First Refinish- Questions

[Mad Russian]

I am making an attempt at my first refinish: Ibanez TR70. I am going to paint it Silver, Replace all chrome hardware with black hardware - Hipshot bridge, Tuners, knobs, string tee, neck plate, strap buttons, etc..

I have a few questions:
1. I want to match the headstock with Silver as well, But wanted to keep the existing decals. Could I cover them with contact paper, then use an exacto to cut around them? Would it even look good? If not - where can I get actual Ibanez decals?

2. The Ibanez pickguard does not match the Fender style. So at this point I am stuck with the old scratched up pickguard - Can I use the spray paint that is made for plastic? Walmart sells it - just not sure if it would stick to pickguard material.

3. I really just want to paint over the existing finish (nitro-celluose I think). I did some research at Reranch.com - Should I just rough up the finish with 320 grit paper, primer the body, then paint?

4. Any suggestions on brands of paint? Maybe something I can get from an auto-parts store or Lowes/Home Depot? (I dont have a compressor or associated hardware - looking for the best - bet on Spray paint cans!)

[Mad Russian]

Pictures Before:

[Punisher Bass]

I've had good results with Rustolium Painters Touch. I'd use something more abrasive than 320 grit, more like 100-150. You need to give the finish enough "tooth" (rough surface) so the paint will stick to it. As for the pickguard, you don't need special paint, just rough it up enough so everything will stick.

I highly recommend using a flat color coat and then spray several coats of clear over that. But since you want it silver, I doubt that's really an option for you.

You probably wouldn't get good results if you covered over the decals and then painted. I'd get a new set of decals to use after everything is done.

Keep in mind that runs in the paint are not the end of the world, if you take your time and wet sand with the right grit, you can fix almost anything.

[Mad Russian]

Thanks Punisher!

[Punisher Bass]

I forgot to mention, for wet sanding you're going to need grits between 600-3000. 600-1000 is what I've used for runs in color coats and 1000-3000 is for clear coats. With clear coat you not only have to worry about runs, but also what is known as orange peel. Orange peel shows up as little dips in the clear coat which resemble the skin of an orange, hence the name. Here's an example.



Wet sanding with the right grit and a VERY light touch is what makes the surface perfectly level and then a round of buffing and polishing makes it look like a mirror. You just have to be very careful while doing this because it's easy to go all the way through the clear and wind up in the color, and then you're screwed. You'll probably have best luck finding the 1000+ grits at a local autoparts store.

[Mad Russian]

Update:
Taken apart & finish sanded (roughed):


New Parts EMG Active PJ set, Hipshot bridge, etc..


Body Primered:



Pickguard Prepped and painted: (probably gonna order a custom)



Gotoh Tuners installed:

[Mad Russian]

So I want to match the headstock to body color (Silver). Anyone know where I can get an Ibanez decal?

[robert43]

Nice so far
Decal I would try ebay shops people that do decals .
I had a Roberts jazz bass done for my parts bass off ebay in the style of the Fender Jazz bass 70 style
If you send them a picture of your head stock I see no reason why they couldnt do it

[Mad Russian]

Update:
So I routed the battery box and lengthned the Jazz slot so the EMG could fit. I did the routing all by hand - no templates. The battery box isnt perfect but the lip of the box will cover the incosistencies. I then removed the grey primer (it never seemed to setup well and was kind of soft). I also drilled for the string ferrules. I then primered with some white:

[Toptube]

I'm very interested to see more updates to this thread, as I am about to refinish a bass myself! Probably with rattle cans

[Mad Russian]

Here it is: I call it the "Jango Fett" bass! I knew I wanted it metallic silver. I let my kids pick the color for the pickguard - they went with blue. When it was finished my son said it looks like "Jango Fett". I agree.

All hardware is new. Black screws, Hipshot bridge, string ferrules, tuners, knobs, neck plate and bolts, straploks, string tee, battery box, etc. I have more in the new hardware than what I bought the bass for. It was a fun learning experience though!









Method:
"rough sanded" the existing paint job. Automotive primer that never seemed to set. Routed battery box and longer slot for J pickup. Sanded off first primer job. Krylon white primer. Applied Dupli-color automotive primer sealer. Dupli-color silver metallic paint. Minwax poly clear gloss. Sanded in between these steps.

How is it for a first refinish?

[zagnut]

Looks nice. Nothing like having your first refinish turn out good! Now all you need to do is make a custom pickguard

[Rocky McDougall]

A very good primer that is available at most hardware stores is "Kilz", it seals, fills, blocks stains, dries quickly and is very hard. Don't get it too thick with too many coats. One or two should be sufficient.