Double bass rebuild - not for the faint of heart!

[Stub Mandrel]

On 08/05/2025 at 16:12, The Guitar Weasel said:

Alcohol seems to soften the finish as stands,

 

French polish?

[The Guitar Weasel]

9 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

French polish?

It's possible ... I may try some 99% acetone on an odd area to see if that gets it off. 

[bass_dinger]

On 08/05/2025 at 16:12, The Guitar Weasel said:

Suggestions on a postcard please ... 

 

I looked up suggestions on Google.  Artificial Intelligence told me to use a heat gun, or a sander.  I think that AI confused "double bass" with "floorboards ". Easily done. 

 

My money would be on talking to a violin maker, or a luthier, to ask how they would remove a finish. 

[Hellzero]

1 hour ago, bass_dinger said:

 

I looked up suggestions on Google.  Artificial Intelligence told me to use a heat gun, or a sander.  I think that AI confused "double bass" with "floorboards ". Easily done. 

 

My money would be on talking to a violin maker, or a luthier, to ask how they would remove a finish. 

I think @The Guitar Weasel is some kind of a luthier. 😉

[bass_dinger]

On 02/05/2025 at 16:31, The Guitar Weasel said:

These other basses I looked at were all fixer-uppers, as I am fairly handy - owning a guitar pickup company helps .

 

On 10/05/2025 at 08:40, Hellzero said:

I think @The Guitar Weasel is some kind of a luthier. 😉

You are right - and I am embarrassed!

 

I once tried to clean my 120 year old violin with surgical spirit, which made the finish go all sticky.  When I mentioned surgical spirit to my tame violin repairer, he knew exactly what the problem would be. From that day, I decided that I would leave this work to the experts (like @The Guitar Weasel)

[The Guitar Weasel]

So the neck pocket has gone from this: 

To this 

The shorter end to the left cheek of the neck socket is to allow for a piece of ply to be let in to repair the top. 

Looks a bit neater now