Billy Apple Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) Hello All, Due to a glitch in the fabric of the space-time continuum, I came into the possession of a MIM Mike Dirnt Fender Precision, minus the body. I bought an unknown P Bass body from eBay for £27 and a black pick guard for £12. The body was covered in about 12 layers of black Holts touch up spray, which a I got rid of by hand to discover a rather nice Fender (or Squire) body. My Luthier can't make his mind up if it's Fender or Squire, but he thinks either way it is early Japanese. The body is constructed with long block sections glued together, sandwiched front and back with a finished laminate. I'm wondering if it was originally sunburst, so you wouldn't see the edge, but who knows? The wood is nice enough to be on show. I built her up after sanding and she looked very '70's with the wood and black guard. But to hide a few joins I've coloured it white with Liberon wood dye, so the grain is still visible. The dye was difficult to use. You cannot build it up, as it becomes chalky, and if you put more than 2 coats on the dye will take off what had gone before. The pics you are about my 5th attempt, and I'm leaving it at 1 coat. Going to finish off with a clear nitro gloss. This will be the second body I've nitro'd, so I'm feeling confident, as learnt so much the first time around! The following pics is the body drying off in my bathroom, and the neck hanging about the living room. Edit: re-sized pictures Edited November 22, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 [quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1319394982' post='1413632'] Have you screwed the neck to the body yet?? IIRC the dirnt has the square heel rather than the normal rounder one. I would check but I'm just after a kebab and can't be arsed walking upstairs [/quote] I did fit the neck, and it all went together fine, no problems. But you are right the MDP neck is squared off at the heel, and the pocket is rounded, but the scratch plate masked off any cavity. What was interesting was there was a little yellow plastic strip stuck into the neck pocket. I removed this prior to the dry build, and she went together well enough, but with very high action at the dusty end. I re-built putting the plastic thingy back were it was from, and the action was amazing.. spot on Kebab?! on a Sunday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) Edited November 22, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 [quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1319396520' post='1413674'] I was too sore to cook the Mrs too pregnant I wasn't too sure how they went together but I no some folk like their tight pockets around these parts. [/quote] Well, like most things, it's not the rounded end that counts, but the width. And that was certainly nice and tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Looks nice. I think the problem with that wood though is you can see the layers on the contour at the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 [quote name='EdwardHimself' timestamp='1319467085' post='1414410'] Looks nice. I think the problem with that wood though is you can see the layers on the contour at the bottom. [/quote] You can, I think that this body was either a solid colour, or perhaps a sunburst where you could not see the edges. I was thinking about painting a solid colour, but started to enjoy its nakedness, hence toning things down with dye where the grain is still visible. I scored a bargain with the body, but it looked like it had been painted with tar,and took an age to hand sand, as paint stripper would not work. I wish I'd taken some earlier pics of that. As long as I end up with a reasonable result, I'll be happy. This is my second re-fin, and all I'm wanting from this is a work-a-day bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1319461656' post='1414306'] You tried out the Dirnt neck yet to see how you like the Profile? you should really just buy the rest of the bass to go with it.. But them I'm Biased [/quote] I have everything, bar the body, and yes tried the neck,and love it (that's why I didn't sell it on and decided to do this). I was looking at buying a finished Allparts body, but I'm on a budget and setting myself a challenge to do this as cheap as possible. What finish do you have on yours? Edited October 24, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 [quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1319488070' post='1414887'] Mines the "Vintage white" in other words someone dropped some yucky yellow into the white spray pot So you have the Pups too. I had the intentions of changing mine but they sound great to me. Especially now she is on flats. [/quote] Interesting. Flats. I thought the Pup a little middy, but then again the strings I've got are horrible skinny stainless steel things, and was going to put on fatter nickels. I've never had flats before, what do you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1319489071' post='1414905'] I got the Labellas as they seem got favourable comments. I had only ever seen one set of flats before and they were the ones I put on my Beatle bass. anyway a crappy recording I done for someone asking about the flats on a Dirnt [url="http://soundcloud.com/johnston_evo/green-day-holiday"]http://soundcloud.co...een-day-holiday[/url] Don't Mock they playing please. I am naturally crap but that was done whilst trying to stay awake for a sleep deprived ECG so it's worse than usual [/quote] Playing is fine. She sounds very mellow and rich, when i built this one up she was more metalley (but not heavy) and attacking. Once the finish is done I'll rebuild and maybe mess on with the pup, but definitely no cheese-grater stainless strings. I was looking at sexy Seymour Duncan Vintage's... maybe. Hope to start lacquering this weekend. Edited October 25, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 There was a deep ding in the lower recess. I'd sanded most of it out, but the last coat of dye was very wet. This has blown the ding proud of the body, now it is dry, I will be able to sand it flat. Wish I'd soaked the knock to start with, might have brought the whole thing out, and save me a heap of sanding. You live and learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Way to get out dings is wet them, put wet tissue on and touch the tissue with the tip of a soldering iron, hot water expands and pops the fibers out. Scale it up to an iron for bigger dings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) OK. Put a few coats of Pre-Cat Clear Nitro on (from a spray-can) over the past couple of weeks. Just wet rubbed down with 0000 steel wool. Now polishing up a bit with 'Mer' car polish [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/fAcmal.jpg[/IMG] Edited November 22, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) She 'aint looking too terrible, so I'm going to build her up tonight. Really need to polish with a buffing wheel and some paste. That'll be next weekend [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/pS0DBl.jpg[/IMG] and of course the back... [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/s0GyVl.jpg[/IMG] Edited November 22, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassie Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 [quote name='billyapple' timestamp='1321814662' post='1443411'] Now polishing up a bit with 'Mer' car polish [/quote] I use Mer to clean my frets, brings 'em up a treat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 [quote name='Grant' timestamp='1321819436' post='1443487'] I use Mer to clean my frets, brings 'em up a treat! [/quote] It's the business, will polish up wood, metal, plastic, most everything. And it works best if you put it on when the surface is wet. I got it from custom bike builders who would ride up to a show in the pissing rain, chuck Mer all over the Harley, and bing, a gleaming show winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 The body is looking great. I stripped my main Precision & it really helped me bond with the instrument Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 [quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1321824271' post='1443568'] The body is looking great. I stripped my main Precision & it really helped me bond with the instrument [/quote] Thank you. Just put her back together, pics to follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) [u][b]Bolting her back together![/b][/u] Very organised, me.. Screws in sellotape and a note to myself of how many turns I took off the truss-rod to relax the neck when idle for 3 weeks.. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/WPciZl.jpg[/IMG] Little yellow plastic shim in the neck pocket. I'd drawn a biro outline round it, to stick it back in the right place.. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/WMlEwl.jpg[/IMG] All coming together. I'd kept all the electrics on the scratchplate.. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/JPFljl.jpg[/IMG] Ta Da!.... [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/YGFnel.jpg[/IMG] Edited November 22, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 The film is still on the scratchplate, I'll take that off when I give a high polish on the buffing wheel. I'm buying one this week to fit on my drill. She sounds great, little fret buzz on first on A, and maybe the bridge needs lowering a bit, but this is with no set up. Very pleased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share Posted November 21, 2011 Duh! Righty tighty, lefty loosey. 10 half turns, Why that would be 20 full turns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 Looking at her for the last week, I've decided it's all wrong. This needs a proper 70's neck, block inlays perhaps.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 I'd be interested in the Dirnt neck if you o go for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1322170185' post='1447617'] I'd be interested in the Dirnt neck if you o go for that. [/quote] PM'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 Went out today and bought a couple of buffing wheels and some polish from Halfords, and these are the results... [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/mrs4Rl.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/RPKWrl.jpg[/IMG] I'm in a knark tho, because while polishing with the wheel on my drill, the force of the spinning pulled the drill chuck down on to the wood, and I was left with a couple of dings. Not deep or heavy, but not under the scratch plate either. I've got it like glass, but just keep looking at my two dings! But, the whole point is you live and learn, and this is a learning process. What I need is a fixed bench polisher! Anyway, the neck will be up for sale as soon as I post the topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 Neck for sale.. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161230-mim-51-precision-neck-mike-dirnt-sig-mint/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161230-mim-51-precision-neck-mike-dirnt-sig-mint/page__fromsearch__1[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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