What kind of finish is used on the Epi EB-O?

Pilgrim · #1 08-09-2007, 05:44 PM

I just got an Epi EB-O in the cherry/transparent finish. It has a couple of good-sized chips in the lower bout finish, one of which is more than 1/2" long. (Why can't people take care of their instruments??) The finish is more red and less brownish than it appears in the photos below.

Here's a front view and a closer view of the chips from the auction photos...and yes, the jack is also tweaked but I can easily fix that...

I'm willing to play with stains and lacquer to fill the chips, but to do it right I need to know what kind of material it was finished with. I'm guessing it's lacquer (not poly) due to the transparency, but I could be wrong. Also, I've been more of a Fender guy, so even if it's lacquer I don't know if Epi would have used acrylic or nitro lacquer.

Anyone able to help identify the finish material?...and suggestions? So far the best idea I've come up with is to mix stain and lacquer, patiently fill the chips one drop at a time, then finish. That ought to work with lacquer, but if they used poly I'll have to learn how to work with it.

62bass · #2 08-09-2007, 07:30 PM

If you can find somewhere it's finished that won't show, like under the pickguard, wipe some full strength alcohol, such as methyl hydrate which is sold as a shellac thinner on it and see if the finish dissolves. If it gets gummy it'll almost certainly be lacquer. If not it's something else. A lot will depend on what year it is.

Your repair ideas are good. I'd use clear dewaxed shellac with powdered artist's colours mixed in to do touch ups on the bare spots. It'll stick to any clean finish and any finish will stick to it. If you have deep dings you can fill them with lacquer sticks which are sold in various wood tones and are melted on and smoothed out. When they harden they can be sanded and buffed out, although you'll have to cover the whole top after with a clear finish to even everything out. The lacquer sticks should be fine to use whatever the finish. Your clear top coat will depend on what's on there now and to a great extent, what you're capable of working with. Dings can also be filled with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) and then buffed out.

I'd suggest you buy a book called "Hand Applied Finishes" by Jeff Jewitt and published by Taunton Press (publishers of Fine Woodworking magazine. It covers all the basics you need to know about repairs and is also an excellent reference for anything you might want to do later on. Jewitt operates a furniture finishing shop, gives lectures on wood finishing and has done a lot of work refinishing acoustic guitars among other wooden pieces. I bought my copy at Lee Valley Tools but you can order from Taunton.

aquateen · #3 08-10-2007, 05:40 AM

epiphone uses poly, not lacquer.

62bass · #4 08-10-2007, 10:32 AM

If it's poly, it'll be one of the catalyzed types which are very tough and won't react to almost any chemical or even paint strippers. I would think that if you cleaned up the scratches and filled the dings and sanded the whole bass very carefully with 220 grit sandpaper so it's evenly dull, you should be able to spray any good quality clear coating over it. Then buff it out. Check for spray cans of a product used for cars. Practice on scrap wood first.

I still suggest you buy that book first. It has a chapter on rubbing out finishes.

Pilgrim · #5 08-10-2007, 11:16 AM

There are some good thoughts here - keep 'em coming.

I do have Dan Erlewine's excellent book on guitar setup and repair, and I'm checking the other book - used copies are under $10 at Amazon.

bassmanrocke · #6 08-10-2007, 11:18 AM

You can pick these things up all day long on ebay for under $150. The amount of effort and money you will spend repairing this would probably be more well spent looking for a deal on one in the condition you want. I too enjoy working on parts basses, but this just seems like wasted effort. Why not just enjoy this one as a "reliced" bass and find a really clean one if you have to have it.

Pilgrim · #7 08-10-2007, 11:28 AM

Your point is logical, but the chips bother me. To me, they show carelessness or abuse - and I dislike owning an instrument that looks as if it has been abused. (Can you guess that I dislike relics?) I also like its transparent cherry finish better than either the black or the solid red, which seem to be much more common. If I keep it, I'll fix them. Even if I have to fill with tinted poly and it doesn't come out perfectly, I'll have learned something and it will look a lot better than it does now.

If I do decide to sell it, I'll probably lose a few bucks and spend time trying to find the "right" one. I'll consider it, but I'm more inclined to work with what I have.