gold leaf

[TheBassHorse]

Hi, all. I'm fairly handy, and i'd like to try my hand at guilding (or gold leafing) my bass guitar. Its a USA made J bass, and i had a few questions about the process.

1) Would the tone be negatively affected at all by the gold? The gold is, of course, extremely thin, but ive heard that metal finishes can alter the tone of a guitar. Essentially, how much metal is needed for this to happen?

2) What exactly does fender finish the USA made basses with? This is a discontinued custom shop model, the fender custom classic jazz bass. Im not sure if that matters at all.

Thanks!

 

[mr.mow]

I haven't done any gold leaf for a while.. I can't imagine that the gold leaf itself will cause any 'tone problems', but if you are to clear coat it (Gold leaf is fairly fragile), thats where you would have to be careful.

I reckon just get a plain, unfinished body off ebay, gold leaf that to keep you customshop body unmolested!

 

[XigXag]

There is no way leaf is going to affect the tone. There just isn't enough metal or size(the 'glue') there to affect ANYTHING.

 

[TheBassHorse]

Awesome, thanks guys!

 

[KeithAlanK]

I used to consult and demo at a local guitar builder's shop, and they put gold leaf on a few headstocks.
No tone issues.
Looked cool.

Go for it.

 

[ehque]

Someone here has a platinum-leafed Ritter, so it's completely possible.

 

[mr.mow]

Come to think of it.. fender did a custom shop gold leaf and silver leaf strat a few years back..

 

[Diogenes]

Guilding won't affect the tone.

 

[ReidK]

So, what's the best metal for bass?

 

[GOX42]

i just gold leafed my VM squier jazz...no tonal issues but i have found i'm not good a gold leafing

 

[Diogenes]

So, what's the best metal for bass?

bass ≠ lead guitar
bass = gold to my ears

 

[bolophonic]

I've gilded a couple of cheap-o guitars before. They sound just fine. I intend to do a bass in copper one of these days.

 

[lowendgenerator]

Who's got pics of a gilded bass? I kinda get what you guys are talking about, but I could use some visual cues.