Shortscale and sparkly. On a budget. By a Beginner

[Andyjr1515]

Wow.....that looks really, really good

[BassApprentice]

Very impressed with the initial outcome. Looks like granite/marble here but I imagine it's pretty sparkly in person!

Nice work!

[cheddatom]

ace!

[FuNkShUi]

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

[FuNkShUi]

[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

[Norris]

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

[Grangur]

Looking good so far.

And, if you're not happy with the result, you can always sell it to Graham Norton.

[samhay]

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.

[FuNkShUi]

[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

Edited December 13, 2016 by FuNkShUi

[FuNkShUi]

[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

[FuNkShUi]

[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

[FuNkShUi]

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.

[Andyjr1515]

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1481703933' post='3194349']
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.
[/quote]
Sounds like a very measured iterative approach. Such an approach is very likely to produce the result you are after

[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

[Marc S]

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1481531621' post='3192885']

.......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.....

[/quote]

The answer is obvious FuNkShUi - you need to get a disco ball installed in your garage!

Looking really good matey. Am looking forward to seeing this and Gelfin's new bass at the next bass bash

[FuNkShUi]

Second coat of sparkle completed last night



It's proving really tricky to photograph!!

Oh, i also did the headstock


Im hoping over the weekend to do three more clear layers.
Should hopefully nearly be finished at that point

[Norris]

That looks great. Inspiring!

If it doesn't work as a bass it would make a heck of a sanding block!

[FuNkShUi]

Hahaha yeh it could do some damage

Edited December 16, 2016 by FuNkShUi

[Rikki_Sixx]

For some reason the sight of that gaffer tape on the fretboard makes me cringe It's so strong it'll pull the neck in two haha

This is looking really cool, especially with the matching headstock! Someday I'll get a cheapo banger off t'eBay and have a go at this myself, I love the glittersparkle finish so far!

[FuNkShUi]

Haha, cities have been built and held together by Gaffer tape, so you're not wrong

[PlungerModerno]

Ooooh Sparkley

[FuNkShUi]

Just been building up the clear coats this weekend.

Here is a close up of the flake though, as i feel it gives the best idea of what colour it looks like:

[Andyjr1515]

That's going to look splendid, Kert. I suspect it will take a load of clear to get anywhere near covering the flake but the more that goes on, the better the effect will be

[FuNkShUi]

Yeh i agree, i will just take my time with it.
We will get there, hopefully by next christmas

[FuNkShUi]

Bit of a delay on this one, i dislocated my shoulder early January and had to take a break.
It's finished now though.
It's really hard to get a good picture because it looks different depending on the light and where you are standing!
Here it is though :




I am happy with how it looks. Had this kind of thing in my head throughout the build, and i'm pleased with the end result.
Lots of mistakes made along the way, but definitely lessons learnt too!
It isnt ready to gig though as there is a hum when i plug it in. Sounds great, but the hum annoys me, so there is probably an earthing fault somewhere.
I will take it apart and see if i can find it soon