neepheid Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Some of you may recall me putting the feelers out for a beat up old bass body, and I managed to get my hands on one. It's not quite a P-bass, I was told it was a Squier Bullet bass (thankfully not the short scale version), but in any case it'll do the job. I'm going to pair it with a Mighty Mite ebonal fretless Precision neck, probably stick a Badass II on it and use Schaller BMFLs again. Dunno about pups yet. So, to sanding! That's 1 hour's work. This is going to take a while. Anyway, the whole point of this otherwise completely unremarkable and somewhat straightforward project is that my sister is going to decorate the bass. A graduate of Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, she jumped at the chance to collaborate on this project. Some examples of her work: I wonder what she'll come up with. Whatever it is, I fancy a repeat of the design on the headstock as well for good measure As ever, will keep you up to date on developments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d-basser Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 I think this could look pretty schmexy, if it comes out well i will be posting a bass northwards for your sis to paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Nice one man, removing the finnish is a bitch. You have not got to the horns so you dont know the half of it yet. It is rewarding so keep at it. One word of warning, if you are tired give up for the day. You will do more damage than good. My GF is at grays look like the finnish is gonna awesome G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 19, 2007 Author Share Posted June 19, 2007 [quote name='slaphappygarry' post='20118' date='Jun 19 2007, 12:31 PM']Nice one man, removing the finnish is a bitch. You have not got to the horns so you dont know the half of it yet. It is rewarding so keep at it. One word of warning, if you are tired give up for the day. You will do more damage than good. My GF is at grays look like the finnish is gonna awesome G[/quote] It's efficiency, not laziness that makes me think "isn't there an easier way of doing this?" That little bit was using 80 grit paper! I wonder if you get courser stuff for the Mouse. Nitromors? Hot air gun? Anyone got any other suggestions? I'm going to meet with my sister soon to discuss ideas. What year is your gf in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Sanding off the finish seems to be the way to go. That way you don't need to worry about the old finish reacting unfavourably with whatever chemical stripper you decide to try. I've got a bass I'm stripping down at the moment and you just have to stick with it and be prepared to spend so time removing the finish even with power assistance. From what I can remember of Garry's thread on BW he used sand paper wrapped around dowling? to get in the cutaways? How was the sand paper attached? Any point in trying to make something to go on a drill? or is that asking for trouble? I'll be posting my own refinish in a new thread once I'm sure I'm not going to mess it up too badly rather than hi-jacking others... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 There is the jazz project: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=17"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=17[/url] I used mostly 60 grit but also had some 40 grit (i found it lasted half as long as a bit of 60) Good luck G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 [quote name='neepheid' post='20131' date='Jun 19 2007, 12:50 PM']It's efficiency, not laziness that makes me think "isn't there an easier way of doing this?" That little bit was using 80 grit paper! I wonder if you get courser stuff for the Mouse. Nitromors? Hot air gun? Anyone got any other suggestions? I'm going to meet with my sister soon to discuss ideas. What year is your gf in?[/quote] it's probably better to do it with 60 grit first, then as the paint thins go up to 80. using 40 tends to give you massive scratches in the paint so it's not such a good idea really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 40 grit is perfect for hammering through laquer though. No one in their right mind, after looking at the stuff, would put in on any wood. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 Didn't get as much done as I'd like over the weekend, but here's the state of play: Also picked up an EMG-P pup and associated pots etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 Well what a difference half a day makes! The neck arrived from the USA and after sanding a little bit of the old finish that had crept into the neck pocket it fits snugly. A quick dose of paranoia with the tape measure to confirm 34" scale I've also managed to secure the use of a work area - a small workshop at work with a bench, a vice and power. It's all I need at this stage, and it means I can grab a few hours whenever I like out of hours as long as I "don't have an accident" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 29, 2007 Author Share Posted June 29, 2007 (edited) I've found a substance that makes sanding easier. It's called Glenmorangie Also, I can see why a solid finish was applied to this body. She may be solid, but she isn't exactly attractive. Edited June 29, 2007 by neepheid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 Aw man, thats a shame. Not that it will make a difference with the finnish you are going for. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 1, 2007 Author Share Posted July 1, 2007 Wee update here, only got an edge to take off then it's working the sandpaper grades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 you ever thought about using nitromorse? its a paint stripper that 100% harmless to woods. i used it a couple of times to get thick layers of lacker and paint off bodies. makes sanding sooo much easier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 [quote name='binky_bass' post='26301' date='Jul 2 2007, 11:52 PM']you ever thought about using nitromorse? its a paint stripper that 100% harmless to woods. i used it a couple of times to get thick layers of lacker and paint off bodies. makes sanding sooo much easier![/quote] Thought about it, but until recently I didn't have anywhere safe to use such foul chemicals. Besides, there are conflicting opinions about it's harmlessness to wood, and leathering the hell out of paint/lacquer is rather theraputic If I do another one then I might experiment with the stuff and see how it performs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mybass Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 [quote name='neepheid' post='19981' date='Jun 18 2007, 11:59 PM']Some of you may recall me putting the feelers out for a beat up old bass body, and I managed to get my hands on one. It's not quite a P-bass, I was told it was a Squier Bullet bass (thankfully not the short scale version), but in any case it'll do the job. I'm going to pair it with a Mighty Mite ebonal fretless Precision neck, probably stick a Badass II on it and use Schaller BMFLs again. Dunno about pups yet. So, to sanding! That's 1 hour's work. This is going to take a while. Anyway, the whole point of this otherwise completely unremarkable and somewhat straightforward project is that my sister is going to decorate the bass. A graduate of Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, she jumped at the chance to collaborate on this project. Some examples of her work: I wonder what she'll come up with. Whatever it is, I fancy a repeat of the design on the headstock as well for good measure As ever, will keep you up to date on developments.[/quote] Did the same as many years ago. A long job isn't it! I ended up just sanding down. The bright yellow sandpaper found selling in rolled lengths about 4" wide is rough but effective. 3M paper lasts pretty good. A friend gave me some Canadian made sandpaper once which lasted ages. Maybe a light wood veneer on the front might finish it off nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 [quote name='mybass' post='27900' date='Jul 6 2007, 01:36 PM']Maybe a light wood veneer on the front might finish it off nicely.[/quote] I may play with that in the future, but for now this ugly duckling is being primed white and my sis is being let loose on it. Showing her the "canvas" tonight, and hopefully we'll get some ideas bouncing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16Again Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Thats alot of rubbing down, You should go for nitromorse, great stuff just watch yee dinna burn yer skin! i've got a ricky style body you couldve bought for your project but i might do something with it myself, if i can be bothered. How much would your sister charge for a paint job? oo eer! Or is she just dong it cause it's you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 [quote name='16Again' post='29781' date='Jul 10 2007, 02:46 PM']Thats alot of rubbing down, You should go for nitromorse, great stuff just watch yee dinna burn yer skin! [/quote] I might give that a go in future, there's been a few nods in that direction. [quote name='16Again' post='29781' date='Jul 10 2007, 02:46 PM']i've got a ricky style body you couldve bought for your project but i might do something with it myself, if i can be bothered. How much would your sister charge for a paint job? oo eer! Or is she just dong it cause it's you?[/quote] Well, we'll see how this one goes before seeing if we want to do any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 Small update to say that the body is now sanded all over at 80 grit. Also discovered that the holes in the neck pocket do not match a standard Fender/Squier neckplate. Either the Bullets were weird or I've been had. Either way, I think I'll eschew the use of a neck plate in favour of recessed bushings a la [url="http://allparts.uk.com/catalogue/product_info.php?products_id=10520&ALLPAR=3e70f065858de564bf65e6e7de3e0b42"]http://allparts.uk.com/catalogue/product_i...f65e6e7de3e0b42[/url] Design decisions taken so far: Neck: Mighty Mite Precision ebonal fretless Bridge: Badass II (chrome) Pickups: EMG P active Tuners: Schaller BMFL (chrome) Misc hardware: chrome My sister thinks that a dark finish would look best. Am waiting for her thoughts on which scratchplate to go for before placing a wee Allparts order for all the miscellaneous bits and bobs (neck screws, bushings, string tree, strap buttons etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 (edited) Had a thought about scratchplates, in that they cover up vast swathes of the body. Seeing as this is a project as much about showing off my sister's artistic talent as it is providing me with a fretless bass, it seems that there's won't be a lot of space to show off. Coupled with a badass 2, here's the space available with a scratchplate: However, I spied on Allparts a metal control cavity cover and pickup surround. A little GIMP jiggery-pokery and it might look something like this: Of course, I'll have to cover the channel cut between the pickup and the control cavity, but it won't be noticed with a solid finish: What do you think? Anyone used these parts before? Comfy pants or thong? Edited July 20, 2007 by neepheid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Comfy pants. Scratch plate and a nice finnish underneath would be nice IMHO. That way the finnish is quiet subtle and understated rather than in your face. To be honest, the other way would be great too if you do a good job of plugging the hole. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 IMO if your going for an art finish you should show it off as much as possible, so I'd go for the pup surround and control plate. I think the scratch plate just covers up too much of the body to justify doing anything special with the finish... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 1, 2007 Author Share Posted August 1, 2007 The other option to consider is a clear scratchplate, but it's a job finding them. I've been neglecting the project of late, mainly because my gf is moving in with me, so we're trying to tackle boxland at the moment. However, one piece of the puzzle arrived the other day: I don't think I appreciated just how big these bad boys are until I put it on the body. BADASS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 (edited) Another sanding session in the workshop and that's the body sanded 180 > 240 > 400 > 600 grit. There's still some slight remnants of dings on the back that haven't quite sanded out, so I'll need to do a bit of filling before I prime the body white. No point in taking any pics, it doesn't look remarkably different, but by god it feels different Oh, and found that I could get a clear scratchplate at WD Music, so that's an option. I am under no illusion about the fact that the existing screwholes won't match up, but I hope the actual shape of it fits OK. Edited August 6, 2007 by neepheid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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