Rookie question. When building a bass, what comes first, colour or lacquer?

[BELA]

I have got a bass finished in satin purple. Also the back of the neck.

Although satin finished, the neck still feels a little sticky.

I want to give it a little sanding to make it smoother but retaining the colour if possible and I was wondering if that little sanding would take the color off or I will be fine?

Thanks

[Stub Mandrel]

Usually transparent laquer over the colour, or sometimes just a colour coat.

 

Use very, very fine grade wet and dry or wire wool, and you should be able to matt it without taking the colour off. I did this once and it worked.

[Dan Dare]

Sorry to be boring and add this to yet another thread, but if you use wire wool, cover the pickups thoroughly with masking tape to prevent fragments from coating them in a fine fur that is very difficult to remove. 

[Maude]

It's as @Stub Mandrelsays.

 

You'll be able to tell if it's clear over a coloured base or just a solid colour coat when you start rubbing. 

If the dust (slurry if wet) is white-ish then it's clear lacquer, if it's coloured then it's a solid colour coat. 

Either way a light rub should be fine. 

I'd personally always use 3M Scotch Brite or an equivalent, lots of different brands, really don't like wire wool with it's nasty little metal fragments. 

Toolstation do a pack of different grades for about a fiver. 

[Stub Mandrel]

Yes scotchbrite would be better. Grade 1000 is enough for toning down a gloss.

[itu]

On 15/01/2022 at 00:14, Dan Dare said:

..to prevent fragments from coating them in a fine fur that is very difficult to remove. 

Actually, nearly any tape is pretty good solution for that "fur" (XD) removal.