Pea Turgh

Yeah maybe posted a bit prematurely!

The finish didn’t look so bad in the photos, but up close it really was a mess under the black paint. So many nasty chips and cracks. And I’m so pleased with the way the neck looks after a damn good sanding - so smooth and uniform. So, out came the sander… The body looks exactly like the stripped one @Bassassin posted - maybe 5mm+ faces on top of some other wood. Very happy with it. I’m still thinking a medium to dark stain is the way to go.

Neck is fully stripped, up to 240 grit and smooooth. What grit does one go up to before first coat of finish on bare wood?

My saved link to the Deko page no longer works. Are the days of Deko deals gone for good?

Excellent work again, Andy. It doesn’t sound as small as it looks! It does sound great!

Go fretless?

Tru-oil. That’s what I was thinking of. Nice natural satin neck. After seeing the body @Bassassinposted above, maybe I’ll do the body too! Maybe… mocha with a black pickguard. Or take it to a garage I know that paint cars. But that’s cheating. Mocha is gaining in the poll in my head.

I just couldn’t let it lie!!! Sanded all the finish off the neck, as it was covered in dings and cracks. Sooo glad I did - even in 100 grit it looks lush! Need to go buy a load of sandpaper and some of that stuff everyone uses but I can’t remember the name of, will then slurry & buff - aiming for a satin finish. I am aware that I keep asking for advice, then changing direction - sorry! Neck pics - just wiped down with a damp cloth to check for old finish.

I think the Hohners came with EMG Select pickups. My Jack had soap bar pickups like your picture.

Makes me want to get one again! Dagnammit I’m easily led…

I’ve just lost an hour in a sanding trance. I feel I know this instrument intimately now. I think what is left is sound enough to paint over. I will need to put some sort of something on the bare wood sections, but after that it’ll be undercoat and then colour of choice (TBC).

Been spending some more time sanding. Thinking “man, I got through to wood quickly there, I should take more care”. Slowly realising that it was actually my refinishing predecessor that got through to bare wood, then just painted over with black - evidenced by areas where paint has sunk in to the wood pores. 🤦🏻‍♂️ The original finish (aside from being pre-roadworn) is also covered in cracks, and generally not pretty. Full respray it is! Any tips on prep? Take off original finish too, or just sand to what grit for undercoat?

There’s a Mustang, too: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/231027414957027--sqoe-sjb400-white

Yeah, that’s an odd one because it’s under the sunburst. Changed their minds at the factory, I guess!

Also, there’s some cracks to the poly on the back of the headstock. And the end of a screw showing a previous repair. Looks like it’s holding though, so I’ll let that sleeping dog lie.

Been sanding with 120 grit to get the black off. Neck pretty much done, though I may have gone through the poly in a couple of spots. @Maude - is it just a case of working up through grades to re-shine the pre-existing poly? What grades should I use? The body doesn’t seem as bad as I first thought, although I have inadvertently given it a slight home-made road worn effect on the top edge - mustn’t repeat that.

Yeah, it’s kinda your fault 😂 I remember you mentioning about not fully stripping if overpainting, so happy not to make things harder for myself. I’ve attacked the body &neck with 120 grit. The DIY paint is gradually coming off, and I think the original poly won’t budge much (maybe on the sharper edges). There are patches where it looks like the previous owner has used a section of pebbledash wall to sand it, so I’ll get it as flat as I can and use filler. The neck and headstock seem to have escaped the scrapes, so might just be able to buff up the original finish. I’d thought oly white for the body, but a nice Gibson SG bass in the classifieds in Pelham blue has got me wondering… decisions decisions! Also bought a Fender style BBOT bridge from the classifieds to replace the agricultural original (similar spacing - 19 or 20mm). Ooh and the nut is 43mm - perfect for my long skinny fingers!

Earlpilanz on eBay. Lots of happy customers on basschat!

The previous sanding job will determine how useable the underlying poly is - looks like they used a shark’s face to get a scratch coat.

I’ve read a lot of your posts - it’s how I spotted the Matsumoku connection (neck plate). What ever it is, it’s already been ruined, so I can only make it better!

I have no answers. But I do have questions- is that a metal fretboard?!

A quick Google shows it probably looked like this one originally: https://reverb.com/item/72349185-matsumoku-short-scale-bass-killer-bass-insane-pickup-short-scale-but-formidable-feeling-instrument The scratchplate and truss cover are WBW under the awful red paint. Looks like it was sanded with a bag of rocks though, so might have to be a refinish 😕

It used to be sunburst, with a nice maple neck. Why do people paint things so?! Hopefully I can remove the black and not kill the original finish… Odd pickup arrangement, too.

Spotted this on Gumtree a few days ago, picked it up this eve. £30 with a straight neck - what could possibly go wrong?! I’m planning on stripping it back (or probably just sanding for a refinish as it’s probably ply-bodied). Maybe oly white with a mint guard? We’ll see…

I have a full set from my old Jack. I think. Did the Jack have a dual concentric pot? Anyway, let me know if you want them.