Yeah, I don't think painted basses are very popular on the luthiers forum, but this one's gonna be pretty trick when it's done. The sky blue color is actually going to be an accent color for the front and the main color for the back. I think I'm painting some more on Tuesday, so I will post more pics as they come.

Masked for the sky blue.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/fullwood.jpg

Shot with blue with a little flashing at the control panel. It's uncharacteristically humid for us here in DFW this December.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/fullbb.jpg

A closer look.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/cubb.jpg

So close. I can't believe I'll be plucking it soon.

What products are you using? Looks good BTW

Nice shape. Nice color, too.

I'm mostly one for "wood-colored" basses, like most of the people here. But there's something sweet about an Inca Silver P-bass with a black pg, or a tuxedo Ric!

Thanks for the compliments, Green & Pilot.
I believe it's a DuPont Chromabase.
It goes on easy in 2 coats and dries so quickly.

Totally rad, man. Great color.

Totally rad, man. Great color.

Thanks, Chuckle.
Should finish the paint tomorrow night!

I'd like to see a pic of the back of the neck already finished so I guess still have to wait a few more hours.

I'd like to see a pic of the back of the neck already finished so I guess still have to wait a few more hours.

THAT may take more like a week. It'll be "painted" but not "finished".

I have spots near the join where we used a blue colored fill thinking we were going to paint the whole neck, but changed design last moment. We will have to try and do some staining.

I will try and get detail.

LOVE the body shape and headstock

LOVE the body shape and headstock

Thanks, Geeze.
I'm glad you like it as I am trying to make it appealing but different, too.

The horns are inspired by shapes of surfboard fins, and the back is a Jazz with a bit of a shear to give it forward motion. I think it's like a Jaguar body. The headstock is just a smaller representation of the body, adjusted to fit the tuners on there. As a result of that, however the tuners don't appear to be uniform when they are in place, but I don't mind them being a bit quirky. They seemed to work well when I had it together.

hehe body style reminds me of streamer, or a spector, which is good :)

hehe body style reminds me of streamer, or a spector, which is good :)

Thanks, waseok. I'm not familiar, but will check 'em out.

OK, I googled them.
Not too crazy about the big ol' horn up top, and the bottom horn doesn't seem to fit the theme. I can see how a few twists and carves would make it very similar. And the headstock angles are similar, too, just without the horns on.

BTW i wonder why u painted it, the back which is natural looks so cool (mahogany?)
oh and what neck pickup u will put? Dimarzio model 1 or similar?

BTW i wonder why u painted it, the back which is natural looks so cool (mahogany?)
oh and what neck pickup u will put? Dimarzio model 1 or similar?

Yes, it's mahogany. From the beginning I wanted this particular paint scheme, so no matter what the wood was looking like, I was going to paint it. I did decide, however, to leave almost all of the back of the neck unpainted.

The PU's are both DiMarzio and the neck is Model 1, the bridge is Ultra Jazz.

Spent about 2 hours masking, 1 hour debating and 30 minutes actually painting last night. This whole proccess is taking about twice as long as I expected it would.

Masked off for a very thin layer of dark blue.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/BellShop010.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/BellShop011.jpg

This would be the part that we debated over. It was a tough mask. I hope it comes out OK, it's the painting part I'm most nervous about since it was a last hour decision.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/BellShop009.jpg

Shot
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/BellShop012.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/BellShop013.jpg

Thatr bass will be a kicka$$ !!!! I love the color :D I'm so desperate to see how will look at the end :D

Thatr bass will be a kicka$$ !!!! I love the color :D I'm so desperate to see how will look at the end :D

Thanks, luzceloffan! I shared your desperation, too, until I realized how patient I have to be. I'm not a patient person at all. At least the end is in sight!

W O W!

Just tell me You'll use Golden hardware :D

Just tell me You'll use Golden hardware :D

Nope, the hardware is gonna be black w/ebony fretboard. I'm not a big fan of gold hardware except for a few models. Like a Gretsch White Falcon. Or a nice custom LP or something.

I think gold would take away from the decidedly "Scooby Doo Mystery Van" vibe it's gonna have.

Nope, the hardware is gonna be black w/ebony fretboard. I'm not a big fan of gold hardware except for a few models. Like a Gretsch White Falcon. Or a nice custom LP or something.

I think gold would take away from the decidedly "Scooby Doo Mystery Van" vibe it's gonna have.

Then You HAVE TO use green ones :D

75457

:D

And you know, I probably would have if it weren't for those meddling kids. :mad:

And you know, I probably would have if it weren't for those meddling kids. :mad:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA nice one!!!

one step back.
Made a mistake painting and had to sand the clear back down today. Man, it's all about sanding, isn't it? Anyway, the mistake is circled in the first pic. I will mask off and re-shoot a larger area now and hopefully it will blend well. Also sanded through the paint a bit on the headstock, should not give me too much trouble. Here's the basic scheme, though. It's gonna look trick with all of the hardware in place.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/IMG_0341.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/IMG_0342.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/IMG_0343.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Ves_Paul/IMG_0344.jpg

Overall I think I'm going to be happy with the results, however, I am thinking about finishing the back of the headstock in the dark blue instead of just the lines leading off.

Sweet cant wait to see finished product

Subscription!

that necks back look good. I didn't think to came as it did.

Thanks, eleon...

I wanted it to look like a big old-school surfboard.

It's seriously funky! Awesome first build.