PaulKing

Heh, almost certainly not. It was a labour of love, over a couple of weeks. Can’t afford to take that time off work!! Would love to though, if I could afford the time. I can see why luthiers charge a couple of grand to do one... probly

Oh go on then, just one more wafer thin picture ...

It’s silent ... gotta leave the lacquer to harden a few weeks before tuning up. No tension on those strings yet. im sure it'll sound exactly the same as before!

Comparing the ‘37 factory version with my diy: 1937 2020: 1937: 2920:

Ta, and as it were, da: Looks even better with some sunshine on. I’m pleased with the result. Followed the pattern of Keeponehandloose’s ex-bass from same year, roughly:

Happy New Year

Ha, I’m risking living on my own! actually it’s not bad ... I just disappear for 5mins now and then. Tiny spray, shut the door ... leave for an hour. It’s fitted really easy around slobby family Christmas.!

Ready for top coat clear lacquer

And then

Latest ... bursting the back in stages ... masks prevent excessive overspray into natural areas, but gotta avoid hard lines! (Note curled edges..). Cheating really but it works. And suddenly there’s flaming...

Happy Christmas matey! yeah I could see the flame lurking under the cack-brown painted-on varnish. I wanted to let it sing! the back is the same ....

Before / after:

Oh and Maude - thanks for top advice! yeh, Steve at Manchester Guitar Tech had good instructions about cold wet weather blooms... and you know in the end I’ve risked doing it indoors. I get a good seal on the door in the room (bed sheet wrapped around it and a blanket across the bottom), windows wide open, I have a proper vapour mask which is 100% effective... and all the junk in the room (including vintage basses 😱), well it’s only dust. They are getting a little dusting but it is dry and brushes off. My wife ain’t that happy but she’s putting up with me... so long as I don’t spray in the evening. There is a bit of a whiff for 20mins after I’ve opened the door, but it’s very slight.

A Christmassy update. Learned a lot along the way, and I’m happier with this side than the other... but I’m pretty chuffed with this so far:

I'm gonna have to put the tent up in the garden and lacquer it out there. Or we're all going to hospital. Already wearing storm-trooper gas mask while spraying... It's going to take a LOT of lacquer. 2-3 cans for a telecaster? Go figure....

Time to get serious. First squirt of paint.

Look what Bob's Decals made me:

Ha, I shoulda painted at least but sadly that’s beyond me. but if drawn on purfling was good enough in Cleveland factory, it’s good enough for me!! ooh show us the rest of yours...

in for a penny....

Ha yeah I drew the outline ... it was quite exciting!

Rough / quick practice... Wickes ply is a bit more rosy coloured.

So err, quite familiar with ‘that’ bass are ye?! ;o)

Yeh I noticed ...! the 60s King I tried out a while ago (beautiful... see relevant thread .... still for sale) was very gloss. Kings were finished in nitro though. I’ve done a test in gloss and satin to see which I prefer. I’d prefer it to look worn rather than factory fresh, so think I’ll prefer the slightly knocked back sheen of satin finish. Using my Kay as a guide. The Sunburst pattern on early Kings (and Kay’s for that matter) was pretty crude ... I think even I can match that. Now, purfling ... that’s gonna be a different kind of challenge!

Checking nitro colour... nice. drawn on purfling, now that could be a challenge too far. At least it doesn’t bleed under the nitro... big shout to Steve at Manchester Guitar Tech