoustics. Once the pickup and back covers are on you won’t see anything.

Quick question. Do I need to apply a sanding sealer before spray painting?
I read before that basswood doesn’t need a sanding sealer but I don’t know how accurate that information is.