How to remove bridge imprint in poly?

[fu22ba55]

I'm looking to remove the Badass II on my '79 Jazz and put the stock bridge back on for the vintage look. (and an incredible LOSS in tone, I know...)

This Badass has been on there for about 20 years now, (Jeebus... I'm old. I remember putting it on there 20 years ago.)

What's the best way to "cut back" the finish a bit to minimize the old bridge's footprint?

-I know I have a poly finish.

-I have a package of that superfine finishing sandpaper from stewmac. (up to 2000 grit.)

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/5562

-Do I need some kind of rubbing compound? Baby powder? Diatomaceous earth (silica)? Coffee grounds? Cocaine?

-Wet or dry sand? (I'm competent with dry sanding up to 220 grit, but have never done any wet sanding.)

School me.

[202dy]

Leave it alone. Anything you do to fix the problem will have a negative affect on the value of the instrument.

[fu22ba55]

Originally Posted by 202dy

Leave it alone. Anything you do to fix the problem will have a negative affect on the value of the instrument.

LOL. Thanks for the concern, but maybe you need to see a few more pics of the instrument:





-there are even more dings... I'm just trying not to bombard the thread with pics.

-and the pickups are not original

I have the original '79 bridge, so I assume any damage I do to it's value by cutting back the finish a taste will be outweighed by putting the original bridge back on?

And heck.... it can't be worse than what I'm doing to the back of the bass:

[mongo2]

Those "relic" pictures are even more of a reason to leave it alone, IMO. The imprint is part of the "mojo" so to speak.

[jkramer5]

All that and your concerned about the imprint left by the bridge?


leave it alone lol

[202dy]

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

LOL. Thanks for the concern, but maybe you need to see a few more pics of the instrument:

-there are even more dings... I'm just trying not to bombard the thread with pics.

-and the pickups are not original

I have the original '79 bridge, so I assume any damage I do to it's value by cutting back the finish a taste will be outweighed by putting the original bridge back on?

And heck.... it can't be worse than what I'm doing to the back of the bass:

Cool bass. Leave it alone.

[BigOldHarry]

Given the popularity of those bridges in the day (I had one on MY '77 J bass), I'd say leave the BA on there!

I'd also suggest you change your belt buckle to stop contributing to that buckle rash. I tore up one nice axe in my misspent youth that way - I haven't since.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by jkramer5

All that and your concerned about the imprint left by the bridge?


leave it alone lol

Uh, yeah...

[fu22ba55]

Wow.

Plenty of answers to "should I do this?", but none to "how do I do this?"

I understand your hesitation, and you might even be talking me out of it.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

Wow.

Plenty of answers to "should I do this?", but none to "how do I do this?"

I understand your hesitation, and you might even be talking me out of it.

Well, I guess the how doesn't matter if it ain't gonna happen.

[fu22ba55]

Originally Posted by mongo2

Well, I guess the how doesn't matter if it ain't gonna happen.

True... but if I knew how, then it would have happened already!

This is turning into a Zen koan.

[FunkMetalBass]

You might be able to get a thin coat of superglue on the creases to at even them out and make them less noticeable, but there isn't much you can do without a full refinish.

I second the "put the badass back on" motion.