Unvarnished upright

t0mfrazer · #1 08-16-2010, 05:53 PM

I picked this bad boy up in mexico for cheap. Its more of a toy than anything else but I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to maintain the unvarnished wood. Some people suggested using different oils to avoid cracks but that sounds a bit weird to me. any suggestions?

bassteban · #2 08-16-2010, 06:01 PM

Crazy thought- varnish it?

t0mfrazer · #3 08-16-2010, 06:57 PM

I would but this isn't a bass that I would gig with and/or pay a lot of money to varnish. I'm looking for any cheaper alternatives (if there are even any that exist).

bassphase · #4 08-17-2010, 01:30 AM

A quart of Waterlox oil finish is about $25. Tru-oil is about $30 for a quart. Either is easy to apply and will help protect the bass.

bob

pnut166 · #5 08-17-2010, 01:44 AM

A wipe - down with stain color of your choice and a wipe - on satin poly. You just about can`t mess it up and it`s cheap - $20 will get you a pint of a really dark color for the fingerboard and tailpiece, and a pint of something lighter for the body and neck, plus a can of wipe-on poly. Tru Oil is also an excellent choice and foolproof.

**Matthew Tucker** · #6 08-17-2010, 01:53 AM

Stucco?

taphappy · #7 08-17-2010, 01:59 AM

I dig the pegs. Very Flintstonian.

forester · #8 08-17-2010, 11:51 PM

give the person who did the door a call

SLivinghouse · #9 08-20-2010, 10:17 PM

I believe Varnish is mostly shellac. Builders have different recipies but a lot I have seen posted is primarily shellac. Shellac is pretty cheap and easy to put on. Rubs on, dries real fast. Alchohol is the solvent and it's easy to fix if you screw up. Amber shellac will give you a more beer/ale colored tone. Experiment on scrap.