"How bad is it?" Silvertone Hornet resurrection

[JIO]

...more like C&W ala Johnny Paycheck on his Teisco Del Rey EB-2. They all are wearing powder-blue outfits, and the bass looks a bit green comparatively.

 

[rickwrench]

Not green...
No green basses.
Just say "no".

Cases will be an issue. The 1443 is a tiny bit over 48" long.
Original case, Anvil, SKB, or DIY. Those are pretty much the options.

I used Anvil bass cases for many years, decades. They are heavy. And $. But, they definitely don't ever get squashed.
These days I load my own gear, so I can safely use a lightweight DIY plywood case. They're cheap enough to make, about $35 each or so.

Plywood 1443 case pic
Another 1443 case pic
A third 1443 case pic

Rick

 

[scuzzy]

Not green...
No green basses.
Just say "no".

Nah, green is sweet.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

This thread is continued from post #242 on page 13 here - Danelectro Coral Deluxe Bass project I have a few related threads going that you may or may not have visited and they have all overlapped a bit. This one is at the point where it needs lts own thread, so here we go again.

My friend Brian has a sardonic sense of humor, and the first thing he usually sez' when I talk with him is "How bad is it?" - which fits this hot mess like a glove. Perhaps I'm a glutton for punishment, but I saw this sad bass on eBay and decided I needed a challenge to get me through the winter months. It's been used, abused and finished (off) with one of the most inept DIY 'treatments' I've seen. It's almost so bad it's good.., but it even falls short there - it's just so bad. It just arrived yesterday and here's some pics to illustrate the "before". By the time this thread runs its course - the "after" pics will illustrate a nice bass and it will have a new lease on life. Can I get an AMEN!

So the person who 'did this' must have enjoyed painting. Every part is painted and it's hard to tell exactly how it was done, but people like that shouldn't be allowed to buy paint. Someone also liked playing cards... maybe a gambler, who knows.

View attachment 3631981

View attachment 3631984
'custom' string restraint
View attachment 3631986
Who knows what went on before the paint was applied, but aggressive heavy-grit sandpaper was involved.
View attachment 3631987
As I said - everything was painted, a lot.., with thick paint...
View attachment 3631988
Ah, and here's a lovely detail the seller conveniently left out of their description. Luckily I know how to address/repair such, but he's going to hear from me with this pic attached. He has 100% feedback on eBay, as I do. The big difference is, I would never leave such a detail out of a description... but maybe I'm different. I would have still wanted to buy it, but would have offered a lower price ~
View attachment 3631990
And as I expected - the thick gloppy black paint is coating a very orangy tort (wht/blk/wht/tort) original pg. It should clean up nicely. One of the four knobs are missing - and nowhere to be found (I looked) so I'll be replacing them with something appropriate.
View attachment 3631994
Under the hood - looks bad, but works non-the less and other than one replaced pu - looks to be all original.
View attachment 3631997
Neck-located pu looks original, but marked "B" to me sez a bridge pu. Plugged in it 'clunks' louder than the newer pu so they will be reversed.
View attachment 3631999
Headstock has been sanded within an inch of its life, and the original tuners are missing the post ferrules and some bolts/washers. We'll see if I can locate these small ferrules which are not common. Retro remake of the chrome hs badge - it will look sharp... eventually.
View attachment 3632000
Fingerboard is in need of major work, but the frets look ok. They were originally very flat profile, and there are no grooves in any of them. A flats player? Note one of the steel rod ports are painted shut.
View attachment 3632001

Amen !
Looks to me that this was turned into wall art due to the damage

Thou art a braver man than I.!

 

[JIO]

Not green...
No green basses.
Just say "no".

Cases will be an issue. The 1443 is a tiny bit over 48" long.
Original case, Anvil, SKB, or DIY. Those are pretty much the options.

I used Anvil bass cases for many years, decades. They are heavy. And $. But, they definitely don't ever get squashed.
These days I load my own gear, so I can safely use a lightweight DIY plywood case. They're cheap enough to make, about $35 each or so.

Plywood 1443 case pic
Another 1443 case pic
A third 1443 case pic

Rick

Cool! I recently made a HSC for my '68 Custom Kraft hollow body, which is also very long. (50" - as long as my '64 T-bird) Nothing (HSC or gig-bag) aftermarket would ever fit it. I can fit my Coral in a Mono gig bag (just), and the Hornet is about the same length. Thanks for your pics which confirmed a 2 pu version in brown-burst. Nice cases too!

Luckily the Coral came with its OHSC.

 

[JIO]

And... it's "Fossil" (Lava soap grey-green) for the win. Two things helped make up my mind; one, my local Ace doesn't carry Krylon paint anymore so no Hand Rubbed Bronze Metallic, and secondly, I wanted to do something different and like this colour. Added bonus is this paint (like the Krylon) is 'primer/finish' and satin - The perfect retro look IMO and much more friendly to work with for a nice looking/feeling finish.

 

[JIO]

First coat - lot's of soaking in. Will shoot another coat within the hr and start the sanding process after that cures. I'll be doing some distressing on this finish which will lend itself nicely not being perfect and all. A sunny day today so a perfect opportunity to start the finish.

 

[Beej]

I really wanted to see this in some form of white, so right now I'm pleased and satisfied...

 

[JIO]

I really wanted to see this in some form of white, so right now I'm pleased and satisfied...

It definitely leans that direction. My 122s wagon (same colour as the one in the pic I posted) would look different in different light. When I first saw it I though it was a cream-colour, and then other times out looked more green. The pale subtle colours are some of my faves for that very reason. But you know Beej, I'm also happy that you're happy!

 

[Beej]

I think that's going to look killer with that tort guard.

 

[Fat Freddy]

I think that's going to look killer with that tort guard.

 

[rickwrench]

Thanks for your pics which confirmed a 2 pu version in brown-burst. Nice cases too!

Your cases look great.
Lava soap! A handful of sand.

I still strongly doubt the lacquer brown burst on my bass was an official "factory" finish. I think this bass was most likely a leftover/parts bass, built as or just after the Neptune factory shut down. One of the last built. No other colors in the pretty clearly virgin neck pocket, no pencil marks, no serial number. My uncle bought it "new" in late 1969 from a music store in Berkeley, CA.

Rick

 

[TerribleTim68]

I was gonna say, I'd look to a coffin. I've got one that's pretty large that I picked up for my Warlock. It has plenty of room in it.

 

[JIO]

I think that's going to look killer with that tort guard.

I agree! (in a Lava soap kinda' way )

 

[Beej]

Love it!

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I liked the burnished bronze on your other one and a matched set would be cool but think ultimately the lava /fossil was the right choice.

 

[JIO]

Indoors w/a flash - looks more true to the colour in-person. Knobs arrived today. I'll sand sags out in the morning and shoot two more light coats which should be sufficient. Then on to some 'relic-ing' which may include a bit of an amber wash for aging and ending with a satin lacquer clear. The body has lots of imperfections, but instead of attempting to make them go away - I'll work them in to the look. As you can see the upper pg horn is missing a chunk, the tuners look old/pitted, so to make the body/neck look perfect wouldn't jive with the parts anyway. It's the beauty of a relic-finish - it looks right (old/used).

The Silvertone badge is a bit larger than what would have been on this hs, as original ones have it parallel to the strings. I'll wait to string it up and see what works best.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Indoors w/a flash - looks more true to the colour in-person. Knobs arrived today. I'll sand sags out in the morning and shoot two more light coats which should be sufficient. Then on to some 'relic-ing' which may include a bit of an amber wash for aging and ending with a satin lacquer clear. The body has lots of imperfections, but instead of attempting to make them go away - I'll work them in to the look. As you can see the upper pg horn is missing a chunk, the tuners look old/pitted, so to make the body/neck look perfect wouldn't jive with the parts anyway. It's the beauty of a relic-finish - it looks right (old/used).

View attachment 3644488
The Silvertone badge is a bit larger than what would have been on this hs, as original ones have it parallel to the strings. I'll wait to string it up and see what works best.
View attachment 3644490

Are you going to relic the pickguard as well, or leave it shiny and new looking?.....

 

[JIO]

Are you going to relic the pickguard as well, or leave it shiny and new looking?.....

After removing the black paint - I did my best to fine-sand and polish it but it's far from shiny and new looking. It has micro-scratches all over it and is currently a satin/matte sheen, which goes nicely with a satin fined body/neck. I consulted youtube and all the tutorials showed returning a pg to "like new" gloss is nearly impossible. One got close after many steps using an electric buffer and multiple grades of burnishers and waxes. I was exhausted just watching it! The other thing is, it is nowhere near 'flat' after 50+ years. I just repositioned it and drilled for the 17 screws to hold it down - even then, it is wavy-gravy.

The thing about real 'players wear' is the more an area on a pg is interfaced, the shinier it gets - my '66 P-bass pg is amazing. The lifelong pro player who owned it before me wore the plastic through the top tort layer to the white layer with his fingers (at the neck pu) and it's as shiny as it gets! (not to mention the valley he created at the pg edge in the body!)

 

[JIO]

Loaded the pg and rewired the harness - not surprisingly, it was wired incorrectly. I also replaced the caps and sprayed pot-cleaner in the pots & switch. Everything works as it should and it's ready to install. Shot one coat today, a bit more sanding and a final coat tomorrow.

Time to visit my thread and scan for inspiration - SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!