Johnny Wishbone Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Hi all, I'm hoping someone might already have done this and so can save me hours of sanding. I have two Warwick Fortress Ones, a '99 in blue (my main bass) and a '94 backup in what I think Warwick call a "honey violin" colour. In some respects Warwick afficionados might consider the backup the better bass due to the earlier year of manufacture, but I absolutely HATE the colour of the finish, hence it rarely gets played except in emergencies. I'd really like to re-stain it in a more palatable colour but would first need to strip the protective finish off it. It looks like a thick matte poly clear coat, but does anyone have the definitive lowdown on this, and an effective way of removing it without resorting to sanding? As the body has a lot of curves and contours I'd like to preserve the shape as well as possible, and I'm concerned that I may spoil this with heavy-handed sanding. I have stripped a MIM Jazz using a heat gun (gently) and this worked really well - does anyone know if the Warwick finish is likely to respond similarly? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verb Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 You will probably find your answer on the Warwick bass forum. If you cannot find an answer by searching, start a new thread. A photo of the finish would help to identify it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I believe the Honey Violin is a varnish/lacquer. Paint stripper would remove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1471365226' post='3112539'] I believe the Honey Violin is a varnish/lacquer.[b] Paint stripper would remove it.[/b] [/quote] ...or not! I had a 'W' Streamer refinished that had a lacquer finish and nitromors and other specialist (non-commercial) strippers wouldn't touch the finish. This work was done by a pro and the only means to get it off was hand sanding. Others on the Warwick forum have had similar tales so it isn't unique to my bass. I'm not saying that the OP is the same finish but I'd not assume that the finish will come off as easy as it might on other basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 They changed the formula of Nitromores. It's rubbish now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 [quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1471368756' post='3112580'] They changed the formula of Nitromores. It's rubbish now. [/quote] Yes, I used some last night. It's ot as thick as it used to be. It did the job I was wanting to do, but what I was doing was light stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Wishbone Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 Thanks guys. I couldn't find any method on the Warwick forum other than sanding, which is why I asked here. Guess I'll have to get the elbow grease out *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 (edited) If you've successfully stripped with a heat gun in the past, I would personally try that first. Unless it's a nitro finish (which I'm pretty sure it isn't) then as a modern finish it could be as hard as steel and be an absolute sod to sand - especially without ending up over-sanding, resulting in flats and rounded edges. By all means try sanding first, but don't be surprised if that turns out to be exceptionally difficult. As you say, with a heat gun, gently does it and careful not to scorch or dig in with the scraper. Edited August 19, 2016 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 I feel your pain - I had a Fortress One, which I loved playing, it was one of the most ergonomically well designed basses I've ever held, with a fantastic wenge neck, but the colour was even worse than yours; it was a kind of greeny-browny-grey, which, much as I liked the bass, I just couldn't get over. The finish was gloss poly a foot thick, and after a lot of research, I just gave up the idea of a refin and sold it. I'm so shallow... Good luck with the refin on yours, and remember...pics, or it never happened... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Wishbone Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 (edited) Depends how it turns out! Not my bass, but the colour is as below. I really want to avoid sanding as I just know I'll end up with flat spots as suggested above. I guess I'm just wary of trying the heat gun in case it doesn't really work and I end up ruining the (admittedly already awful) finish. It doesn't look that bad in the photo (some of my band mates actually like it!) but I just can't get on with it at all. Lighter or darker shade and I could probably live with it, but it's just such a crappy shade of 70's orange (like really old faux wood wall panelling ) I just can't stand it. Edited August 19, 2016 by Johnny Wishbone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 If you're happy with a darker shade,could you over-spray it with a tinted lacquer? (If you have no chips or dents in the existing finish) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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