Sr500 project (completed!)

[gafbass02]

I recently picked up a stripped sr500 body and neck that had seen better days and decided to see if I could save it on the cheap.
Both parts were around £40, and I’m hoping to keep the total spend as small as possible. (Student teacher with no income beside gigs) 

The black paint came off easily with a heat gun, but the psychedelic paint job underneath was tougher. An hour or so later with various grits of sand paper, I’m looking at a body that's never going to be perfect, but I think I can get it looking ok.

I’m not sure yet what finish to do. I wanted a silver blue burst, but I’m not sure I can pull it off with rattle cans especially with all the dings in the body. So I’m veering towards a rustic finish using stain akin to the current sr600e antique stain. 
Hit the first snafu already. After sanding, the neck no longer fits. Must be the heat, I’ll have to sand the pocket a bit. 

Edited December 9, 2022 by gafbass02

[PaulThePlug]

Nice... Body and Neck for £40?

Neck no longer fits? from the top on a taper? I'd wait a while... warmish body / coldish neck... like doing wheel bearings.

Love the SR... Here is my '10 SR600

I'd go plain natural wax finish.

So wished they did a Passive Single P pickup, so If you run out of fun or patience drop me a message!

Edited November 19, 2022 by PaulThePlug

[gafbass02]

Did a test fit using neck screws borrowed off my sr1200! Went together perfectly. Only issue then is finding the right bloomin’ screws!!
Every single set I’ve bought so far has been wrong. But at least now I know it’ll work if I find the right ones!

anyone have a set of Ibanez neck screw kicking around ???!

[PaulThePlug]

Maybe go for a bolt and neck insert?

[gafbass02]

Thankfully I’ve discovered that an old bass I no longer use had close enough screws, so that’s handy for now. 
just added some tea staining and a single coat of danish oil. 

Edited November 27, 2022 by gafbass02

[Random Guitarist]

Love what you're doing with this. An SR500 is too good to waste, and the 'survivor' look suits it!

[gafbass02]

update time, finishing is done, battery box is currently being wedged in, Jack's in too, but pickups are late coming, so everything is on hold till they show up. I was going to put some BH2s in, but now they are going in my sr300 and I've a set of mk1s to go in this, when they show up! Ive made a template for a backplate, my sound guy says he can make me a proper one, which is nice

Edited December 4, 2022 by gafbass02

[PaulThePlug]

Nice...Did you have that Mk1 pre?

[gafbass02]

7 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Nice...Did you have that Mk1 pre?

Sadly I was too late - you can imagine how gutted I was!

[Bassassin]

Dunno how I missed this thread - +1 for the Danish oil which was exactly what my SR500 refin got! It did get a few more coats though, 10 or so, iirc.

 

[gafbass02]

3 hours ago, Bassassin said:

Dunno how I missed this thread - +1 for the Danish oil which was exactly what my SR500 refin got! It did get a few more coats though, 10 or so, iirc.

 

Oh I’ve studied yours lots  was most helpful

[PaulThePlug]

@gafbass02 Having another look... the extra shaping of the fretboard end at the neck heel... are you sure it's a SR500 and not an SR600?

Edited December 4, 2022 by PaulThePlug

[gafbass02]

Yeah, it says sr500 1p-07 on the back of the headstock, they’ve had a few variants over the years. 

[gafbass02]

And it’s done! The electronics worked first time! Which has blown my mind! My first ever attempt at wiring active electronics (other than idiot proof emg and East!) 

The set up is spot on, and it’s even lighter than my other SR500. The sound isn’t as good right now as the strings I put on are an old set, and the artec preamp isn’t as good as the stock one - but it’s not that far off!! I’ll keep an eye out for a better one to go in now it’s all together  

ill need to make a better back plate too. At the minute it’s a rough one cut out of an ice cream tub lid and wrapped in vinyl!! 

Edited December 9, 2022 by gafbass02

[Sambrook]

Very nice. Looks tactile...

[gafbass02]

Thanks. It is

[TheGreek]

I like the smoke patina...adds character 

[gafbass02]

A few weeks later and many many coats of beeswax. It probably doesn’t look much different in pics, but it does in the flesh, just waiting on a better preamp to arrive now. 

[gafbass02]

I decided to cover the screws between the pickups and prevent finger damage above the pickups. Reversible, I’ll see how I feel about it after a few days. 

[Ralf1e]

Well worth the effort. Looks classy now.

[Andyjr1515]

I like that.  I was a bit dubious at first at leaving the burn marks rather than sanding right down to clean wood...but it works

 

[gafbass02]

Thanks. It’s not as ‘contrasty’ in real life, the pics make it stand out more.

[gafbass02]

It now has a bartolini preamp and sounds fantastic  debating some nordstrands and improved tuners next. 

[gafbass02]

It’s not quite a perfect match 🤪But I finally got something sorted that’s more substantial than the cut out ice cream tub lid. I consider it a mk2 variant, I may make another and work on improving the fit and maybe spray it black as the stain doesn’t take the same way as the body. 

Just need some flat head screws next to stop my clothes getting snagged.  

Edited January 21, 2023 by gafbass02

[Ralf1e]

14 hours ago, gafbass02 said:

It’s not quite a perfect match 🤪But I finally got something sorted that’s more substantial than the cut out ice cream tub lid. I consider it a mk2 variant, I may make another and work on improving the fit and maybe spray it black as the stain doesn’t take the same way as the body. 

Just need some flat head screws next to stop my clothes getting snagged.  

Black perspex/acrylic steet available from Amazon makes good covers. An alternative is clear sheet and spray the back with matt black paint. Gives it a look of real depth.