Reversing P-J Mod???

**ExaltBass** · #1 04-17-2009, 01:10 PM

How would I fill the rout from the J Pickup? Has anyone here done this successfully?

It is for my '69 P-J Bass and I would like to reverse all the mods and get it back to what it should look like. I still have all the original hardware. The finish was totally beatup when I bought it... cool now, but not then, so I had it stripped and poly coated.

I plan on having the bass repainted the original color (Ocean Turquoise) after, but I am concerned about filling such a large hole and making the surface smooth.

JazzMarius · #2 04-17-2009, 01:32 PM

man why did u do that on a vintage bass??

maybe a block of wood and some luthier work would fill that and under the finish paint u wont notice a thing.

with some routing ( to clean the picup slot ) and with a perfectly matched block of wood. sand it until it's the same level and finish it. some hard work and measurments.

**ExaltBass** · #3 04-17-2009, 01:35 PM

I did it in the mid 70's and it wasn't vintage then

(note the 70s spacing). I was thinking that if I could use the pickup as a guide I could get a block to fill it... it might work. Has anyone here done it?

mongo2 · #4 04-18-2009, 04:54 AM

I'd rout a rectangular cavity a little larger than the J cavity, fill the new cavity with a block of appropriate wood and sand it all level. Prime and paint.

It'll be much easier to make the rectangular block fit right than it would be for a J pickup shaped block.

JazzMarius · #5 04-18-2009, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

I'd rout a rectangular cavity a little larger than the J cavity, fill the new cavity with a block of appropriate wood and sand it all level. Prime and paint.

It'll be much easier to make the rectangular block fit right than it would be for a J pickup shaped block.

that's what i said!

mongo2 · #6 04-18-2009, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzMarius

that's what i said!

I didn't read your post.

JazzMarius · #7 04-18-2009, 05:15 AM

shame on you

mongo2 · #8 04-18-2009, 05:38 AM

**ExaltBass** · #9 04-18-2009, 10:13 AM

Took it all apart this morning. Started stripping the poly, using a heat gun. Then I've got to tackle the routs.

The original owner also did a shallow rout for a humbucker and an ugly trench for the wiring and a switch. I filled it in with plastic wood when I bought it, but it shrank and it never bothered me - since it was covered by the pickguard. I want to fill it right now.

It may take some time... but hey, I've owned it for 34 years and it's not going anywhere.

JazzMarius · #10 04-21-2009, 04:03 AM

i am waiting to see how this turns out!!!
keep us updated!

**ExaltBass** · #11 05-22-2009, 03:16 PM

I'll be ready to send her out for refinishing in the next a couple of weeks. Got most of the poly off - whew! And, I've been selling stuff to finance the refin (see the classifieds). This long weekend I want to fill the rout and have it ready-to-go.

Then... I have to figure out where to send it for refinishing... suggestions? I'm in Minnesota, but shipping anywhere CONUS should work.

I want:
1) Ocean Turquoise Metallic paint that looks 40 years old.
2) Light relic - well used, but not abused (I have been gigging her since '75).
3) Pro job

JazzMarius · #12 06-02-2009, 10:35 AM

any updates???

i am so curious about this!!!

**ExaltBass** · #13 06-10-2009, 01:48 PM

Well, I gutted out (and I'm glad I did). My body kept telling me to go all the way with a professional restoration... so, after I got all the poly off I did.

Here is what scared me...

I decided to send it to Southbound Custom in Nashville, TN (and I'm glad I did). Steve gave me quite a surprise! Looking at the 2nd picture can any of you eagle eyes guess? (Hint... they're running it over to George Gruhn for confirmation)

When I get her home with all of the work done I'll post pics in a new thread in "Basses"

Needless to say I'm on pins and needles

dmusic148 · #14 06-10-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExaltBass

I decided to send it to Southbound Custom in Nashville, TN (and I'm glad I did). He gave me quite a surprise! Looking at the 2nd picture can any of you eagle eyes guess?

It was blue at one point?

tplyons · #15 06-10-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExaltBass

Well, I gutted out (and I'm glad I did). My body kept telling me to go all the way with a professional restoration... so, after I got all the poly off I did.

Here is what scared me...

I decided to send it to Southbound Custom in Nashville, TN (and I'm glad I did). Steve gave me quite a surprise! Looking at the 2nd picture can any of you eagle eyes guess? (Hint... they're running it over to George Gruhn for confirmation)

When I get her home with all of the work done I'll post pics in a new thread in "Basses"

Needless to say I'm on pins and needles

Looks like an address, but for what I can't tell.

Do you have any more details?

LCW · #16 06-10-2009, 01:53 PM

um the filler over the humbucker route looks like ink print so on it?

is that car bondo in the body?

**ExaltBass** · #17 06-10-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

It was blue at one point?

Nice try,

but my first post states that I wanted to go back to the original Ocean Turquoise Metallic finish.

ryognbass · #18 06-10-2009, 01:54 PM

was it at one time modded for a mudbucker and a sheean-esque wiring?

**ExaltBass** · #19 06-10-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Looks like an address, but for what I can't tell.

Do you have any more details?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCW

um the filler over the humbucker route looks like ink print so on it?

is that car bondo in the body?

It was stamped by Pete's Guitar Repair in St. Paul. They did the fill in some sort of plastic wood on the wiring rout (which shrunk) for me when I bought it in '75.

**ExaltBass** · #20 06-10-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryognbass

was it at one time modded for a mudbucker and a sheean-esque wiring?

I knew that when I bought it... keep trying.