Spraying a bass - without removing the bits?

[Evil Undead]

I'm thinking about giving my SR505 a fine mist of matte black. I will of course be removing the neck and bridge, but...

Although I'm capable of removing the electronics, I'm not capable of putting them back in!

Is it possible to mask these off carefully?

The bass won't be drenched, just a couple of fine mist coats to just about cover the mahogany.

Any thoughts?

[Evil Undead]

I mean just masking the pickups, knobs, and back covers.

[LukeFRC]

Question: why can't you put them back in? Surely if you have the ability to desolder the pups you can also solder them back. My advice- if it's worth doing- do it properly

[Silvia Bluejay]

I think you can remove and replace the knobs easily by either unscrewing the small fixing screw on each knob or by simple push-and-pull action if they have no fixing screw. I guess it is possible to mask the pickups; I'm not sure whether you'd be better off removing the back plate and carefully masking and protecting the electronics inside, though, rather than leaving the plate in place.

Afterthought: if you remove the knobs, you will still be left with the potentiometers' stems to mask.

Edited December 8, 2011 by bluejay

[neepheid]

I'm sure some friendly nearby BCer who is handy with a soldering iron could help you. It really is best if you remove everything before painting a body.

[icastle]

Shouldn't be a problem - use low tak masking tape though or you'll be cleaning glue off for a week afterwards...

Knobs: undo small allen key grub screw and they just slide off, wrap a little bit of masking tape around the pot shafts just to keep them clean.

Pickups: slide masking tape down into the gap between the body and the pup, fold excess over the surface of the pup and then cover the rest with more masking tape.
The pickup cavities don't run directly into the electronics cutout so the chances of paint getting inside are pretty minimal.

Jack socket: depends which version 505 you have. Older models used side mounted sockets, newer ones use front mounted ones (I think!)
Just mask it off, but do a really thorough job here - you don't want paint getting in there!

Bridge: When you take the bridge off you'll find a scrap of bare wire under it - make sure you mask the wire off completely and mask off the hole (you won't see that missed area once the bridge is back on anyway!).

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1323366974' post='1462595']
Question: why can't you put them back in? Surely if you have the ability to desolder the pups you can also solder them back. My advice- if it's worth doing- do it properly
[/quote]

Eeeeee... I'm afraid I don't de-solder, I cut

[Evil Undead]

It may well be easier to get someone to help. I don't know anyone really besides Mr Andy R - who I know would help in a flash but I don't want to pester him

[janmaat]

Learning how to solder is quite rewarding and will cut costs on the cable sides of things. Strong advise to remove everything, since in any other case, you will not achieve an even coat. Are you experienced with spray cans?

[Evil Undead]

I know. Andy showed me how, but I need to get a cheap soldering iron and something to practice on.

I've done a couple of successful refinishes from a spray can.

[janmaat]

btw it may be possible to remove the electronics without any cutting or de-soldering. Take the knobs off, then just unscrew the pots with a wrench holding them carefully from the cavity. Be careful not to lose the cable connecting the electronics to the bridge!. Close the cavity again and stick some tissue in the pot holes. Mask the pickups and do the spray action.

[Mr. Foxen]

Digital photographs are your friend. All the ones on my blog weren't taken for it, they were in case I cocked up.