+100 And I type this with the body I just did in enamel, hanging about 3 feet from my head.
I will now just use a light polishing compound then a good wax before putting it all back together.
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"Explosive Ibanez" Takes Flight
- Thread starter bassgod76
- Start date
+100 And I type this with the body I just did in enamel, hanging about 3 feet from my head.
I will now just use a light polishing compound then a good wax before putting it all back together.
This is an excellent thread. I've been thinking about turning my Ibanez EXB445 5 string into a string thru body for years, just never had the courage to do it. Seeing this gave it to me and I dove right in to moding my bass. I'm upgrading to Bartolini 5 string J pups and on board circuit, hipshot tuners and bridge, and stripping the blue paint for a classy gloss black. It will probably take me the rest of the year to complete with saving up for the electronics and harware, plus the painting, but should be very fun to do it myself.
Just a couple of questions for you; What size forstner bits did you use to drill out the string ferrule holes? and would you be able to pm me the guy you use to get your hipshot hardware, if I could save a little $$$ on this project I'd appreciate it.
Can't wait to see the finished project!
Just a couple of questions for you; What size forstner bits did you use to drill out the string ferrule holes? and would you be able to pm me the guy you use to get your hipshot hardware, if I could save a little $$$ on this project I'd appreciate it.
Can't wait to see the finished project!
I want to say I used 1/2" and 3/4" Forstner bits. They're in my dad's truck, so I can't take a look at them.
I decided that today is my second to last coat. I think one more coat would get me where I want to be.
This is what it looks like. It's red in this picture. It's more orange in real life.
The pickups also get their second to last coat.
This is what it looks like. It's red in this picture. It's more orange in real life.
The pickups also get their second to last coat.
Modding a bass is fun, but I wouldn't try my first modding on anything but less expensive basses. Too many things could go wrong. However, after about 3 or 4, you get a better idea on techniques, do's and don'ts, etc. For instance, the "thru-body" ferrules on my Ibanez are insanely better than my Squier mod I did a few months ago.
Zen,
Okay, I'm almost done with the color coat. After I apply the symbol, I will start to apply the clear. My question is, how many coats of clear should I do until I can start sanding to remove the orange peel? I assume I'd do at least 3 coats of clear, lightly sand, and then clear and sand every subsequent coat?
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Looking great, Bassgod76! Can't wait to see the graphic on it and the subsequent hardware assembly. Those pups are EMGs, IIRC, right? So you won't need to shield anything...one less thing to do before it's time to play it! Can't wait! Keep up the great work. 
On a solid body I'll do about 10 coats of nitro, but I haven't sprayed much enamel, only on metal stompboxes and various other objects, never on an instrument. You'll want enough clear coats to protect the color coat and provide visual depth - I doubt you'll need anywhere near 10 coats of clear enamel.
The deep mirror finish on instruments is usually done with lacquer, polyester (or sometimes CA) finishes. Not sure about enamels.
Frankly, my success with clear enamel from a rattle can over enamel color coats hasn't been great. On my stompboxes I used Rustoleum for the primer, color and clear, and a number of times I got wrinkles in the finish as soon as the clear went on, sometimes after the 2nd or later coats of clear. I tried with and without primer, baking the finish, waiting a week before the clear, etc. Best I can figure is that it had something to do with the temperature of the enamel and/or the box being finished, I never figured it out. My best results were when I used an automotive engine clear enamel over Rustoleum.
From what I know about enamel is that it isn't sanded and buffed like lacquer. Some don't buff it at all after the clear goes on. You could try wet sanding with 1500 grit just to level it and moving to a low speed foam buffer. Enamels can remain softer from what I've read so a buffing wheel may just drag the finish right off as it heats up the finish - be careful.
I'll bet folks with automotive enamel painting experience could give some good answers on this topic - I'm curious to hear how they would approach this.
At any rate, I would get a piece of scrap, spray it with the orange paint and then experiment with the clear + buffing steps before spraying it over your bass. Another option is to try a satin clear finish. It won't need to be sanded and buffed at all and may very well look real nice.
Dammit, you havent posted pictures in neither the jaco tribute bass or this one.. YOU GOT ME ANXIOUS DUDE XDD. Nice work with the paint. I'm having trouble with coating myself.. Im guessing in shops I should just look for any branded nitrocellulose lacquer or what lacquer should I use?
