Help with a refinish job

[Dave Vader]

Hello, I'm currently refinishing my old P-bass copy, and wondered if anyone can tell me 1)
an easy way to get the ferrules out of the headstock, cos they're jammed right in, and a flathead screwdriver isn't going to prise them out anytime soon.
and 2) Just how much are my arms going to ache once I've taken the crappy veneer off the front and back with an orbital sander?

Not my first refin i hasten to add, just the first time I've had ferrule trouble, and never taken a veneer off before.
Any help would be much appreciated.

[bassteban]

1. Removing a veneer w/an orbital sander will take FOREVER & may result in a fairly uneven(as opposed to level)surface as well as changing the position of the bridge relative to the neck. If you must remove the veneer(NOT suggesting it)I'd consider having a shop plane it for you.
2. On the ferrules, have you tried inserting a screwdriver or other shaft-type tool(ideally very snug-butnot-tightly fitting the inside diameter)and gently but firmly wiggling them?

[Dave Vader]

Sadly I have no screwdrivers or drill bit ends of the exact width for what I'm looking for, I've done that before with guitars, but was hoping for a quicker fix than hunting round the workshop for more round things.
Thanks for the heads up on the veneer, it would look great without it, but my arms are still killing me from stripping the thick red poly finish off on saturday. Might try and borrow an electric plane from my neighbour, i'm sure he's got one.

[Dave Vader]

Anyone tried taking veneer off the old-fashioned way with an Iron? I might try this later. Trouble with it is, it has to come off, cos it only covers the flat bits off the front and back, wherever it contours, and obviously over the sides as well, it has this lovely blotchy crazy wood it's made of (might be swamp ash) can't for the life of me work out why anyone would have bothered putting veneer on it before the thick red poly finish went on. Must have been meant for better things originally.

[Dave Vader]

Okay, just so you can see the nature of the problem, here's some pics of it, any help identifying the wood would be nice too.











I know it's still covered in nasty sticky finish at the moment as well, I'm about to attack it with a heat gun, at the worst I'll get a hendrix finish....

[WRXbase]

I've got one like that. Due to my job move, it'll have to get shelved. GL!

[ehque]

If you can't get it out the normal way (prising and or tapping) perhaps applying ice to the metal might help loosen it.

[Beej]

I'd have to agree with pushing the ferrules out from the backside with a similarly diametered bolt, screwdriver, etc.

As far as the wood surface goes, if it were me, I'd be considering prepping the body as is the best I could and then do a snappy paintjob with a well-matched pickguard. That resin finish will be a bastard to sand off...

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by ehque

If you can't get it out the normal way (prising and or tapping) perhaps applying ice to the metal might help loosen it.

Or conversely, applying heat in the form of a soldering iron, in the event that they're glued in. I've found that cheap basses often have their ferrules glued in, and judging by the photos of the body, you don't have an American Fender.

[Dave Vader]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Or conversely, applying heat in the form of a soldering iron, in the event that they're glued in. I've found that cheap basses often have their ferrules glued in, and judging by the photos of the body, you don't have an American Fender.

Not even close, it's a Sunn Mustang, made in India apparently from fender japan (or sometimes USA) seconds parts.
That veneer came off with a heat gun and a chisel (scraping, not hammering it) quite nicely, bit of sanding and it should be fine, will post pics later.

[Dave Vader]

Okay, so after a couple of hours with a heat gun and a chisel, we're getting there. A little more nitromors, and a lot of sanding and we might be ready to put on some woodstain. Will be adding a new thread somewhere to follow the whole project start to finish.
Here's the body as it is now.

[cbass1]

Dude you are a candidate for owning a planer, that would have taken me about 2minutes (6passes) with my Ridgid.

[vbasscustom]

still looks like crap. but im sure youll think of something. lol

[Allen_VA]

Originally Posted by Dave Vader

Hello, I'm currently refinishing my old P-bass copy, and wondered if anyone can tell me 1)
an easy way to get the ferrules out of the headstock, cos they're jammed right in, and a flathead screwdriver isn't going to prise them out anytime soon.

Press them out from the back side. Use a C-clamp, dowel stick (diameter slightly less than the hole in the headstock where the ferrules are placed) and something to sit over the ferrules on the front side. A roll of electrical tape with a thick piece of wood or metal across it should work. Stick the dowel in the hole, clamp the whole assembly and slowly tighten the clamp until the ferrule pops out into the little cavity made by the tape roll and piece of wood/metal.

If the ferrules are tight going back in, use the C clamp to gently press them back in! (Remember to use cauls to protect the ferrules and headstock!)

[joeyl]

that's a good candidate for a solid finish.

[Dave Vader]

Originally Posted by joeyl

that's a good candidate for a solid finish.

I know, but I like ugly basses.

And I do have some dowel that I bought years ago to plug a head before, so I'll use that clamp method later on, thanks Allen.

[Dave Vader]

Here's the link to the big watch and laugh at my bass thread.

Rebuilding a P-bass copy step-by-step and fun to watch