Jazz Bass on a budget (finally finished with pics) and Jazz Bass Mk 2 on even less of a budget!

[DarkHeart]

Well ive always fancied a Jazz but never seem to have actually bothered buying one for some strange reason, so when i saw an unused unnamed swamp ash Jazz body on the bay i thought why not, ive got a full set of electrics inc pick ups and a bridge so all i need is the neck, tuners and various jazzy type bits. The body is hand built by an unnamed builder but seems pretty accurate, the scratch plate follows the line of the lower horn quite nicely so all is well there although i may sand bigger radius on the horns just because i can . When ive received the body it seems to be covered in quite a (very in places) thick layer of primer so my first job will be to sand all of that off and start from scratch, this will be my first attempt at finishing a body and as i work from a very small bedroom im not expecting anything like some of the stunning finishes you normally see on here and at the moment im not even sure what colour its going to end up. The journey as they say starts here!





ive started sanding the back just to see what the wood underneath is like and it looks quite nice so a see through tinted lacquer might be on the cards or even just natural....time will tell

Edited October 25, 2012 by DarkHeart

[gary mac]

Looks like a nice bit of grain under that paint.

[paul_5]

Swamp ash for a body? You know it makes sense!

[DarkHeart]

the more i sand the more im tempted to go for clear coat

[DarkHeart]

this needs a full bank holidays worth of sanding!

[DarkHeart]

forgot to mention the body was £20 plus pap it would be nice to keep it under £150 just to see what i can kit it out with!

[Dolando]

That looks like a lovely grain. Thought id send a pic of my first jazz fretless build to wet your appetite for a clear lacquer.

http://i45.tinypic.com/2yy1q11.jpg

I think clear is the way forward. Also here is a link to something that helped me spray my body. He sells loads of colours and are extremely good quality,ive sprayed 3 guitars with them.

http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/2011/08/05/finishing-an-ash-telecaster-in-butterscotch/

Will keep an eye on your progress.

[DarkHeart]

that jazz looks lovely and thanks for the link.

[yepmop]

Good Luck and you'll have lots of messy fun

Will keep looking out for your progress posts, remember Halfords do cheap paint! Perhaps even match it to the colour of your car!

[DarkHeart]

ive had a bit more sand today, not much as i spent the day with my son but managed to sand out a couple of dings also managed to shape the scratchplate to the control plate with just a stanley knife! i think its definitely going to be just clear coat when its finished, but here is a pic or 2 as to where im at plus the bits ive got, im waiting on a reply of a bc member about a jazz neck which will fit just nicely!

[IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/SNV80197.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/SNV80198.jpg[/IMG]

hopefully tomorrow it wont be raining so i can get outside with my sander and get rid of the rest of the primer

[DarkHeart]

does this count as a build? my last creation, cheap thunderbird copy body, cheap jazz neck and emg pickups sounds and plays wonderful!

[IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/2012_08190002.jpg[/IMG]

[RichardH]

More inspiration for a clear grain - my P body that went from



to this



[url=http://www.areyoulocal.com/bass_preciazz.asp]Build here[/url], in case it offers any useful info.

[Dolando]

Hey, I'm after another jazz neck. So if you don't go for this one from a BC member. Would you mind sending him my way? Cheers

[DarkHeart]

that pb looks great, if mine turns out nearly as nice ill be very happy

[DarkHeart]

the back has now been sanded right back and apart from a couple of scratches that need sanding out its nearly finished, im now off to lie down in a darkened room cause im knackered!

[IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/SNV80199.jpg[/IMG]

[MiltyG565]

one piece swamp ash too? nice!

[DarkHeart]

i was expecting it to be a few glued together hence the thick paint but im pleasantly surprised

[rubis]

You might be able to save some elbow grease by steaming those last scratches out.
Nice looking body by the way, when it comes to grain filling,Rustins is quite good and cheap too
Good luck
Harry

[MiltyG565]

it looks like some of the primer is still in the grain of the timber, which you should be careful of if you are doing a natural finish. dont want to spray it all nicely, then notice there's a bit of grayness to it still.

[DarkHeart]

Theres still a lot of sanding to be done and possibly a couple of pock marks to fill, its still early days but its coming alone nicely.

[MiltyG565]

oh, good stuff. i just left a jazz bass body off to be sprayed. it just had too many little chips and dings for my liking. lake placid blue anyone?

[DarkHeart]

im thinking of a colour now as ive just discovered what i think is a repair done to the wood on the front of the body just above where the scratchplate sits but as yet havent sanded it right back yet as it started raining and sanding it outside is my only option. Im fancying surf green or similar or something completely opposite like the orange they paint rs focus`s in hmmm decisions decisions

[MiltyG565]

lol, that crazy "LOOK AT ME!! IM A FECKING FOCUS!!" colour. love it. i just traded a bass that was that kinda colour.

[xgsjx]

If you do go for a natural finish, may I suggest sanding in several coats of Danish Oil (about 10-20, depending) & then a couple of coats of Beeswax?

Here's something I did...


[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/xgsjx/5840432981/][/url]

The bass used to be black.

Looking forward to following your progress.

[yorks5stringer]

I'm sure you're aware that when you've finished sanding it with all the grades, you need to wet it all over to raise the grain, and sand it again with a fine grade?