The Yellowing on 70's Oly White - How To Lighten it?

[Groover]

I know most people want the vintage mojo on Vintage basses, including myself, but I'm considering a 70's Olympic White bass, but has yellowed beyond my liking. I noticed that it's much lighter in the spots that rub under the arm, etc... just wondering if there is some kind of cleaner that will lighten up the yellowing just a tad, without damaging the finish, and mainly not necessarily remove the entire mojo...

[kherber]

I don't know for sure, but I doubt it.

My 73 P is badly yellowed. The only portions that are the original white is where the clear overcoat has worn away. This overcoat is now so fragile I can chip it off with my fingernail, or scrub it away with a damp paper towel.

Doc

[Groover]

Ahh, ok... So it's where the overcoat has rubbed off where it's lighter. Makes sense now. I thought it was lighter because it was "cleaner" in those areas.

[GeneralElectric]

The Meguier's cleaner kit supposedly does it.

[62bass]

I used a Turtle Wax cut polish on mine. It helped a bit but the yellowing goes pretty deep. It's caused by oxidation and exposure to UV light. The same thing happens with oil based house paint over time.

I don't like the look myself although some guys love it. I stripped my P down to bare wood and did a natural finish. It was a nice chunk of ash so it was worth all the work. Now I can play the bass in polite society.

[kherber]

Mine's disgusting looking--part yellow, part white, part bare wood--and I like it that way. (Hey, it took decades of playing to reach its current condition.)

I bought one of those bright yellow "Crime Scene--Do Not Cross" straps. It seems to compliment the bass.

Doc

[droskobass]

Don't mess with a vintage bass' finish!!!

Even if it's not to your liking, the potential damage that you will do to its future value is immeasurable. You could reduce its value buy more than half. Leave it as-is and enjoy playing it. If you want a shiny bass go buy a Mexican P. But trust me; you will live to regret messing with the finish.

[GeneralElectric]

Way back when a refin could cut a bass's value in half. Now it cuts it by a quarter. Still like droskobass, I recommend buying a replacement body like Warmoth or something.

[debassr]

This thread needs PICS!

[kherber]

I'm on an old Mac, and can't post pics to the site. Sorry.

I should also mention it has the nitro headstock now amber (complete with drips), atop the jarringingly unyellowed polyester coated maple fretboard.

And it's complete with "vintage" hack mods. 74 DeMarizos, 74 Badass I, J bridge pickup with extra knobs, etc.

It's a mess!!! I love it!

Doc

[Luther]

It is the clear laquer top coat that yellows with exposure to sun and age. The finish is whiter where the clear coat has worn off and the underlying olympic white comes through.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by droskobass

Don't mess with a vintage bass' finish!!!

Even if it's not to your liking, the potential damage that you will do to its future value is immeasurable. You could reduce its value buy (sic) more than half. Leave it as-is and enjoy playing it. If you want a shiny bass go buy a Mexican P. But trust me; you will live to regret messing with the finish.

He's right. First, the paint shifts color over time and you're not going to change it. Second, a 70's Fender in original condition is appreciating - but if you mess with the paint, you could reduce that value considerably.

Answer in computer terms: it's a feature, not a bug.

[GlennW]

Try to think of the yellowing as accumulating interest. It'll be the hit on Antiques Roadshow one day.