Cab Cosmetic Repair Advice ? . . . desperate for help / advice ! !

[Nostromo]

Slightly off topic as this is a guitar cab rather than a bass cab but I’m a bass player with a problem and wondered if any one could offer advice ? . . . . .

As well as play bass, I occasionally jangle a Telecaster and have ([u]on loan[/u] ! !) a nice blues junior with a highly polished sunburst finish – Which, unfortunately got damaged on one of its back corners this weekend by my wife and her hoover ! ! ! . . . spoiling the finish of what is otherwise a mint condition combo.

At the moment I just can’t face having to tell the owner it’s damaged ! . . does anyone know how or even if its possible to cosmetically repair this – or know of anyone in the UK who I could send it to to have a cosmetic repair undertaken ? . . . I’ve got about 2 months till it has to go back to its owner ! ! !

Pic’s below showing first, the damaged back corner and second the other back corner showing what it should look like:-

Thanks . . . .

Damage'd Corner
[attachment=212427:Champ Damage 1.jpg]
Good Corner
[attachment=212426:Champ 3.jpg]

[gary mac]

That's a depressing sight

I always get a bit fidgety and nervous when mrs mac wields the Henry Hoover near my old Fenders.


Don't know anyone in your neck of the woods, sorry.

[Beer of the Bass]

That does look like someone who works with guitar finishes would be able to drop-fill it, and it wouldn't be a huge job. It might be worth finding out from Fender what type of finish was used (lacquer or poly) so that you when you phone round repairers you have the information to hand.

[Nostromo]

Thanks for replies and sympathy ! . . . I don’t mind how far away a good luthier is who could fix this . . I’d be willing to post it to someone who was recommended and who could undertake a good cosmetic repair.

Regarding the finish . . I’m almost certain it’s Poly . . . its quite a thick and a hard finish and the missing corner surface piece came off in one piece my wife says . . but got hovered up !

If anyone knows a guru who fixes this sort of damage anywhere in the UK then please please let me know.

[Grangur]

The best person to fix this may well not be someone dedicated to music. If it were mine, or I were you, the person I'd ask is a friend who's a French Polisher by trade. Folk you do French Polishing get involved in all sorts of spraying and invisible re-touching of cabinets and other items.

What you have going for you is it looks like the black isn't damaged, only the lacquer appears to need repairing.

I wouldn't go to a car spray shop; they're too dedicated to re-finishing with the luxury of knowing the car make, year and paint reference.

Googling French POlisher near Bristol I found these:
http://www.jcfrenchpolisher.co.uk/
http://www.woodnthingsbristol.co.uk/
http://www.frenchpolisherbristol.com/

Good luck

[Ghost_Bass]

I had an accident a few years back where my kb player tipped my bass and it hit a cymbal nicking a piece of laquer on the neck (below 3rd fret so very anoying to play and have it rubbing in my hand). I took it to a luthier who filled it with laquer in many very fine layers until it reached the desired height - mind that TRB high gloss laquer finish is very, very thick - the end result, after some polishing was very satisfactory. If i didn't knew what happened i probably wouldn't find it and the slight difference in feel/look i would give it to wood grain.

My advise is to get in touch with someone who can do this job properly, a good luthier who does good finishes or somebody who knows his way around wood and finishing.
Then let the owner of the combo know about the accident and tell him that it's been taken care and properly fixed. It'll never look as perfect as new to a very picky/OCDish eye, so it would be impossible to hide this from anyone.

[Grangur]

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1455640341' post='2980999']
.... It'll never look as perfect as new to a very picky/OCDish eye, so it would be impossible to hide this from anyone.
[/quote]

You're right it will show, unless you get someone to fix it who knows what they're doing.

A luthier is a guy who's specialist field is wood work and a bit of spraying and finishing.

You need a guy who's job is finishing, not someone who specialises in the skills of replacing a truss rod.

Edited February 16, 2016 by Grangur

[Ghost_Bass]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1455642715' post='2981044']
You're right it will show, unless you get someone to fix it who knows what they're doing.

A luthier is a guy who's specialist field is wood work and a bit of spraying and finishing.

You need a guy who's job is finishing, not someone who specialises in the skills of replacing a truss rod.
[/quote]

I don't think it will be an invisible fix unless all the laquer is removed and resprayed. The joins between old and new laquer will be visible if you know what and where to look for.

[Big_Stu]

[quote name='Nostromo' timestamp='1455530163' post='2979803'] . . does anyone know how or even if its possible to cosmetically repair this – or know of anyone in the UK who I could send it to to have a cosmetic repair undertaken ? . . . I’ve got about 2 months till it has to go back to its owner ! ! ! [/quote]

JayDee in Brum does excellent sunburst finishes and is very friendly. John's always got a long waiting list but if he can't do it himself he may be able to advise. Other than that I'd go with the French Polisher suggestion.

[TheGreek]

I was going to suggest one of those fellas who fix scratches/chips in your bodywork...