Solution needed for severe paint damage on a P Bass.
 

Back in December I bought a modified second hand MIM P Bass from eBay for £330, which I thought was a pretty decent deal.
It sustained some serious damage to the body end while in transit. It was packed in the original box and wrapped in bubblewrap. There weren't any internal fitments used - not sure if I could hold the seller responsible for that but even if I could, a few months have passed now. Instead I made a claim with the courier company (still ongoing).

The paint has continued to fall off in chunks because it's got stress cracks on the bottom edge. The paint coat is thick and has a fragile outer shell that seems to crumble like a biscuit. It's hard to handle the bass without making it worse.

I can live with a makeshift repair job for that worn look, but how? How can I take a piece of sandpaper to that?! Perhaps using a heavy grit sandpaper block to shim off the sharp edges then smooth it out with some finer sheets?

Any ideas are welcome!

Cheers
rhythmbug

That sucks. I don't want to offer any advice, since this is beyond my knowledge, but it seems that if you try to remove any loose pieces it will just get worse.

Good luck with the rapair and the claim. In my experience freight carriers try to get out of paying a dime for any damages.

Looks like you've got your very own "Road Worn" or "Relic-ed" P. Congrats! But seriously, I had no idea how that paint is on those things! I don't have any advice for you, but good luck!

Looking at it I would say sand it down past all the chipping, and fill the space with some new finish (epoxy, superglue, or any of the several finish patches available through stewmac). Keepin mind though, repairing it may affect the shipping claim.

Wick water thin superglue along the edges of the failed finish, to keep more from falling off. Do this with a pipette, never get a full bottle of CA near an instrument!

Buy a heat gun and a scrapper and finish the job.

Then spray a Nitro finish.

My thoughts exactly.

Davo

A heat gun will blow the finish off that like it was nothing. But use caution and common sense. Do a search, I performed it myself. More important, what do you propose to do with it when the finish is gone?

Some people pay extra for that kind of thing...

Weird that the wood isn't damaged! Looks like the paint cured badly.

Thanks very much for the input fellas!

I think post #4 appeals to me the most. Easiest and cheapest.
What type of epoxy filler should be used? Does it need to be something especially for woods? Does that stuff come in clear?

I'd leave it as it is

Bump - any advice on type of epoxy to use? Hope to pop down to the hardware store on the weekend and get cracking on this.

Maybe strip the paint and re finish?

If you have decided to leave the finish on the guitar, that is the answer. If you have decided to repair the existing finish, that is the beginning of the answer. Either way, that is the answer.

Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a winner!!! LOL

Re-ranch...

not epoxy, superglue!

the thin stuff will wick under the edges and keep any more from falling off.

(i gotta say though, with that much busted off, as thick as it is and as easily as you say it's still coming off, the heat gun and paint scraper idea appeals.)

Walter and JLS have posted the correct information.

+1, looks like some nice wood grain underneath, perhaps a semi-transparent refin?

I seriously think you'd be wasting a lot of time and effort with anything other than the heatgun method. Just saying from experience.