FuNkShUi

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1481705634' post='3194357'] Sounds like a very measured iterative approach. Such an approach is very likely to produce the result you are after [/quote] Haha it's called the "hit and miss" method Starting to get close to something good though, IMO anyway. Although with the way it's looking i may need black hardware to match the pickguard

Well I’ve definitely worked out the best way for me to go about the application of the metal flake. After initially putting it on top of a layer of Primer, I was happy, but perhaps a little underwhelmed by the depth of the “sparklyness”. I wanted a thicker covering. So I continued to finish the layer of primer and layer of flake on the sides and the wings. It did look good. Buuuuuuuuuut……I still wasn’t happy, and more than that, I had a lot of flake left! So I decided I would do the same again, but this time with a clear layer, and a far less stingy dose of flake. So that’s what I did. I think it looks much better. I did a few things different. Instead of hanging the bass up to dry over night, I only applied the clear coat to one side, then spooned the flake on (with a spoon funnily enough), then let it sit, and dry in the lacquer. This resulted in a far denser application of the flake, and much closer to the look I envisaged. I'm going to do the other side tonight, and once dried I’ll take some more pictures. I’m probably going to need another can of clear sealant because of this, but I don’t mind as I think it will make a substantial difference.

Ooooooo i remember this stage. Not long now Nic! Looking superb, as always.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1481569064' post='3193366'] Very bling! Well done that man. I'm going to be interested how many coats of lacquer you're going to need to get that flat and polished /Adds build sparkly guitar to todo list [/quote] Not sure how flat or polished the final bass will look, but i'l be sure to keep count

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1481569451' post='3193373'] Looking good so far. And, if you're not happy with the result, you can always sell it to Graham Norton. [/quote] Liberace wants first dibs

[quote name='samhay' timestamp='1481572015' post='3193405'] Nice job. I suggest you scrape the flake out of the neck pocket then tape this off. Otherwise, you are going to have some fun when it comes time to put it all back together again. [/quote] There is masking tape in there, it just matches the colour of the primer, so maybe you cant see it? I took these photos pretty much straight away though. The flake has been removed

I sort out practices. Help with load in and set up. I do the sound. Play bass. Help with tear down and load out. We all have an equal input with regards to new songs. But me and the guitarist are usually the ones who sort out the arrangements to spruce them up a bit

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1481545396' post='3193072'] . Looks like granite/marble here [/quote] # Yeh it's pretty much the look i envisaged. That's the reason i went for the marble effect vinyl to go on the pickguard

Cheers gents. Yes it is a lot more sparkly in person. I think the iridescent flake has kind of given it a kind of unidentifiable quality. As in, you can see green, you can see purple, but what else is it ??? Well its the iridescent flake. Looks good to me, so i think it'll only improve with more layers. As always, we will see

Hi Steve Another from South Wales. Lots of helpful people on here. If you dont want to spend too much money, don't go looking in the marketplace

Didnt get as much done this weekend as i would have liked. But I did a single coat of glitter on front and back. Have a look.... Didn't take any pictures of the back, but it's very much the same as the front! It's really hard to get a accurate representation of what this looks like. In looks different depending on how the light is hitting it. Once it's finished ill take a few different shots from different angles so you can see what i mean. In the end i used a single sided cheese grater to apply the flake. I thought id taken pictures of it, but i cant seem to find them, so when i do the next layer, i'll take another. Its worked really nicely. The holes are just about the right size for what i need. Just the initial coat on the sides to do. You can't see it on these pictures, but there are a few "less sparkly" areas, where the density of sparkle is lower than in other areas. My plan is to put on a clear layer next, and add the metal flake to the first couple of layers of this too. Then i'll do a couple of clear layers with no sparkle. Hoping this will then do the trick. We will see!

Nice bass Lew! Glad you're enjoying the Flea Marc. I'm not a jazz bass kinda guy, but i could easily have been converted if i didnt need the money from the sale. The Flea was a quality bass. I loved how articulate it was, and how easy it was to play. If your RW is anything similar, which i'm sure it is, you got a cracker

I agree with bassman But i suppose it depends if you're willing to shift it. It wont be light!

Not that bad is it? Haha Ive been away on a course all this week, so had no chance to progress this thread any further. I have done a first coat of glitter, so will upload those pictuires later if i get a chance. Plan to do another coat this weekend then

It's a fantastic bass. Adore mine.

That's how i gig now. Minus the DI. Everything fits in my gig bag Don't think i'll be going back. For monitoring i use IEMs.

Second hand Markbass LMII would be a what i'd go for

Looking good! Love my swifts! They've had lots of positive comments

Sorry folks, havent had the time to enter this month, but i shall still vote

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1480586768' post='3185584'] we always put performance ahead of showing how well we could play. [/quote] Probably should've taken up theatre

Just do what feels natural. If you have to think or plan what you're going to do, it's going to look like you've had to do just that. That's rarely ever a good luck. Don't think too much about it, move with the music as much or as little as is natural to you.

Yeh i did try to find a scalpel, but couldn't. The finished result is pretty good though. I'll keep it as it is for now, then see how it looks on the finished bass. Not sure what to do with the headstock...... I am thinking sparkly though

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1480376963' post='3183961'] Anyone got any tips as to the best eq settings? Also neck or bridge pickup or a combination? Whenever I try the technique it just sounds awful. Ta very muchly. [/quote] Best EQ outside of a band situation is the smileyface EQ. Bit of a bass boost and bit of a treble boost. Boost each/either to preference. Doesn't always work in a band context though as you can get lost in the mix. As for pickups, i'm guessing your using a jazz, i don't use one, but i know a lot of people like the "both on full" approach.

Did the last coat of primer tonight But had a little bit more spare time so i wanted to try and get the pickguard sorted..... Sticking with my unconventional/untested theme, i opted to try and use a marble effect vinyl, and cut that to shape. My initial method was to peel back the paper off the vinyl, clamp it down to my work bench, and use a stanly knife to cut around the shape of the PG. The vinyl was a real PITA to use, as it had been stored "scrolled" for so long, to get it flat, i had to clamp it down. Even then it still had little humps on it. Not ideal. Anyway here's how i tried to do it.... There results were ..... ok. Now i wont lie, this picture somehow makes it look a better finish than it really was. The vinyl tore a little bit, in a few places, where the Stanley knife didn't make a sharp enough cut. Here, you can see one such issue So i opted for my second method, of drawing the template of the PG onto the back of the vinyl, cutting that out, then peeling the non sticky side off and fitting it on the PG. There were some moments i didn't think it would work at all. The template, once cut out, was very flimsy. So to accurately stick it onto the PG wasn't easy. I "allowed" for this, by purposely cutting the template about 2mm too big, so i could fit it, then cut the excess off afterwards. Happy to say the end results were better IMO Now to sparkle the body, and to decide whether to sparkle the headstock, or go away from convention (again) and use the same vinyl on the headstock........