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

[phishaholik]

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

[reakin]

Detail sander?

[Caca de Kick]

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

[Dan55]

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.

[phishaholik]

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

[Muttleybass]

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

[whatever4]

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.