Skol303 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 (edited) [b][size=6]See last post for update and photos...[/size][/b] I've got an old Hohner Rockwood (one of [url="http://http://basschat.co.uk/topic/40917-rockwood-by-hohner-lx90-b/"]these[/url]) that I bought off my brother for £30 a while ago to use as a 'project bass' - i.e. something I can tinker with without fear of causing expensive amounts of damage. I de-fretted it last year (sounds surprisingly good!). I'm now planning on removing the finish, stripping it back to the bare wood and painting it. It's got a hard plastic finish that I assume can't be removed using a chemical stripper such as Nitromors. So from what I've read elsewhere online, it looks like I have to remove it using a heat gun. It's not a huge issue if I mess it up - but if it's going to be a total pain in the backside then I might not bother. The advice I've found online makes it look suspiciously easy! So... how easy it this to do? Cheers. PS: as an aside, I'm also going to get round to changing the pickups on this bass at some point this year (original thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/117445-how-important-are-pickups/"]here[/url]). Edited April 14, 2013 by Skol303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Not very easy at all. Get a power sander with plenty of spare sheets of 60 grit paper. You'll just have to do as best you can with the edges. Personally, having done it before, I think I'd rather die before trying it again. Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Wood is surprisingly unaffected by heat. If the wood is nice and dry you have no worries aside from setting fire to it which is easily avoided by taking your time. The main issue is the heat sucking any remaining moisture out of the body which could cause movement and cracking worse case. Worse is a funny looking word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 [quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1357593085' post='1925128'] Not very easy at all. Get a power sander with plenty of spare sheets of 60 grit paper. You'll just have to do as best you can with the edges. Personally, having done it before, I think I'd rather die before trying it again. Truckstop [/quote]Yes sanding/scraping/swearing it off is a mammoth task and best left well alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have now done 3 of these. They are hellish hard work. I am thinking of doing a 4th, because I am a twat....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Btw, orange nitromors, then heat gun, then f*&kloads of really coarse sandpaper, and a ton of elbow grease (enjoy the horns) then down the grades til it's nice again. Then Danish oil. Takes about a week if you're in a hurry, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 ^ Cheers guys, great responses. Made me laugh! ... with a mix of humour and sheer terror. So basically, if I decide to go ahead with this I'm setting myself up for a s*** tonne of frustration and will likely destroy the bass in the process. Sounds like a plan! I won't be attemtping this till next time I visit my folks (my old man has a heat gun in his shed somewhere), but I'll keep you posted with pics of my pain/glory when the time comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Check this old thread of mine from a rival forum, for some of what you may be in for...... http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/rebuilding-p-bass-copy-step-step-fun-watch-558473/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Oh and these pictures of my SG are also revealing (hopefully I wrote notes on the pictures, can't remember, was a bitch though) : http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.485840470966.262456.720195966&type=3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1357594218' post='1925171'] Btw, orange nitromors, then heat gun, then f*&kloads of really coarse sandpaper, and a ton of elbow grease (enjoy the horns) then down the grades til it's nice again. Then Danish oil. Takes about a week if you're in a hurry, [/quote] I did exactly this to a 1980 Precision to remove what I thought was a nasty colour. In fact it was 'vintage' and took two thirds off the value of the bass. Can be done though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 ^ Cheers Dave! Made me a bit sqeamish reading that thread - like watching an operation on the telly - but I think I'm still up for it. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Or lost. Hmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0151_polystripping.hzml?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ts0151 Easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Crack out the sandpaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 Quick update: it's looking like I'm going to have opportunity to attempt the resin removal this weekend. I'm staying with relatives who have a small workshop and a good set of tools (including a couple of heat guns). You'll probably be able to hear me swearing blue murder from where you live... PS: I also bought a cheap set of new pickups to install once it's finished. Nothing flashy - a budget set of [url="http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Entwistle-PBX-split-pickup-for-bass-guitar-/330844097321?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4d07d84b29"]Entwistle PBX[/url] that I bought on eBay for a tenner! I've heard they're not too shabby for the price, but I'm not expecting miracles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Well after all that, it turns out the body of the bass in question is made from MDF! Just found out when I removed the scratchplate to get at the electronics. So... I've decided to abandon the idea of stripping the resin finish. Seems like a pointless exercise given the 'quality' of the material beneath. Plus I don't fancy heating up something containing formaldahyde with a heat gun - MDF has enough health risks associated with it without me adding to them! I may yet replace the body entirely, we'll see. In the meantime I have some new p'ups to install in it, so at least there's something to tinker with Anyway thanks again for all of your advice on this subject. Much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Well if you can't strip it, why not go completely the other way and respray it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1360418166' post='1970041']Well if you can't strip it, why not go completely the other way and respray it? [/quote] Hehe, you just read my mind! I guess I'll need to use some kind of solvent to take the lacquer off the poly finish first (?), then respray as you suggest. If anybody has any recommendations for suitable brands of paint then please lemme know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Well, I just painted a body and I didn't even sand the original poly finish, as it was clean and in nice condition... more info here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/179199-refinishing-amateurishly-a-jazz-bass-body-capri-orange/page__hl__refinish%20jazz__st__60"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/179199-refinishing-amateurishly-a-jazz-bass-body-capri-orange/page__hl__refinish%20jazz__st__60[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted February 10, 2013 Author Share Posted February 10, 2013 Cheers mcnach! Just reading that thread you posted...very useful mate. That's exactly the sort of approach I'm planning myself - ie. rough and ready! :-) I'm definitely going to have a go at this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Remember to post pictures!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 I finally managed to get round to re-spraying the Hohner Rockwood bass this weekend, using [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/179199-refinishing-amateurishly-a-jazz-bass-body-capri-orange/page__hl__refinish%20jazz__st__60"]McNach's own patented "what's the worst that could happen?" method[/url] Here's how I got on… Stupidly, in my excitement to get started I forgot to take a photo of the bass in its original format (doh). But here's a low quality pic of the exact same bass from Google images: My weapons of choice. A can of white primer and Capri Orange from [url="http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/shop/category/nitrocellulose-lacquer/"]Manchester Guitar Tech[/url], plus a can of [url="http://www.patrolbase.co.uk/krylon-spray-paint/krylon-fusion-black.htm"]Krylon Fusion Black[/url] for spraying the plastic the pick guard (after removing the cellophane-style wrapping, which was a gigantic ball ache involving a heat gun, aluminium oxide sandpaper and a good dollop of elbow grease). Always wear protection! (my tribute to 90s rave act Altern-8: [i]"Watch yer bass bins, I'm telling' ya…"[/i]). Undercoat finished… …top coat finished. Re-sprayed scratch plate fitted along with new [url="http://www.entwistlepickups.com/pickup.php?puid=PBX"]Entwistle PBX pickups[/url] (only a tenner, but lots better than what it had originally). The finished ensemble! (I de-fretted the neck previously last year, Blue Peter style). [size=5]Really enjoyed this. Thanks again to y'all for the various hints and tips![/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Nice job Paul (I like your wallpaper) And I don't remember altern8 working for BT, still I don't remember a lot from back then.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 That is beautiful!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted April 15, 2013 Author Share Posted April 15, 2013 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1366014281' post='2047146']Nice job Paul (I like your wallpaper) And I don't remember altern8 working for BT, still I don't remember a lot from back then...[/quote] [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1366015616' post='2047175']That is beautiful!!!! [/quote] Cheers gents, I found it to be a [i]very[/i] satisfing job! The bass looks brand new. It still sounds a wee bit sh*t, but heh. What do you expect from an MDF body and £10 p'ups? PS: BT overalls were donated courtesy of my old man, who's a retired engineer and still a maestro with a soldering iron! Wallpaper is that of Skol Jnr's play room, which also doubles as my 'studio'. It's a very creative space, that's for sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myke Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 (edited) Damn this looks so much like my bass! Lovely though! Edited April 15, 2013 by Myke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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