Grangur Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) Hi all, This is just for fun really. This isn't my bass. It's one I've agreed to spray for a mate. I received it as a body covered in lumpy black tar-like paint. The body was originally lacquered. It was stripped and spray painted. The paint had no primer under it and it had bubbled up. We don't yet know why it bubbled, but that's life, it happens. I've stripped it again and I'm in the process of spraying it black. In the process I'm faced with a body that looks like a recycled floor-board. I quite like it. Would I like a bass finished like this?.... Hmm dunno. What do you think? Edited August 7, 2015 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 Rich , I say spray it bottle green or yellow or seafoam. I'll stiop now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1438978944' post='2839215'] I has been stripped and spray painted. [/quote] Definitely going to need pics of that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 I like that, not sure why but it definitely has the look to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 I like it as it is, very 'Rat Rod' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1438980127' post='2839230'] I like it as it is, very 'Rat Rod' [/quote] It's going to need appropriate hardware, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goonieman Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1438980609' post='2839236'] It's going to need appropriate hardware, though... [/quote] This is an excellent point. If you're going the 'rat rod' route - which is awesome - bear in mind 2 things: 1. There is PLENTY of effort ahead of you in terms of finding and force-rusting the parts you desire, and 2. You will never recuperate your investment If you're happy with these two aspects, then go full-bore! I'd love to do something like this and would love to see the results! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 I'd give it a throrough sanding to get the wood colour as even as possible, while leaving the black that's penetrated the very open areas of the grain. Then I'd lacquer or oil it. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 Sifi2112 would like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 I quite like the look as it is, maybe a keeper (seal it with a satin acrylic varnish?) but only if it's got a rosewood fingerboard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 I think that stripped body has really interesting texture - I would opt to use something like a wax finish on the body as it is now (to avoid any smooth shine), but not bother attempting to age/corrode the hardware or any other 'relicing' to the other bits and simply treat the visual and textural interest of the body as a counterpoint to the shinyness of the hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 I would refinish it, but definitely not black. Just a personal preference, I can't remember a black bass that I liked (or liked more than other colours of the same model), they look incredibly dull to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 8, 2015 Author Share Posted August 8, 2015 (edited) [quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1438996947' post='2839341'] I think that stripped body has really interesting texture - I would opt to use something like a wax finish on the body as it is now (to avoid any smooth shine), but not bother attempting to age/corrode the hardware or any other 'relicing' to the other bits and simply treat the visual and textural interest of the body as a counterpoint to the shinyness of the hardware. [/quote] Me too. Sanded further this morning. The grain is showing up more. I still like it. If it were mine I'd wax it now. You also can't beat wax finish for serviceability. New pics: Edited August 8, 2015 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 (edited) Wax it Rosewood or ebony fingerboard, black headstock (or something to match the body, but that's likely to be difficult). I agree with SubsonicSimpleton on the hardware - don't bother with any relicing. Black chrome might work, or copper? Edited August 8, 2015 by alyctes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 If the previous paint finish bubbled up, have you asked your friend to consider whether he/she wants to risk the expense of commiting to a spray job which might go the same way (silicon contamination possibly, but it could also have been a bad combination of primer/sealer and topcoat that reacted badly)? If the bad paint that you removed wasn't an original factory finish, then it's anybody's guess what a previous owner might have used in an attempt to conduct a DIY refinish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 8, 2015 Author Share Posted August 8, 2015 (edited) Regrettably, this isn't mine. This was just about having some fun to see what folk thought. Sir wants it black. So black it will be. It now has 3 coats of primer. Tomorrow I'll sand it and, if all goes well it'll have more primer and black it will be. Unless, of course it all bubbles up again and then it'll be back to the drawing board. Edited August 8, 2015 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Shame, it had a sort of driftwood look to it as it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 8, 2015 Author Share Posted August 8, 2015 [quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1439041031' post='2839584'] Shame, it had a sort of driftwood look to it as it was. [/quote] Couldn't agree more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 i would rub it down and hopefully leave a lot of black in the grain then just danish oil it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 8, 2015 Author Share Posted August 8, 2015 Funny how the comments here are largely saying "keep the drift-wood look". But the voting is 2 to 1 in favour of spraying it and covering the look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1439054469' post='2839700'] Funny how the comments here are largely saying "keep the drift-wood look". But the voting is 2 to 1 in favour of spraying it and covering the look. [/quote] That's because those who like the driftwood look are free-spirited liberal types who can't be bothered to vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Yeah, that's me that is. I just finished a J Bass and fitted it out with Schaller hardware all in their vintage copper finish. Looks lovely. I hand made the control plate and side jack plate in copper sheet, then aged/patinated it dark. I think it would have gone really well on this when it was still in the driftwood state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1439058694' post='2839729'] I just finished a J Bass and fitted it out with Schaller hardware all in their vintage copper finish. Looks lovely. I hand made the control plate and side jack plate in copper sheet, then aged/patinated it dark. [/quote] You can't post that without pics! Edited August 8, 2015 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 think i may have gone foe a thin see-through layer of dark red or a blonde colour so you can still the dark underneath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Holding my hands up, this body is mine, I cocked up the painting, not sure how or why as this isn't the first guitar I've painted but it is the first time this has happened, anyway, different story..... Rich showed me the pictures of the body after he had sanded it and, like a lot of you guys, I really liked it, had this been any other project I would have been inclined to keep it as is but for this one, I'm after a black and maple bass, have finished all the work on the neck and headstock, cleaned and buffed all the chrome fittings (including even the smallest of the screw heads and now I can't wait to put it all back together The relic look........for me, I like it, but......depends on how it's done and on the guitar too, as I explained to rich, my main bass is basically sanded down and dyed, looks driftwood like, looks a little relic but also looks new, I have several other guitars, some new looking some reliced some have just had the newness taken away, currently moving house but will post pics when I can (you can see my main bass on the gear porn thread) Really liked the "driftwood" look of this body after it had been sanded but as I say, for this particular project, much to the dismay of some of you guys (sorry) this ones gotta be black and maple Thanks again to rich for helping me out, can't wait to see it finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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