Wishbass Club Part 11 - 'When you Wish upon a Mwaaah!' - Page 32

iuserneim · #**621** 12-27-2012, 05:44 AM

you may want to try citric acid instead of vinegar. i guess using acid is the thing you want, but vinegar has a strong smell while citric acid doesnt

Rip Topaz · #**622** 12-27-2012, 06:00 AM

Where would you find citric acid, though?

iuserneim · #**623** 12-27-2012, 06:15 AM

i dont know in the US, but in germany you can buy it in the store. usualy it's sold as a white powder. it's being used for cleaning the bathroom, sink etc. for removing limestone.

Rip Topaz · #**624** 12-27-2012, 06:30 AM

I'll see if I can find some. Always up for experiments!!

iuserneim · #**625** 12-27-2012, 06:41 AM

acetic acid (vinegar) and citric acid are both weak acids, so you won't do any damage there. but if the glue is soluble in acid, then citric acid is better because it doesn't have that aweful smell (like i already said).

it's used for cleaning the house, but also for cooking. so you migh want to check both in the super market.

MARCOvdBoogert · #**626** 12-27-2012, 03:29 PM

Well. I don't have any smell so I don't mind!

bassbenj · #**627** 12-27-2012, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I may have to try this. I bought a cheap GFS P-bass last year, and the fretboard is a mess. I've tried leveling and still plays for crap in the higher frets, got a ski jump happening.
It's been a wall hanging for almost a year now. Maybe I'll try this and then put a fretless board on her.

Cool alternate method! I frelessized a couple of my SX basses and used the steam iron and pry method with decent success. But of course that way totally destroys the original fretboard. I may have to try this alcohol drip method on my next one. By the way I got a couple of pre-radiused ebony fingerboard from Luthier's supply and the conversion after the old fretboard was off was a snap! And those old junker basses are REALLY nice now!

My two Wishbass redos are still a ways down the road, but one of these days... I don't think they'll need fingerboard adjustments beyond perhaps a bit of sanding, tho.

Rip Topaz · #**628** 12-27-2012, 08:09 PM

FYI, citric acid is available on Amazon for about $18 for a 20lb bag.

**jbybj** · #**629** 12-29-2012, 05:21 PM

I just found the last update on Wishbass #179, and it was around Thanksgiving 2011. I am on a two week stay at home vacation, so I have taken up the task again. Here is a quick review.

Taken by the beautiful Curly Bubinga and the traditional Jazz bass shape, I made an impulse buy off of ebay.

Upon receipt, I found a 36" scale, over 12 lb. beast, with a neck that was angled compared to the plane of the body. I removed the fingerboard.

Trimmed the overall size.

Fine tuned the body shape, leveled the neck, attached a 34" scale lined fingerboard, and slimmed down the neck profile. Then it sat in a gig bag for 13 months. It seems that whenever I had time for a project, I chose to play, or rearrange my pedal board..... Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I actually started sanding about a month ago, but didn't really get to work until last week. Sanded to about 600 grit, applied about 8 coats of Tru-oil, wired the MM in series mode, (Wish seems to have a habit of wiring his MM pups in single coil mode), installed a Gibson style three-way pickup switch, mounted the pot/switch/jack on a B/W/B plastic pick guard, installed a Hipshot B type bridge, filed the original corian nut, set it up to play, and found that my fingerboard leveling is about 96% of perfect.

It may still end up getting the final fingerboard tweak by Fren Asken, he has the touch. Still shows the beautiful grain of this wood, which is what drew me to this bass in the first place, but now as a 34" 8.5 pounder, I will actually play and enjoy it.

Happy new year folks,

JBY

Zombierockstar · #**630** 12-29-2012, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbybj

Happy new year folks,

JBY

JBY! The end result is outstanding! Beautiful work bro!

5108audio · #**631** 12-29-2012, 07:34 PM

That thing looks great JB! I really like how the fingerboard opens up at the high end. Seems like a good candidate for the Wishclips site.

Speaking of the site, I'll be posting up a Nemo clip in the next day or so. Stay tuned...

justaguyfromkc · #**632** 12-29-2012, 10:54 PM

JBY, that is an amazing transformation! I especially like the 4000 series influence on the new shape which was always clunky on at least a couple of levels.

MARCOvdBoogert · #**633** 12-31-2012, 03:04 AM

well done!! Just curious, you trimmed the body drastically. Is it a neck diver now or is the balance still ok?

49sfine · #**634** 12-31-2012, 02:27 PM

I agree, well done! I actually like the body shape a lot more now than before. Who needs another 'J-bass sort-of' when there are already so many?

Zombierockstar · #**635** 01-01-2013, 12:21 AM

I just wanted to Wish (pun intended) all my fellow Wishbassists a Happy New Year! You all rock!

bassbenj · #**636** 01-01-2013, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49sfine

I agree, well done! I actually like the body shape a lot more now than before. Who needs another 'J-bass sort-of' when there are already so many?

I agree. Superb looking bass. But what is that Wish-tribute control plate? or Wait, is that the original? I guess I can see the philosphical justification for leaving it ratty that way.

5108audio · #**637** 01-01-2013, 09:40 AM

I just posted up a nice Christmas clip from #603 (a nicely refined Nemo) to the 'Audio' section of the clips site. Better late than never. Thanks Pete!