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Home Customisation Squier VM Jaguar Bass


Andyjr1515
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Hi

Attached is me showing off my latest customisation job (got to find some appreciation somewhere...to the boss indoors its 'just another guitar') :)

This is a Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass once plain black and now BEAUTIFUL :)

It was bought from another BassChat member <thanks Stu> and I spent a couple of recent weekends doing:
[list]
[*]a strip down
[*]stripping the finish
[*]veneering with an exotic Amboyna veneer
[*]Varnishing with TruOil
[*]Cutting the pickguard (which covered too much of the veneer)
[*]sorting the neck seating out (Squiers are good but not perfect)
[*]covering the pickguard with carbon fibre matting (the tortoiseshell clashed with the colour of the veneer)
[/list]
The only big challenge was stopping the tiny, tiny carbon fibres from getting in the electrics (they are VERY conductive)

It plays absolutely fantastically and I hope you agree that is looks pretty cool too :lol: The Tru Oil finish is high gloss and hardens nicely, though will never be as tough as poly or nitro. Having said that, it is VERY easy to repair scratches. Great side benefit is that is smells like a well oiled cricket bat...

[attachment=82483:IMG_1501.jpg]
[attachment=82486:IMG_1502.jpg]
[attachment=82485:IMG_1507.jpg]
[attachment=82484:IMG_1511.jpg]

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Hi - you're all too kind :D. Never realised bass players could be sweeties too :)

On another link (Repairs) I describe that for the first one of these I did, I actually made a profit (although the Jaguar is strictly for my own use)

I sold this one below (shown before and after) to a Nepalese Buddhist who plays in a Heavy Metal Band. Now agreed, you don't get one of those coming along every day :lol: but when you do...

There are some tips, tricks and techniques but, to be honest, the most difficult bit is just getting the perishing original coating off. The attached (originally a red Ibanez GSR200) was done over a week with two weekends (and I have a very time demanding job in between :) ) If anyone wants to know the tips and tricks I've learnt, I'd be happy to do another post in the appropriate folder (Projects?)

Andy
[attachment=82873:Before.jpg]
[attachment=82874:Best_1_smaller.jpg]
[attachment=82875:Best_2_smaller.jpg]

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Hi
Thanks for the encouraging feedback, folks!

Like an eejit, I never took shots of the Jaguar as I was doing it, but I did do for the Ibanez so I will post something on the Build Diaries over the next few days.

Although I wouldn't say it was easy, it is surprisingly quick and takes no special tools save for an electric paint stripper (and even that is just to save time). The veneering and varnishing I did on the dining room table (or if my wife is reading this, the fully fitted and remote from any part of the decorated house or carpets specialised workshop :) )

The challenge is getting JUST the right veneer. The Ibanez is American Burl Walnut - pretty easy to get hold of - but the Jaguar is an Asian veneer that I haven't seen since.

The cutting down of the pickguard was a bit white knuckle (replacements only seem to be available from US) and the carbon fibre a complete experiment. Part of the learning curve was that the fibres, when you cut it, go EVERYWHERE and - of course - they are highly conductive :)

I know the look isn't everyone's cup of char, but I've done a couple of Strat 6 strings too, and they look (and play) like the d**s b******s

In these torrid times, there's no money in it, of course, but huge satisfaction :lol:

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[quote name='lanark' post='1276657' date='Jun 21 2011, 08:56 AM']My wife saw me looking at the pictures (of both the guitars you've veneered) and even SHE said that they were gorgeous.[/quote]

My wife saw me posting pictures to something called Gear Porn and called the solicitors :)

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Hi
In case anyone wants to have a go at this type of thing, I've finished the thread on the techniques in Build Diaries - 'Veneering an Ibanez GSR200 - tips & tricks '

Don't try it on a prized possession, but if you've got a tired old faithful lying around - give it a bash. It's quicker and easier than you would imagine :)

Andy

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