I bought the garbage pail kids ray

[Dincrest]

On the one hand I'm of the "keep the iconic Garbage Pail Kids finish on it" because... it's iconic. It's something that would totally win the Internet given today's meme culture and nostalgia for something like Garbage Pail Kids that would NOT pass muster in today's cultural climate. Heck, Garbage Pail Kids are almost a middle finger to that so my "that's so punk rock!" inner-child (who, at 47, grew up trading Garbage Pail Kids cards on the elementary school playground) digs it.

On the other hand... my swirl bass started life is an LTD HTB-600 (Children of Bodom sig model) with COBHC ("Children of Bodom Hate Crew" the band called their fans the "hate crew") emblazoned on it in big big letters (which I found cheesy). So I had it refinished in that swirl (which I could only afford to have done because I paid a pittance for that bass. I totally got a Cadillac at a Chevy price).

Maybe I should have kept it stock because it could be a collector's item, but I did not and that bass is going to the afterlife with me as something even more unique.

 

[monsterthompson]

Seems odd to buy this unique finish to refinish. Sounds like the price made it worth it as a project bass. Curious to see where it goes from here.

 

[Tj smith]

Seems odd to buy this unique finish to refinish. Sounds like the price made it worth it as a project bass. Curious to see where it goes from here.

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Exactly. If the finish is done well then I’ll keep it. Is that stingray card a real card?

 

[rogerbmiller]

Exactly. If the finish is done well then I’ll keep it. Is that stingray card a real card?

If it isn't it should be. I bet it could be printed into a sticker if it isn't!

 

[5StringBlues]

Please save that thing from itself.

 

[Fierzzaga]

That thing is an absolute GEM as-is, I love it! Keep us posted.

 

[monsterthompson]

Is that stingray card a real card?

It appears to be, with a few on ebay now, assuming my google search is accurate.

 

[Tj smith]

It appears to be, with a few on ebay now, assuming my google search is accurate.

If this bass ends up being a good one, I’m gonna put that sting ray sticker on the headstock. I really hope it’s not a terd but it might be.

 

[monsterthompson]

If this bass ends up being a good one, I’m gonna put that sting ray sticker on the headstock. I really hope it’s not a terd but it might be.

It seems like an obvious choice. How it wasn’t already done is beyond me

 

[Tj smith]

It seems like an obvious choice. How it wasn’t already done is beyond me

Agreed.

 

[sdjfoh]

Well as the title says, I bought it. I’m gonna refinish the bass b/c I don’t like the finish and I’m not a fan of how the headstock is different than the body. I want to do a paint of paisley finish on this one.

I haven’t received the bass yet but I’ll post pics as I get the work done.

I would also just update the headstock instead and match it. It’s an incredible piece of work that is worth preserving.

 

[T McClure]

I went to Google after thinking about this thread curious to see if there are more like it, and apparently others have done the same thing with Garbage Pail Kids stickers.

Here's a Jazz bass covered in Garbage Pail Kids. That same jazz bass was previously listed for sale on Reverb.



Someone also made a Garbage Pail Kids P bass.



Here's a post from a guy sharing the story of when he did this to a Guild bass back in the late 80s (fun 80s photos included).



People have also done this to some guitars as well, but most examples I found looked pretty terrible.

The funny thing is the person who did this to the StingRay might have done the best job of applying the stickers compared to any of the ones I've found, but I'm seeing it's less unique than I first assumed.

 

[DanAdams]

It seems like an obvious choice. How it wasn’t already done is beyond me

Dude. I think you may have just saved the GPK StingRay!

The lore is just growing with each comment and post.

Look what Talk bass did for the Mothman bass? History is afoot! All hail the GPK bass

I went to Google after thinking about this thread curious to see if there are more like it, and apparently others have done the same thing with Garbage Pail Kids stickers.

Here's a Jazz bass covered in Garbage Pail Kids.

Is it just me, but it just works and looks better on the Stingray. Featuring Mangled Marcus so prominently was a bad design choice.
My opinion of saving the Jazz or P bass finishes would be just meh... I just don't think that it works as well on those Fenders
Maybe it's because there is better composition put into the collage on the Stingray.
----
I would make sure that the bridge was directly against the body. It looks like may have stickers sandwiched in there???
tracing the bridge with an exact knife would just take a couple minutes.

 

[Count Bassie]

Never got the allure of the Garbage Pail Kids thing myself. Isn't kids' culture interesting- I say that having raised two of em, and some of their culture gets by me with a yard or two to spare...

 

[Tj smith]

I think this may actually be a vinyl wrap. I’m still waiting for the bass to show up but I will post pics of asap.

 

[Tj smith]

It’s pretty bad. It looks like they used packaging tape as clear coat. The strap has be screwed to the body with dry wall screws.

Sorry everyone but it needs to be saved. It’s most likely getting refinished.

 

[monsterthompson]

Looking at that bass I can remember the taste of the gum.

 

[sdjfoh]

It’s pretty bad. It looks like they used packaging tape as clear coat. The strap has be screwed to the body with dry wall screws.

Sorry everyone but it needs to be saved. It’s most likely getting refinished.

Yeesh, you sure it’s not shellac’d? Might be a pretty invasive job.

 

[Tj smith]

Yeesh, you sure it’s not shellac’d? Might be a pretty invasive job.

I can see the tape overlapping

 

[rogerbmiller]

It will be fun to see status pics of how you strip this and what is underneath. I am curious if naphtha is all that's required to remove what's there or if this needs more. Whatever more is.