Sean Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 (edited) I've decided to refinish the Yamaha BB400S I have as it's a bit of an ugly duckling and looks a bit some old lady's table top. I've never done this before so it's going to be a bit of an adventure. I've read loads on refinishing and think I'm patient enough not to rush so let's see. Anyway, here's the body after removing all the hardware and electronics: It's currently drenched in Nitromors. I've decided to go for Sonic Blue as I've never had a bass in that colour and this is a practise run for the next Yamaha BB refinish which will be in Sea Foam Green, which is my absolute favourite colour. Here's a P bass in sonic blue to give you an idea not to be confused with the shade of blue that Sonic is: And here's what it looked like before [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/photo1.jpg[/IMG] Edited October 27, 2012 by Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 Nitromors isn't even blemishing the finish! Heat gun tomorrow night. The neck is sanding off really easily though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Well worth doing, this. Great basses. Do keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 [quote name='Sean' timestamp='1349731667' post='1829911'] Nitromors isn't even blemishing the finish! Heat gun tomorrow night. The neck is sanding off really easily though. [/quote] What's the finish? If its nitrocellulose or similar it'll rub off with the appropriate thinners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 I'm not sure what it is. I'm guessing it's a thin polyurethane finish. It's certainly not as thick as some modern poly finishes. Anyway it's pretty tough but the heat gun seems to be doing it's job but more slowly than I would have hoped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 Well, the old finish took a fair bit of getting off; needed heat gun & scraper and then lots of 80 grit sandpaper, then I used 180 and finished off with 240. I bought myself a new Ryobi detail sander which was £25 and I saved 20% on that as I got a mate who works for B&Q to get it for me - Result! Here's mid way through the scraping [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050101.jpg[/IMG] After scraping [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050102.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050103.jpg[/IMG] After filling and sanding [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050104.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050105.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Looks nice, and looks like it took an awful amount of effort to get it to that stage as well What's on the other end of the pair of forks to the left of your workmate? I'm guessing the other is some sort of Beemer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 12, 2012 Author Share Posted October 12, 2012 [quote name='Si600' timestamp='1349989816' post='1833350'] Looks nice, and looks like it took an awful amount of effort to get it to that stage as well What's on the other end of the pair of forks to the left of your workmate? I'm guessing the other is some sort of Beemer? [/quote] Good spot! Yep, it's my K1300GT. What bike have you got? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 (edited) I've got an '07 Aprilia RSVR. I'll see if I can attach a picture to my profile or something Unless you want your thread hijacked Edited October 12, 2012 by Si600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Si600' timestamp='1350027623' post='1833583'] I've got an '07 Aprilia RSVR. I'll see if I can attach a picture to my profile or something Unless you want your thread hijacked [/quote] There's a fab motorbike thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/17518-so-who-rides-motorbikes-then/page__pid__1765003__st__780#entry1765003"]here[/url] and I've just put up some new pics. Let's see your Aprilia on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Here's the body with the first coat of white primer on. I've managed to get a few runs so it'll need sanding back a bit. This is my first time spray painting anything except a fence so it's a learning experience. From what I've learned from spraying the first coat, you have to be very sparing with the paint and build it up in layers more so than I first thought. [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050108.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050109.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Yes, patience is of the utmost importance! Looking good so far, be interesting to see a Sonic Blur Yammie! Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1350146319' post='1835179'] Yes, patience is of the utmost importance! Looking good so far, be interesting to see a [color=#ff0000]Sonic Blur [/color]Yammie! Truckstop [/quote] I hope that's a typo and not a portent for what the paint job ends up looking like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 (edited) Does anyone know what wood the BB400S is made from? I've Googled and found some references to it being Alder but I don't think it is, it's more like mahogany but it's definitely not that either. Is it nato or similar? Edited October 13, 2012 by Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Oops! Probably Sen Ash or Alder I believe. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 I'm thinking that maybe I should have used grain filler but it's not recommended for alder. Anyway, here's the body after three coats of primer. The horns are a nightmare and seem to be the place where runs are most likely. [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050110.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050111.jpg[/IMG] So far I've really enjoyed doing it and I'd encourage anyone with any interest in giving it a go to try it. Long way to go yet and lots to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Now that the primer is on I can see imperfections that I couldn't when it was bare wood so I've filled them and I'll sand back with 400 and 800 grit tomorrow before starting the sonic blue coat. Hopefully by this time tomorrow we should have an idea of what it'll look like when it's done. I think the three week wait for the finish to dry off properly before sanding and polishing is going to be agony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 Here's the body after three coats of Sonic Blue [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050112.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/seanfunk/P1050113.jpg[/IMG] I'm convinced that I should have used grain filler now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassie Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Where did you get the Sonic Blue paint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 [quote name='Grant' timestamp='1350236553' post='1836136'] Where did you get the Sonic Blue paint? [/quote] [url="http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/"]http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I agree with the lack of grain filler, its going to take a lot of coats of paint and a lot of sanding to get the grain out of the finish, you could try a couple of coats of spray filler primer before sanding it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushbo Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I'm watching this with interest as I'm almost at the same place with my refin...a Squier P Bass special soon to be in antique white. My paints also came from Manchester Guitar Tech. He must love Basschat! At the moment I haven't got a grain filler issue, but I wish I'd checked the finish a bit more carefully - the primer brought out a few nasty little lumps and bumps...wood filler and sander ahoy! Best of luck with the job - it's looking great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 I don't really want to strip it compIetely again. I think I'm going to sand back a bit with 240, grain fill and then do more sonic blue on top of that. Will that work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 try spraying with spray filler primer then sanding back http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/140697000005?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 [quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1350241123' post='1836264'] try spraying with spray filler primer then sanding back [url="http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/140697000005?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla"]http://compare.ebay....sbar&adtype=pla[/url] [/quote] Cheers, I'll give it a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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