Need advice and recommendations on hardware. I'm re-building a Lyon bass.

kuys · #1 07-25-2010, 11:24 PM

I'm wanting to take my wife's old Lyon bass and rebuild it.

First thing that must go is the color. Not a fan of the faded purple glitter it is now. I'd love to get it a dark green with a new pick-guard. New bridge as well. Thinking about the DiMarzio DP126 P+J kit with some new pots and and covers. I put a set of GHS Boomers on it and adjusted the neck. Zero fret buzz and man do I love the neck, the action is so smooth and the fret spacing has to be the most comfortable I've every played. I'm up for changing the body out but I rather like the design. Basically I'm wanting to keep the neck and do a complete rebuild. Any advice on hardware? Pickups? Bridges? Do I need to strip it before I paint it or could I just get some of that all surface spray paint followed by a clear coat? Is that even possible?

If anyone would do a photoshop mock-up that would be awesome!

Stingray_EB · #2 07-25-2010, 11:26 PM

Is this for you or your wife?

kuys · #3 07-26-2010, 12:34 AM

250k pots or 500k pots? Recommendations?

kuys · #4 07-26-2010, 12:40 AM

Thinking about this bridge.

http://www.allparts.com/Black-Leo-Qu...b-0337-003.htm

These tunning keys.

http://www.allparts.com/Economy-Bass...k-0794-003.htm

Thoughts?

mulchor · #5 07-26-2010, 12:57 AM

Is switching the tuners and bridge just cosmetic? Cuz you say it plays great as is. I don't get why you'd want to mess with it.

IME painting over old paint carries all the imperfections forward. The look of your final product totally depends on the quality of your prep work.

The Dimarzios I think are a great value. Reasonably priced, very nice tone, quiet. They'll sound great.

kuys · #6 07-26-2010, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulchor

Is switching the tuners and bridge just cosmetic? Cuz you say it plays great as is. I don't get why you'd want to mess with it.

IME painting over old paint carries all the imperfections forward. The look of your final product totally depends on the quality of your prep work.

The Dimarzios I think are a great value. Reasonably priced, very nice tone, quiet. They'll sound great.

You got a point, what about new pots? I think the ones in there are in pretty bad shape. I get a lot of noise from them when rolling forward and back. All so think I'm going to replace the input jack and redo all the wiring with new wires. Where can I find foil for shielding?

mulchor · #7 07-26-2010, 07:49 AM

New pots, yep. I know we're s'posed to be more sustainable and all that, but they're so cheap, I'd rather just replace 'em than try to baby them along.

I have a couple rolls of copper foil tape from StewMac. I find it pretty easy to work with. I guess some people don't like it because the conductive sticky isn't perfectly conductive, but on my multimeter, it's effective enough.

kuys · #8 07-26-2010, 11:14 AM

So what do you guys thinking about the painting? Will I be able to get some all surface spray paint and be able to repaint it with out stripping it? I don't have the tools or the money and I'm not really concerned about the imperfections coming thru I just absolutely hate the color.

Pilgrim · #9 07-26-2010, 11:26 AM

IMO the only right way to re-finish is to strip off all the old finish, then re-seal and re-fin. You get rid of all the old stuff - and if you're one of those who thinks that multiple layers of finish muffle "tone", then of course you want to minimize the number of coats.

Personally, I just am not happy with painting over an existing finish. Strip it, be meticulous about the prep work, and you'll end up with a fantastic finish job.

Toss the old pots - save the hardware that works well - and I like the Dimarzios.

kuys · #10 07-26-2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

IMO the only right way to re-finish is to strip off all the old finish, then re-seal and re-fin. You get rid of all the old stuff - and if you're one of those who thinks that multiple layers of finish muffle "tone", then of course you want to minimize the number of coats.

Personally, I just am not happy with painting over an existing finish. Strip it, be meticulous about the prep work, and you'll end up with a fantastic finish job.

Toss the old pots - save the hardware that works well - and I like the Dimarzios.

I understand what your saying about the paint and finish. But what I'm asking is if it's possible to just repaint it as is. I know a new finish and everything would be nice. But I'm not really that concerned about the condition too much. I could put up with the color if my band didn't all play dark colored Fenders. I really stand out.

Could someone do a mock up of this bass with a dark green coat and a black and red pickguard? Kinda like a dark army green?

kuys · #11 07-26-2010, 11:43 AM

Also what is the difference between 250k and 500k pots?

Would these works?
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...Pot?sku=364666

mulchor · #12 07-26-2010, 12:44 PM

The fancy Dimarzio pots will work just fine. So would a non-branded pot that you get from an electronics supplier.

I'm not sure I can tell 250k from 500k by ear. In principle, the 500k turned full up pass more treble.

Yes, you can paint over paint. Suggest you run a sander over it. If you don't really care what it looks like up close, doing a quick n dirty job may be just the thing for you. Painting is one of those things, you spend days and days getting it prepped properly, and then 2 minutes actually painting.

From the audience point of view, they won't notice what bass you're playing, let alone if it has orange-peel, dents, or whatnot.

kuys · #13 07-26-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulchor

The fancy Dimarzio pots will work just fine. So would a non-branded pot that you get from an electronics supplier.

I'm not sure I can tell 250k from 500k by ear. In principle, the 500k turned full up pass more treble.

Yes, you can paint over paint. Suggest you run a sander over it. If you don't really care what it looks like up close, doing a quick n dirty job may be just the thing for you. Painting is one of those things, you spend days and days getting it prepped properly, and then 2 minutes actually painting.

From the audience point of view, they won't notice what bass you're playing, let alone if it has orange-peel, dents, or whatnot.

Thank you for all your help. I've started to think about just buying a fender p/j swamp ash body to replace it. Wonder if this neck will fit in it though. Time to get the tape measure.
I'll hang on to the body and use it as a learning project about stripping and refinishing. I've been looking at it and I honestly think it's just plywood. At least that's what it looks like to me. It's super light-weight though.

Pilgrim · #14 07-26-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuys

I understand what your saying about the paint and finish. But what I'm asking is if it's possible to just repaint it as is. I know a new finish and everything would be nice. But I'm not really that concerned about the condition too much. I could put up with the color if my band didn't all play dark colored Fenders. I really stand out.

Of course it's possible. Just scuff the existing finish and spray over it. The result is up to you. I recommend a dark color, or you'll need a light undercoat and multiple coats over that to cover the existing color. With sanding between each coat, of course.

VinKreepo · #15 07-26-2010, 02:36 PM

Ok I know you don't want to strip the bass... but here's the cost... $30. $30 gets you a can of sprayed stripper. Just read the directions and take of the paint... you will either see an epoxy shell around the wood or just the wood. If you have the epoxy, you're in luck. Just wipe it down, let it dry, and paint. If it's wood, wipe it down, dry, and sand before painting (someone else can tell you the best way to sand). The sand paper will cost you $5 more. So you'll run at most $35 more to do a GOOD paint job than if you just pained the bass as it is. Trust me... it's worth it

kuys · #16 07-26-2010, 07:59 PM

Used a dark green all surface paint with a chrome accent and some clear-coat. The iphone camera doesn't do it justice it looks like a moss covered rock up close. But not bad for my first painting attempt.

I've ordered the new pickups and a unfinished P/J swampash body with all new hardware, sans the bridge and neck which are being carried over.

This is what I hope to have when all is said and down. I'm curious to how they got that orange grain effect. Also prob not going to go with the partial metal pickguard. Just the same color tortoise pickguard.

darkstorm · #17 07-26-2010, 08:03 PM

Your ideas so far sound good. Bridge replacement with either gotoh or better yet (imo) hipshot brass bridge for little better sound transfer and detail. 2band active eq or 3 band via stacked pots (bass/treble, mid/mid select) as part of electronics upgrade would also be sweet imo.

kuys · #18 07-26-2010, 09:22 PM

Bridge Upgrade: Hipshot Brass A-Style Bass Bridge

Pickup Upgrade: DiMarzio DP126 P+J Neck & Bridge Bass Pickup

Preamp/Tone Circuit Upgrade: Basslines STC-2C-BO Blackouts Tone Circuit

Body: Swamp Ash P/J unfinished body

So what does everyone think? Is it gonna be a nice bass?

kuys · #19 07-26-2010, 09:39 PM

Thinking about using a two nob configuration. The preamp/tone circuit running as a master tone nob and one master volume nob running both pickups. Will that work?

Pilgrim · #20 07-27-2010, 12:47 PM

Is that hardware going onto your wife's bass, or the new body you ordered?

I sure wouldn't put that much hardware and $$ into a bass without doing a refin from bare wood up. Otherwise it's a bit like hanging a ground effects kit on a rusted-out Beetle.

I assume it's for the new body.