Bass Destruction, Then Restoration Project.

Josh Emmons · #1 07-12-2011, 07:39 PM

For years I have had a dream: take a cheap new bass of ANY brand, Destroy it, then restore it back to new. But thats not all of what my goal is... Tt is to take that bass, and have it look, feel, AND sound better than when I got it.

The Test Subject:

Today, I went craigslist bass-hunting for an in expensive bass that I can do a lot with. After several hours of searching and calling, I came across an ad for a Stagg Warlock bass, in great condition for $75. Gave the person a call, asked if she would take $50 for it. SHE DID! Picked up the bass, it is in great condition. EXCEPT for it smelling like cigarets, pot, and hot woman funk.

Came home, took the parts off, and the neck as well, and cleaned the entire bass. I put some new strings on it, set it up. I thought this bass would sound like crap, like I was throwing a sick cat into a wood chipper. But after a little playing, it did sound better than expected. it sounded more like I was throwing a healthy cat down stairs...

The Goal:

My goal for this bass is to push the limits of what a bass can handle. I dont want to warp, or snap its neck, but I do want to cause as much damage as possible. I have been thinking/talking about what I could do to the bass. For example, drill a random hole/s in to the bass, drop it on concrete, light fireworks on it, light it on fire, cut a piece of wood off the headstock, let a toddler draw on it, OR, when I ride my mountain bike, hit the trails with the bass body dragging along behind me Napoleon Dynamite style.

But after this bass looks like Brittany Spears, (a train wreck), my goal is to fix it up: Re finish it, drop some better electronics into it, (ones that I have had laying around for years), dress the frets, and what ever else I think of. If all goes well, then It will be FAR better looking and sounding than what it is now. But, I am also going to do this with household things. Im not going to spend $0.01 more on it. I have everything to make this happen.

I feel that this whole project would give me knowledge about the limits of a bass, how to set a bass up, and how to restore a bass. Thease are all stuff that I will not do to my $5200 custom. (Just make me cringe thinking about doing that to my Pavel.)

Also, though I have several amazing basses, and this bass will not go to waste. Once this bass is done, I hope to have a bass that I can bring to a club with a Metal band. And not worry about drunken criminal-person stealing my bass.

In this project, I will be giving daily updates with photos of how this bass is doing. This is the bass:

Josh Emmons · #2 07-12-2011, 09:53 PM

icecycle66 · #3 07-12-2011, 09:59 PM

Destruction methods

Pry the pickups out without unscrewing them.

Bury it in wormy soil for a few weeks.

Submerge it in a pool of water for a few days.

Take the neck off, find an old microwave taht can fit the body in it (even if you have to cut an edge off) and microwave it for a few minutes.

Exploiter8 · #4 07-12-2011, 10:02 PM

Don't...just don't.

Dropping or whatever else might possibly stress areas that aren't visible, plus...it's just wrong. Unless it's a Fender, don't.

X8

Josh Emmons · #5 07-12-2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exploiter8

Don't...just don't.

Dropping or whatever else might possibly stress areas that aren't visible, plus...it's just wrong. Unless it's a Fender, don't.

X8

dont destroy this bass? I have already started...

I will not put water on it though... I do not want this bass to never be playable again. I want to see how far I can push the limits, and repair them.

Jools4001 · #6 07-13-2011, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Emmons

Once this bass is done, I hope to have a bass that I can bring to a club with a Metal band.

Metal? Hmmm....I don't think you've got the best toes for metal; you really need a pair of cloven hooves for that!

Stealth · #7 07-13-2011, 01:30 AM

The trouble with that method is, sometimes you can't know when your next action will be past the point of no return.

Had I the bass and the skill, I'd strip it, veneer it and stain it. And do something wild wild the electronics.

BogeyBass · #8 07-13-2011, 01:47 AM

Whatever you do to that bass make a video of it.

I got to see this...i like the bike dragging idea thats good....

and hell with better...make it worse...make it look like the last bass alive after the next world war.

Me and my buddy got the same idea kinda...but he was a guitar player...we ended up sticking his guitar in a Barbecue and giving it a tasteful roast. doing a horrible jigsaw reshape.

Turn that Stagg into a Hag woo hoo

you know you want to ....Do it ...Do it

Josh Emmons · #9 07-13-2011, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

Whatever you do to that bass make a video of it.

I got to see this...i like the bike dragging idea thats good....

and hell with better...make it worse...make it look like the last bass alive after the next world war.

Me and my buddy got the same idea kinda...but he was a guitar player...we ended up sticking his guitar in a Barbecue and giving it a tasteful roast. doing a horrible jigsaw reshape.

Turn that Stagg into a Hag woo hoo

you know you want to ....Do it ...Do it

Best comment on the page. I will make a movie of it. my plan is to drill a random hole into the bass, what should I use to fill the dents, and make it look as hag-like as possible? Got a funny idea though, it would be a funny prank to show up at the door of the girl who sold me this bass, look her streight in the eye, and say, "I would like to return the bass. I think it might be broken." ...As I show her the eviscerated bass carcass.

BogeyBass · #10 07-13-2011, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Emmons

"I would like to return the bass. I think it might be broken." ...As I show her the eviscerated bass carcass.

yes yes and you must say that last part in your best death metal vocal voice.

If your worried about losing the value of your bass then glue some pennys to it....
i raised the value of the bass at least 122 cents...or some where around dere

This is my " Fully restored" bass guitar

i posted this already today...i cant get over what a Piece of #### it is. I glued pictures of really fat naked chicks to it, from this random fat chick porno that showed up at my house one day....i have weird friends

these are camera photos sorry so big
-edit- Oh and dont forget multiple coats of glitter nail polish...for that real polished look.

drill a hole in your bass....and then boil some spaghetti noodles...then soak the noodles in elmers glue...and then glue the strips of spaghetti to look like a hole bleeding out ( death metal voice) oozing fungus of death!!

Stealth · #11 07-13-2011, 03:56 AM

BogeyBass - you must be a Jack White fan.

Hopkins · #12 07-13-2011, 04:56 AM

People should avoid having their feet in the picture at all cost..........

TomA1234 · #13 07-13-2011, 10:03 AM

This could prove to be a laugh. I can't wait for the finished pics!

Josh Emmons · #14 07-13-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopkins

People should avoid having their feet in the picture at all cost..........

Photoshop time! better?

Big_Daddy · #15 07-13-2011, 12:33 PM

Give it to a junior high school band class for a week. That'll get you all the damage you need.

The way those kids treated the Squier at school was disgusting. When I joined high school band, I was the best thing that ever happened to that bass.

iiipopes · #16 07-13-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Emmons

For years I have had a dream: take a cheap new bass of ANY brand, Destroy it, then restore it back to new. But thats not all of what my goal is... Tt is to take that bass, and have it look, feel, AND sound better than when I got it.

Counseling and good medicine is now available for masochism.