Oiled finish - advice appreciated

[Peejay]

How do all

 

I've just got hold of a really nice German made Adler PJ body from @Aidan63 (top guy) that I plan on using as my first bass build. There isn't a massive amount of grain in the wood but enough for me not to want to cover it with paint, so I'd planned on an oiled finish. I've never done this before (or built a bass either) and don't want to screw it up so would welcome any advice that's available. 

Having read lots of articles there seem to be several alternatives - Tru Oil, Tung Oil and others - and I'd rather not have to apply nitro lacquer on top if at all possible, so I'd greatly appreciate guidance, whatever is available.

Also, what other materials will I need, including grades of sandpaper?

Cheers

Paul

 

[PaulThePlug]

Nice Post...

I likes an oil finnish. Satisfying to apply without that spray faff

There is a most splendid post on the very same by our @Andyjr1515 I'll do a search and link it.

First couple i did was Screw Fix Danish Oil. Can stay quite tacky for a while, so slow progress.

Tru-Oil is much easier to apply, less mess, and gives a much better feel especially with a bit of beeswax and a buff after.

This body mod 'n Tru-oil on this SR300 thanks to @Andyjr1515

And an SR500 i sanded down, till i got fed up with sanding... then applied a few coats of Tru-Oil with one of those green scourers, then some wax

Oh, and a Harley Benton...

And a T-Bird

Oiled wood finish, Passive, Rear Route... You get the idea...

Edited Wednesday at 19:27 by PaulThePlug

[PaulThePlug]

Here ya go

Post a pic of the body, better still start a thread in the build diaries

[Chienmortbb]

Truckload is made for rifle headstocks, Crimson do guitar finishing oils that are easy to apply and look great.

 

https://www.crimsonguitars.com/collections/guitar-finishing

[Peejay]

Thanks guys.

I'm going to get everything ready to assemble the bass then do the body. I'm fitting a rosewood neck from a '95 Mex P bass, pre-CBS Gotoh tuners, Fender hi-mass bridge, Aerodyne PJ pickups and just using chrome knobs as the control cavity is rear routed. I've got a solderless Jazz bass harness as I'm useless at soldering!

Once I have things more organised I'll start a build thread.

Cheers

Paul

[PaulThePlug]

Rear Route... Nice - look forward to your build thread.

[Peejay]

This is what I'm starting with. Thanks again @Aidan63

 

[Chienmortbb]

15 hours ago, Peejay said:

Thanks guys.

I'm going to get everything ready to assemble the bass then do the body. I'm fitting a rosewood neck from a '95 Mex P bass, pre-CBS Gotoh tuners, Fender hi-mass bridge, Aerodyne PJ pickups and just using chrome knobs as the control cavity is rear routed. I've got a solderless Jazz bass harness as I'm useless at soldering!

Once I have things more organised I'll start a build thread.

Cheers

Paul

You have the Aerodyne Pickups? I have a pair ( of pickups) if you need them. 
 

Incidentally, I fitted DiMarzios into my Aeridyne as I wanted a humbucking J Bridge Pickup.

I contacted DiMarzio Tech Suport about their wiring diagrams as they differed from received wisdom. For the first time, my tone pot did something. 
 

I have now reworked all my passive basses, even those that do not use DiMarzio pups. 

Edited Thursday at 12:28 by Chienmortbb

[Peejay]

Hello mate

Yes, I also got these from @Aidan63. But appreciate your kind offer. Got some covers with no pole pieces visible for a different look. I'm going to fully shield everything to reduce noise but might try the DiMarzio option if the finished bass is really good. Thanks very much for the heads up. 👍 I'd also thought about Barts but they cost more than a good bass!

I've already got a PJ bass (Squier) with standard Squier pickups but a harness with a Sprague orange tone capacitor and that sounds amazingly good in both P and J formats, but blended it's even better (about 25% P and 75% J). There's no weak J pickup at all. It weighs in at under 9lbs and sustains for days. It also has one of the older Northwest Guitars maple necks on it (43mm nut width and one piece rather than separate fretboard) and I don't care what anyone thinks, I love it.

With this build it's more initially about getting the look right, but I'm happy to mod. I've got a Ray 34 with Nordy 42 pickup, Schaller tuners and an East preamp and that sounds incredible. I also put together a fretless Jazz using an old Chinese Squier body and a used Mex fretless (lined) neck. It's lovely. My (Mex) P Bass has a Tonerider pickup, Gotoh reverse tuners and Hipshot bridge. That sounds as good as any P Bass I've played.

I wouldn't go to town on a rare or really expensive instrument, but I just get things the way I like them.

Just need to learn how to play better now! 😂

Cheers

[Peejay]

Spoke with the guys at Crimson Guitars today (thanks @Chienmortbb) and they were brilliant. Very helpful and not salesy at all.

Think I've made a step forward with this. Will post a proper build thread once things start moving.

[Silky999]

I use Liberon Finishing Oil which dries to a hard finish and hand sand it in. Depending how many coats you apply dictates the level of sheen from satin to a good gloss. I then wax, nitro or poly.

 

This wenge and elm is just Liberon and nothing else and was only a couple of coats in at this point.

Edited yesterday at 03:37 by Silky999

[tegs07]

Personally I really like Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil. Old pictures of bass before final buff and set up:

Edited yesterday at 07:45 by tegs07

[BassTool]

+1 for Tru Oil, I refurbed the neck on my BlazerRay build on here.

 

There is a definitive 'How to' here:

 

https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/331219-95-tru-oil-finished-guitar-a-how-to-guide/

 

[Peejay]

Thanks guys

I'll get everything ready parts-wise and then start on the body. Will report back once this is sorted.

Really appreciate all the recommendations.

Cheers

Paul

[carlsim]

I did a Tru-Oil finish on an Xotic bass a while back and can really recommend this approach. Wet sand with tru-oil will grain fill, and it's doesn't take long to start seeing some true lustre come through.

 

 

[Peejay]

That guide is brilliant. Thanks so much for uploading it.

Tru Oil, Liberon and options from Crimson Guitars are all being considered and ideally, I'd like to stick with just the oiled finish and not add a gloss coat. Maybe just do a final finish with a wax.

Just bought a gazillion sheets of numerous grades of wet and dry, plus similar for my Black & Decker mouse sander, which should save some time. Just getting the neck and bridge sorted so that I can put the whole thing together once the body is finished.

Got a solderless Jass Bass harness (I'm useless at soldering) for the Aerodyne PJ pickups and have three neck options (cheapo Chinese maple/maple which is amazing for £60, standard '95 Mex Rosewood neck, or a Jazz profile maple/maple which is one the of older Northwest Guitars necks that still retains the Fender profile (newer ones differ), so will see which one works best with the finished body.

Going to shield the cavities with copper tape so as soon as get the body and neck back from the tech guy I'll get started.

Cheers

[BassTool]

Don't forget the Build Diaries rule:

 

Pics or it didn't happen 😜

[Peejay]

I know. 😀