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Graphite neck peeling off (Modulus bass)
- Thread starter Boyer84
- Start date
Yup, I have had it happen to my modulus necks as we'll. It's not the graphite peeling off it's the clear coat finish. It seems that the paint doesn't like to stick to the carbon fiber like it does wood. I personally would not worry. Just play it
Touch up with super-glue (cyanoacrylate) then sand and polish. Just like the acoustic builders do...! Or refinish the entire neck?
That there is called "MOJO" and it comes from loving your bass too much. 
Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It can happen to finished wood necks as well (I had an early G&L once it happened with) and it's not a sign of anything bad. It's just wear. If you go the super glue route which I've never done, I'd do a small area first and then wait 24 hours though. Just to be on the safe side.
Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It can happen to finished wood necks as well (I had an early G&L once it happened with) and it's not a sign of anything bad. It's just wear. If you go the super glue route which I've never done, I'd do a small area first and then wait 24 hours though. Just to be on the safe side.
Greetings. '94 Quantum5 owner w same problem- early stages.
Since Modulus&CO. is NLE, contacted Tony C.@ Planetbass.com,
the official go-to's for all things Modulus. Conversation entailed a
referral to custom shop in Nashville. He building a quote.
Sidebar: possibility LED position markers > Sims Custom Shop, Custom Built Guitars, Sims LEDs, L.E.Ds, Respray, Body Shop, Bodies, Scratchplates, Lasers and Pickguards by Martin Sims.
Question: anyone know what type finish is used on the Mod necks?
Polyester, polyurethane, nitro cellulose? And with all due respect honestly,
Mojo is for beaters and Superglue is for coffee cups (and is water soluble).
Seems in this situation it'd be just as feasible to remove the finish
completely since replacement (Moses) necks are shipped unfinished?
Not like it's wood and would absorb skin acids, humidity, sweat/ beer etc.
Thoughts? "Anyone?". tks kindly M.
Since Modulus&CO. is NLE, contacted Tony C.@ Planetbass.com,
the official go-to's for all things Modulus. Conversation entailed a
referral to custom shop in Nashville. He building a quote.
Sidebar: possibility LED position markers > Sims Custom Shop, Custom Built Guitars, Sims LEDs, L.E.Ds, Respray, Body Shop, Bodies, Scratchplates, Lasers and Pickguards by Martin Sims.
Question: anyone know what type finish is used on the Mod necks?
Polyester, polyurethane, nitro cellulose? And with all due respect honestly,
Mojo is for beaters and Superglue is for coffee cups (and is water soluble).
Seems in this situation it'd be just as feasible to remove the finish
completely since replacement (Moses) necks are shipped unfinished?
Not like it's wood and would absorb skin acids, humidity, sweat/ beer etc.
Thoughts? "Anyone?". tks kindly M.
nitro lacquer on a graphite neck would be so missing the point, wouldn't it?
it's gotta be regular poly.
the normal fix would indeed be a CA fill; you might see the lines between old finish and new, but done right you'd no longer feel them.
first i've heard that CA is water-soluble.
Sorry, "CA fill". Please define. If that's superglue, it's "good" for the one spot and then the rest of the neck continues to peel. You're forever superglueing/ buffing etc? I've used it on other household items (not a
$3k bass) and after regular exposure to water the bond dissolves.
Thanks.
$3k bass) and after regular exposure to water the bond dissolves.
Thanks.
sorry; yeah, "cyanoacrylate", superglue.
done right, it would wick under the edges of the peeling poly and lock it back down, so the areas of fill would be reliably permanent.
Water soluble? Not likely.
However, heat will break the bond. If the water you were using was hot like water when washing dishes, or better yet, from a dishwasher, it was the heat the broke the bond.
CA drop fills are the industry standard. As Walter points out, in the hands of a skilled tech the glue will wick underneath the lifted finish and lock it down. That is followed by shaping and buffing. The result is an almost flawless repair. There may be a noticeable witness line. That is better than finish lift and chips.
However, heat will break the bond. If the water you were using was hot like water when washing dishes, or better yet, from a dishwasher, it was the heat the broke the bond.
CA drop fills are the industry standard. As Walter points out, in the hands of a skilled tech the glue will wick underneath the lifted finish and lock it down. That is followed by shaping and buffing. The result is an almost flawless repair. There may be a noticeable witness line. That is better than finish lift and chips.
Understood, but if the finish is "dissolving/ chipping" over the whole neck, this ca process
wouldn't be feasible as you'd be constantly moving from one spot to the next
till the whole neck would end up a big gob of dried/ buffed superglue and consequently
never be able to use the instrument but for the constant applying/ drying time/ buffing.
Works fine if you're the tech getting paid to do the job though. Job security.
Guess this is the rainy day I was waiting for to bring out the Ken Smith.
Tony, you getting all this?...
wouldn't be feasible as you'd be constantly moving from one spot to the next
till the whole neck would end up a big gob of dried/ buffed superglue and consequently
never be able to use the instrument but for the constant applying/ drying time/ buffing.
Works fine if you're the tech getting paid to do the job though. Job security.
Guess this is the rainy day I was waiting for to bring out the Ken Smith.
Tony, you getting all this?...
Wear and tear is normal. It's the mark of a bass that is too good to sit in the closet and collect dust, but no scars.
If you refinish and repair that it is akin to stripping off the medals from a veteran's uniform.
Ok guys. Update. Talked to Jerry Dorsch (did the Mod neck finishing till '92).
Sd finish is polyester and shouldn't be affected by anything including gasoline and acetone. Problem is likely either a bad mix in the polyester or the mold release "poisoning" the chemicals in the polyester at the time of neck fabrication.
Sd he (one) could strip (.1000grit) the radius of the neck to the actual (raw)
carbon graphite surface resulting in a satin feel which would not chip and be impervious to any environmental/ playing damage. The fretboard doesn't have
a finish. Since the Modulus "crown" on the peghead and name at the heel are decals and not inset into the graphite, he suggested not to strip those areas as the decals would come off w the finish. Unless those areas also suffered the same affliction.
He can perform the strip service and if desired refinish. [email protected]
Very helpful. Loves the Musicman w graphite. All things considered I'll leave mine stock
Hope this helps and thanks to all TB members much love. no eye contact. M
Sd finish is polyester and shouldn't be affected by anything including gasoline and acetone. Problem is likely either a bad mix in the polyester or the mold release "poisoning" the chemicals in the polyester at the time of neck fabrication.
Sd he (one) could strip (.1000grit) the radius of the neck to the actual (raw)
carbon graphite surface resulting in a satin feel which would not chip and be impervious to any environmental/ playing damage. The fretboard doesn't have
a finish. Since the Modulus "crown" on the peghead and name at the heel are decals and not inset into the graphite, he suggested not to strip those areas as the decals would come off w the finish. Unless those areas also suffered the same affliction.
He can perform the strip service and if desired refinish. [email protected]
Very helpful. Loves the Musicman w graphite. All things considered I'll leave mine stock
Hope this helps and thanks to all TB members much love. no eye contact. M
Last edited:
GeoffGould
Commercial User
it was polyester. many good advices here. Just deal with someone who knows finishes. You could sand the whole thing down if you like! Whoever refinishes it should keep it clean, so the finish adheres well.
