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Bass project - Advice needed

S

Skrogh

Jan 28, 2010
396
4
Denmark
#1
Hi

Recently (Today) I bought a new (Edit: Used), cheep bass:
DSCN5203.jpg

My plans are to fix it up:
Adjust the neck and bridge.
Shield it properly.
And give it a new finish (I don really like the pearl-white-yellow-ish colour it has now, it looks blue because of the flash)

Now I'm quite new at this, being my first time trying something like that, I have some questions.:help:

First the truss rod is of a kind I have never seen before:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_F7LHhLrjWLw/S3mjOzpvrqI/AAAAAAAAAFM/W9iCIZbNYJ0/s640/DSCN5195.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_F7LHhLrjWLw/S3mjPaP7rVI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/fvwefS4Eylc/s640/DSCN5196.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_F7LHhLrjWLw/S3mjP9vsgtI/AAAAAAAAAFU/KoeDkHhNaco/s640/DSCN5198.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_F7LHhLrjWLw/S3mjT-Sh4dI/AAAAAAAAAFo/xkLXWKIgYq4/s640/DSCN5207.JPG

Does anyone know if it is possible to adjust that at all, or if it is fixed?

And then I have some questions regarding the refinishing: Will I need cover or fill the screw holes, to prevent them from being filled with paint – And can I use regular acrylic spray paint?
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_F7LHhLrjWLw/S3mjTOfqJlI/AAAAAAAAAFk/2aYc-xtThkY/s640/DSCN5205.JPG
This is my first post, so if it placed in a wrong sub-forum I'm sorry and please move it.

Thanks :)
 
#5
Do a search on TB for information on refinishing.

Then visit Reranch.com and read everything there.

Then buy Dan Erlewine's book on guitar repair and review the refinishing info.

After you've studied the info in those sources, you'll be ready to do a nice job of refinishing that you'll be proud of.

BUT - a note of sanity here - unless you bought this bass specifically as a project with the intention of learning how to do your own refins and other work, investing the time and effort to refin this bass is a waste of your time. If it's not your intention to use this bass as a object to learn on, leave it the color it is. The finish looks great, there's no need to do a refin, and it's not worth your time to spend 20-30 hours on this bass as a player.
 
#10
Pilgrim said:
Do a search on TB for information on refinishing.

Then visit Reranch.com and read everything there.

Then buy Dan Erlewine's book on guitar repair and review the refinishing info.

After you've studied the info in those sources, you'll be ready to do a nice job of refinishing that you'll be proud of.

BUT - a note of sanity here - unless you bought this bass specifically as a project with the intention of learning how to do your own refins and other work, investing the time and effort to refin this bass is a waste of your time. If it's not your intention to use this bass as a object to learn on, leave it the color it is. The finish looks great, there's no need to do a refin, and it's not worth your time to spend 20-30 hours on this bass as a player.
Click to expand...

I did buy it specific as a project to have something to work on and learn how to do a re-finish - and have something to fiddle around with. - But thanks for the link, I'll have at good look at it :)


JMac4strngr said:
Looks like the truss rod nut is missing, it isn't rattling around somewhere under the Pickguard is it? Probably backed off from never being tightened and fell out. Is the neck Bowed?
Click to expand...
Nope, the first thing I did was taking off the pickguard. And I've had a screwdriver in there to feel how things are (It's quite hard to see anything) There isn't a peace of rod sticking out, it could be fastened to either.

It bends just a bit with the strings on, a little more than what I'm used to, but not in the extremes.
 
#11
Its gonna bow as there is nothing bracing the neck but the wood. The truss rod is the backbone of the neck so to speak. If the nut is all thats missing it'll probably a cheap easy fix, however if the rod is stripped toss the neck. It would be cheaper to pick up another neck than to fix the broken truss rod.Take a look on ebay or the classifieds here, I am sure you can score another good used neck for a little change.
 
#12
Skrogh said:
I did buy it specific as a project to have something to work on and learn how to do a re-finish - and have something to fiddle around with. - But thanks for the link, I'll have at good look at it :)
Click to expand...

Well then, the direction you're going makes sense to me! Good luck - and do a lot of homework, because it will really equip you to do nice work. Most of the work is in the prep - the painting is the easy part.

This is also a good point....I hope that you can just put a not on the rod.....

Its gonna bow as there is nothing bracing the neck but the wood. The truss rod is the backbone of the neck so to speak. If the nut is all thats missing it'll probably a cheap easy fix, however if the rod is stripped toss the neck. It would be cheaper to pick up another neck than to fix the broken truss rod.Take a look on ebay or the classifieds here, I am sure you can score another good used neck for a little change.
Click to expand...
 
#13
Thanks for the advice everyone :)

The neck is beyond saving as I see it :( but I'll look around for a new one.

I'm almost done with the sanding and I'll presumably finish it tomorrow and start oiling it. I changed my mind about the finish when i got the paint of, so instead of lime-green it's gonna be natural.

Besides all the refinishing I got an idea from the sound the broken truss rod makes when it rattles inside the neck. I'm going to fit a small foldback distortion circuit I've designed inside it. :smug:

I'll post some pictures, and maybe a sound clip when I'm all done, but 'till then: here's is the bass, as it is now:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_F7LHhLrjWLw/S37HVguChbI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/jP1DJAJk4sg/DSCN5249.JPG

Once again thanks for the help and links :)
 
#15
P Model said:
Fix the headstock to Say Falcon Punch. The bass would totally be a BAMF.
Click to expand...
Hehe I like the idea :p but since I'm going to change the neck someday I'll let it stay as it is. ;)

Anyway I got the last bit of oiling done two days ago, so I put it together today just to see how it looks all together:

DSCN5280.jpg


I'm quite pleased with the result :smug:

Next up is the distortion, hopefully I can get to solder it together today - when I'm done with my homework, that is :(
 

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