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My guru has arrived! Inspired by your good self and others on here Andy, I'll make you laugh at my attempts if nowt else!

I found a perfect picture online of a MM headstock, and this is where I got 'creative' 😆 I enlarged the pic so it was exactly the same size as the Ibanez - even the tuner holes lined up when I put the headstock against the picture. Then it was a simple trace around the onscreen image onto a sheet of white A4 and I had a lifesize template, which I could use to get the underside tuner position, as well as the shape of the new headstock design. Using my newly acquired Forstner bits, I drilled out the new hole... And checked position with my alternative 'G string' piece of string, dunno what I would have done if it hadn't fit mind 🙄

Well, the clampage was looking decent, so I decided to start on the headstock reshape. As I said, Ibanez were nothing if not generous with the headstock on these, but how to get a Stingray shape out of this lump?

This is the plan, to replicate similar to this, the neck the Blazer came with is in excellent nick, and is a nice lump of maple which I will refurb with a TruOil finish, new brass nut, and re-styled headstock. Stay tuned 😉

Some serious clampage was required, as well as a lot of glue. I actually brought in my 'persuader' - a length of pipe I use as a tommy bar - those clamps were going to get that split as closed up as I could get it. And that, was it for an entire seven days. Yup, I took the whole rig into the living room for warmth - Mrs BT was over the moon as you can probably imagine - and I was determined not to touch it for a week, overkill yes, but this had to work...

Well, I did have a plan B, if the grain was not good enough, a white BlazerRay would be my next option.

So, to start, I ordered some Tightbond as used by everyone on here, and set about removing the lacquer as my plan is a laquered ash look BlazerRay - providing the wood underneath is as good as it looks... It took less than an hour to strip, and I know some will wonder why I stripped it before glueing, but curiosity got the better of me with that amazing grain waiting to be unveiled.....hmmm, turns out it's a transfer of some sort!

Well, after diligently following the build diaries of some fantastically talented folks on here, I've decided to have a go myself at a bit of a revamp. Back in August 2017 I was given a 1980 Ibanez Blazer and posted on here asking, can this body be saved? I got some good replies, and have been inspired by @TheGreek amazing bass which was saved by the guru that is @Andyjr1515 in this thread below - quite an astounding transformation IMO. I've always liked the look of the MusicMan Stingray, but never took the plunge and got one. So, I've sat and looked at the Blazer for a year and thought, what have I got to lose by trying Andys suggestion of gluing it up? With it's big headstock, it's probably the only bass neck I could transform into a MM style head - Ibanez didn't skimp on wood in their oar like headstock design! The body shape could facilitate a small tweak of the horns, and refitting a MM pup should be feasible underneath where the P style pup sat. Now, before I start, I am no luthier, but I like to dabble a bit DIY wise, me and my two sons built a large shed/workshop a year back, so refurbing a bass can't be that far removed can it? I'll be unorthodox most probably, and highly likely to give some of you a good laugh at my methods, but I'm going for it anyhow, and I'm determined to turn this into a usable instrument with the advice I've gleaned on here....😎

Yup, orange gets my vote too, I like the tiger look

Amazing 😍 Wondered if you'd considered a Truoil finish on that beautiful wood before plumping for shellac?

Oh my, the figuring on that neck 😍

Kim Jong Un? 🤪 I'll get me coat..........

I hope you managed to fit in a cup of tea between finishing the SwiftLite 2 and starting this one Andy 😲 Here we go again....😎 Following

Walnut 😄

I'm gutted 😥 It's finished 😁 What the hell do I look forward to reading next? 🤣 Top marks to Andy on an awesome thread and amazing looking bass 😎

Deary me... 😍😍 beauuuuuuuuutiful!

Great job Luke thanks for those

Absolutely stunning pics, that finish is sublime, and IMO previous shots never really showed that body carve to it's full extent, Andy that is awesome work. 😎

Any chance of a pic or two of the finished bass? Realise it's an old thread but it's a shame the originals have vanished.. 😣

WOW, not seen anything like that before, amazing 😲 thanks for putting it up. +1 for The Hipshot from me, great bit of kit on two of my basses 👍

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/163442555763 TYG

Awesome and great pics too.

Bought pickup and preamp from Frank, really well packaged, good comms, recommended BC'r, deal with confidence as said many times above 👍

Deary me.....😍 Superb 😲