Day one. Testing the waters. Hand sanded with 120 and a sanding block. Lots of elbow grease, but it appears to be a nice piece of wood. Onward.
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Day 2. 2 hours work. Finished stripping top and sides. Still using 120 grit, but remaining gold paint was removed with acetone. I wet half of the top with naptha to see what the color would be
like without stain, just clear coats.
If it was mine, I wouldn’t stain I would just oil it and keep that nice strawberry blonde hue.
I think I agree. Any darker than what this "wetting" has brought forward would perhaps cheapen the look of the bass. However, rather than oil, I'm still leaning towards shooting 10-20 coats of clear nitro. My only question is whether I bring it to high gloss, or shoot "flattened" clear nitro. THX for the feedback. Invaluable.
That’s some nice looking alder you’ve got there! I’d definitely go all natural and cover that body with 20 coats of clear ultra thin nitrocellulose lacquer.
I think his basses have a fairly glossy sheen level. Here’s a look at my natural Ash body Moollon currently in the works.
Yes! Concentric tone/volume knobs are an upgrade option that used to always be available. I’m assuming it’s still an option… one I forgot about before finalizing my order, otherwise I’d have them going into the Jazz body I posted above.
THX SLO,
Andi messaged me back confirming your assumption. In fact he said:
"YJ has no real opinion on this sort of thing once stripped down post-sale, although you can bet he'd go gloss nitro again if given the chance, just for the sake of consistency with his other work. By all means go wild...as long as the wood can breathe, you'll be doing fine."
So that's what I'll be doing. I've never shot a natural nitro finish before, only opaque colors, so this should be a fun challenge. Can't wait to use my new gun.
L
Andi messaged me back confirming your assumption. In fact he said:
"YJ has no real opinion on this sort of thing once stripped down post-sale, although you can bet he'd go gloss nitro again if given the chance, just for the sake of consistency with his other work. By all means go wild...as long as the wood can breathe, you'll be doing fine."
So that's what I'll be doing. I've never shot a natural nitro finish before, only opaque colors, so this should be a fun challenge. Can't wait to use my new gun.
L
There is a reason why the majority of natural finishes are ash. Natural finish on alder, even when the wood is beautiful, is often disappointing as the grain does not have as much contrast as ash.
Each time I see a 60's Fender stripped to natural, I find the result underwhelming.
FWIW, I would go solid color to refinish this Moollon.
THX so much for the feedback. I think what you state is undisputed. Alder is regularly relegated to opaque finishes, ash for staining. However, alder is routinely used for sunburst finishes, with visible grain, some more dramatic than others. As you can see from the photo above, upon "wetting" half of the body with naptha, it looks quite attractive. The main reason for doing a clear nitro finish to start with is that if it isn't satisfactory to me, I can then spray a color quite easily, whereas if I start with a color, there's no further option. That said, now that any interested people can see the "wetted" side of the body, if it is unanimous among those who wish voice an opinion that I should spray a color, I will do that.
Cheers.
L
Just to put some weight in the opposite direction, I personally love that old oiled-alder p-bass look, I think your bass will turn out beautiful Lala. 
Here's are some recent videos of my Moollon. TI Flats > anything else, on this bass, IMO. In love with the sound and feel.
Here's are some recent videos of my Moollon. TI Flats > anything else, on this bass, IMO. In love with the sound and feel.
Just to put some weight in the opposite direction, I personally love that old oiled-alder p-bass look, I think your bass will turn out beautiful Lala.
Here's are some recent videos of my Moollon. TI Flats > anything else, on this bass, IMO. In love with the sound and feel.
Agreed. The old 60’s refined ambered clear coat is bitchin.
John Deacon?
Just to put some weight in the opposite direction, I personally love that old oiled-alder p-bass look, I think your bass will turn out beautiful Lala.
Here's are some recent videos of my Moollon. TI Flats > anything else, on this bass, IMO. In love with the sound and feel.
Beautiful Moollon tone! Also, the band smokes! Is this a permanent line-up, or more of a project with revolving members? This has a special place in my heart since in the 70's I played in prog-rock bands ( keyboards ), and had the pleasure to see many of my heroes live in small clubs like Mahavishnu, Weather Report, Genesis, Camel, etc. as well as some stranger, wonderful bands like Utopia, Manfred Mann, Little Feat, etc. Also, collected albums by the likes of Curved Air, Gong, Hatfield and the North, Caravan, Neu, Throbbing Gristle, Kraftwerk, etc.
Anyway, keep up the good work! Is your Classic P Fiesta Red? I have one, but frankly it looks more like Torino Red. Anyone know whether YJ offered Torino Red?
