Removing sand paper glued into a neck pocket on a 68 P-bass
 

This might now be the right section to post this, but I need some advice.


I have a 68 P-bass that I bought for $50 when I was a kid. I had no idea it was a 68 at the time because the neck had been replaced with a 79. In the 90's, when I purchased the bass, 70's Fenders were thought of as crap with no collectors value. The paint had been partially removed and it was in pieces. I sanded the body down and refinished it in stain and tung oil. I also had a very large neck gap, so a friend of mine glued a piece of sandpaper in the neck pocket. He did this before I bought the bass.


Almost 20 years later, I post a pic of my bass here on TB, and I was informed that there was no way the body was a 79. After doing some research and checking the serial number I found that I had a 68/69 P-bass with a 79 neck on it.

I would really like to remove the sandpaper and put an original neck on it or possibly a vintage Schecter neck I own. Does anyone know a good way to get the sandpaper back out? It was put in with Elmer's wood glue and it looks kind of permanent to me.



Thanks

Michael

Detail sander?

I would use a single-edge razor blade and carefully slide it under the sandpaper (much like a chisel fashion).

If it was glued with Elmer's rather than epoxy, heat should soften the glue. Maybe try heating a knife/putty knife to try and get some separation.

Thanks guys, I didn't know heat had any effect on Elmer's wood glue. I have a razor used to remove stickers from glass that would probably work well for getting underneath it.


Here's a pic for anyone interested.





Michael

Isn't Elmer's water soluble? I might just try a damp rag.

Elmers white glue is water soluable. Maybe if you blot the sandpaper with water until its soggy, the sandpaper might turn to mush and come off (if it's regular paper-backed sandpaper), and the glue should loose its grip.