I got some Peavey parts...

[Reedt2000]

The neck got a scuff sand this morning. There were a few tiny imperfections that were removed but its really pretty clean. The 6th coat went on and I think it only needs maybe 2 more. I'm putting another on in a few hours, maybe one more before the end of the day depending on how smooth the next one is. Then another couple day cure, a smoothing with really light sandpaper, and the final coat. Then it needs to actually cure so it'll hang for 3 weeks before it will be ready. In that time the body finish will happen and then it will need 3 weeks of cure time too before cut, buff, and final assembly. No pics because it really doesn't look any different

 

[Reedt2000]

Masking tape carefully applied, courage mustered...

And...

Color applied!

I dig it.

it's warm and rich while still looking natural and letting that grain pop.

Gonna let it dry and peel back the tape leaving the alder natural, should highlight the top even more.

No burst attempt, I'm liking what I got and the clear will amber it just a little more, should look sweet

 

[Passini]

Wow, gorgeous!

 

[Reedt2000]

Thanks!

I had a little more tape bleed than I was hoping for, but I took a little 220 grit and a rubber eraser (my favorite detail sanding block ) and pretty quickly got 95% of it off. A little more fiddly sanding and I'll be ready for final finishing. I've gotta pickup some pvc and build a stand. The neck just got coat 8 and is ready for a final coat in a couple days.

 

[Lonnybass]

YES!!!

 

[Lonnybass]

Just got home and was able to get a look at your bass on my big display vs my phone - wow - that looks freakin’ FANTASTIC. The contrast is really vibrant now, and it’s going to look like it’s literally on fire when you hit it with some clear gloss. Way to go!

 

[Reedt2000]

Last several days have been tough. Death in the family, really busy at work, gigs to play...

But even though I'm ready for a nap, I wanted to keep things moving. I was planning on scuffing the neck with super light sandpaper then laying one last coat of poly on it. Then I was reading @BishopJP's winter build off thread and he burnished his wipe-on poly with a paper bag. I can see I've got plenty of build up, my concern is feel. I don't want that sticky feel poly on a neck can give you so I decided to see what a paper bag would do figuring if I didn't like it I can always scuff and add a coat. Here's the neck before:

I liked what the bag did, but wanted a little smoother feel (yeah, leaving well enough alone is not my strong suit ) so I also buffed it lightly with swirl remover. The result is mellow even shine and a super smooth feel. Here's the after:

With that done I unmasked and smoothed the poly build up against the tape very carefully with a razor, then used the bag again to smooth it out more so you can't feel anything. Then the board got a cleaning and conditioning:

I also cut the head-nub surface with Meguiar's fine compound and then swirl remover:

And installed the headpiece:

And with that the neck is done

(Other than installing the nut and final playing adjustment )

 

[Reedt2000]

Did some final sanding, built myself a stand, rigged some extra lighting, clear starts going on tomorrow

 

[Lonnybass]

Did some final sanding, built myself a stand, rigged some extra lighting, clear starts going on tomorrow

View attachment 5009778

Your use of PVC is even more ingenious than what my neighbor did to create an waterproof outdoor movie projector screen stand!

 

[Reedt2000]

Your use of PVC is even more ingenious than what my neighbor did to create an waterproof outdoor movie projector screen stand!

I can't take credit, @Jon Clegg built a similar stand as have a number of other TB builders whose names I can't remember at the moment

 

[Jon Clegg]

I can't take credit, @Jon Clegg built a similar stand as have a number of other TB builders whose names I can't remember at the moment

I'm pretty sure I got the idea from somebody else!

 

[Reedt2000]

First of what I think may end up being 3 thinned out seal coats is on. It's always cool to get to this step, the first time you see what the final color tones are gonna be. It looks pretty awesome

Here are some before/after pics

That extra amber from the clear just warmed everything up nicely, like you put it in photoshop and cranked the saturation (which I didn't, these are unedited ). I've got the day off outside of a gig tonight so I'll be able to get 3 coats on it. Headed towards the finish line!

 

[Lonnybass]

First of what I think may end up being 3 thinned out seal coats is on. It's always cool to get to this step, the first time you see what the final color tones are gonna be. It looks pretty awesome

Here are some before/after pics

View attachment 5010332

View attachment 5010333

That extra amber from the clear just warmed everything up nicely, like you put it in photoshop and cranked the saturation (which I didn't, these are unedited ). I've got the day off outside of a gig tonight so I'll be able to get 3 coats on it. Headed towards the finish line!

(applauds!!!)

 

[Reedt2000]

(applauds!!!)

Thanks, it's always a little unnerving wiping anything over color. You never quite know what's gonna happen. Will it pull the color out? Push it around where you don't want it? Change it in a way you don't like?

I think the thinned coats was the right move. It goes on quick and gets absorbed pretty fast. Once another one or two are on it I'll feel a lot more relaxed

 

[Reedt2000]

I measured the jack hole (huh, huh, huh... jack hole ) and it's 7/8" so this bass is getting an electrosocket. I love those things, best output jack holder design available (IMHO).

 

[Reedt2000]

There are 3 coats on it now, after the seal coats. It's starting to build nicely. Up till now I wasn't concerned about adhesion cause there was still decent texture and the wood still absorbed a tiny bit (I've been measuring out the finish for each application and I can see it taking less now). Now there's visible build I'm gonna let it sit a while, probably a couple days, and give it it's first scuff. It's gone on pretty smooth and I'm starting to get a feel for the product. I've got a couple little runs to address, but I think with better application in future coats I can avoid those. Thankfully none are near the color. Gotta be patient, it'll take a while to get this right

 

[Matt Liebenau]

There are 3 coats on it now, after the seal coats. It's starting to build nicely. Up till now I wasn't concerned about adhesion cause there was still decent texture and the wood still absorbed a tiny bit (I've been measuring out the finish for each application and I can see it taking less now). Now there's visible build I'm gonna let it sit a while, probably a couple days, and give it it's first scuff. It's gone on pretty smooth and I'm starting to get a feel for the product. I've got a couple little runs to address, but I think with better application in future coats I can avoid those. Thankfully none are near the color. Gotta be patient, it'll take a while to get this right

View attachment 5012142

Patience is the key and most difficult part with almost any finish.

I didn’t catch the creative use of toggle bolts earlier. Good thinking.

 

[Lonnybass]

Looking great! You should be good to give it a light scuff sanding after about 6 hours. It's solely to knock off any surface-level imperfections like dust that may have settled on the surface. With three coats on there now, it should start building a hard film fast. With the runs, you just want to take off the edges so that it feels relatively level. And just scrape any globules with a fingernail and then scuff-level the remaining crater back to flat.

 

[Reedt2000]

I didn’t catch the creative use of toggle bolts earlier. Good thinking.

They were the only machine screws and fasteners I had on-hand that were long enough

 

[Reedt2000]

I put so many coats on, including seal coats sunk into the wood, that I really wanted to give it some time to harden before I took sandpaper to it. The seal coats have created that chatoyance which the dark staining can get rid of, so there's a whole bunch of movement In the grain when you move the light source around.

Todat I felt it was good enough to continue so I carefully flattened the small runs and got to scuffing it. It went mostly well. I did have one tiny burn through into the color

First instinct was to mix color and get a liner brush... but I decided against it. The spot is tiny, and over a light spot in the grain, so I decided the amber of further top coats would likely take care of it.

And it did:

If you know what to look for you can still see it (so it's probably the only thing I'll see every time I look at it ), but it looks natural enough to roll with it.

So I'm back to building coats, only 16-18 to go