Lefty Fretless Jazz Bass

[wolfkeller]

Good for you lefty! I'm in that same lefty boat and I have customized all my basses my way. Parts, paint ect. I'm actually sanding a body as well. I don't do the filler, I sand and primer then sand it before moving on. The one I'm doing sucks as I have to take it down to wood whereas I usually rough up the old finish only. The paint in this was enamel and I'm using lacquer so it has to all be gone

 

[M0ses]

Hey Brett, any progress?

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

Hey Brett, any progress?

I am just now finalizing my "paint booth" which is essentially some items that I cobbled together and am customizing for use as something that I can put in my garage and not get paint everywhere. The garage is where my music is played and I need to make sure everything is properly covered so that I don't ruin anything (e.g. basses, computer, etc.) while I am finishing this project. I am hoping to lay some sanding sealer down at some point this week or this weekend at the latest. Paint to follow that, of course.

I am absolutely dying to get this done. There's been some interesting juju on this project since the beginning and to see it get to where it is now makes me quite proud. It's definitely taking longer than I had hoped, though. I'm also quite distracted with designing my next project, which will be a 100% custom job that I make myself, so that's not really helping too much. I caught the major luthier bug once I started posting here. There's just so much stuff to inspire that it's hard not to get distracted.

 

[ognihs]

Focus and enjoy the process. Dint let the end result or a self imposed deadline become a distraction.

Ditching the wife and kids or many not help. Let me know how that goes.


Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

Focus and enjoy the process. Dint let the end result or a self imposed deadline become a distraction.

Ditching the wife and kids or many not help. Let me know how that goes.


Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

Do I do this before or after Father's Day?

 

[ognihs]

On Father's Day.
Duh.


Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

Finally, an update...

I got my custom "body arm" built today. I'll be using this in conjunction with the bike repair stand paint booth setup so that I can have maxmim articulation while I spray; also so I can have it lay horizontally while it is drying. In researching I came to the conclusion that horizontal drying was something I wanted; this as opposed to hanging dry. It seemed to make more sense to me in terms of getting the best possible finish because of gravity and such. I'm sure I'm overthinking it, but that's what I decided.

Here are some pics:

Just getting started.

Checking plate width against milled dowel.

Just drilled holes for plate and body mounting. Pretty "F"ing cool.

Checking fitment...check! —

Fitment check, part two.

Now it's time to start putting my money where my mouth is and get this friggin' build going!

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

I just realized I never posted my custom paint booth...

These are from a few weeks ago, before today's milling.

 

[JIO]

Finally, an update...

I got my custom "body arm" built today. I'll be using this in conjunction with the bike repair stand paint booth setup so that I can have maxmim articulation while I spray; also so I can have it lay horizontally while it is drying. In researching I came to the conclusion that horizontal drying was something I wanted; this as opposed to hanging dry. It seemed to make more sense to me in terms of getting the best possible finish because of gravity and such. I'm sure I'm overthinking it, but that's what I decided.

Here are some pics:

Just getting started.

Some pretty serious shop kit you have there! I use a collapsable bike work-stand and a flat plank of wood. Can set up anywhere. (but not for spraying)

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

Some pretty serious shop kit you have there! I use a collapsable bike work-stand and a flat plank of wood. Can set up anywhere. (but not for spraying)

That looks really cool. It looks like essentially the same thing that I'm doing, with some slightly different characteristics. The only real differences are my bike repair stand is for a tabletop mount as opposed to a tripod setup, and the clamp is circular instead of flat.

The next thing I'm going to do is create a pseudo booth with cardboard walls, but I have all of that already so that should be pretty easy. I'm really hoping to start spraying something — anything — this week.

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

I finished the body arm today by chopping off the excess dowel material. This should give me plenty of handle on the left side to move with my hand(s) while the body is mounted.

 

[Grizz33]

Subbed! As a lefty myself, I REALLY appreciate what you're doing and I'm learning some tricks along the way. Awesome stuff, man. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

Subbed! As a lefty myself, I REALLY appreciate what you're doing and I'm learning some tricks along the way. Awesome stuff, man. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Thank you for the kind words.

If I can inspire a single person with anything that I am doing in this build, then it will be considered more than a success to me.

Now, hopefully the bass looks and plays beautifully when it's all said and done. I am actually preparing my booth as we speak and I think I'll be able to (finally) get some sanding sealer down today/tonight! Then it's all fun from there, although the tedium and learning experience I had with getting this body ready for paint has been quite valuable.

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

Update. We are sanding-sealing tonight!

The official paint booth. Jimi looks on and approves (I think).

The booth, serving its purpose.

Same as above; close-up.

We're sealing! (actually it's drying here)

Articulation in action.

So far, my custom paint booth with articulating clamp has worked pretty much exactly as I had hoped. I think tomorrow I will open up the right side a little bit so that I can have a little bit better access to the bottom edge of the body.

I'm hoping to get another coat of sanding sealer on this thing before calling it a night. Right now I'm doing a little research to see how long I should let this coat dry before sanding it down and spraying another coat.

 

[Jonny5bass]

Sub'd!

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

We be primin'!

First coat, front.

Second coat, front.

Second coat, back.

Second coat, finish close-up (flash on).

Second coat, finish close-up (flash off).

Second coat, finish close-up (different angle).

I'm not entirely certain how my primer should look before it's time to start spraying color. To the internets! Any and all tips are welcomed...

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

All right, this just got REAL.

First coat of paint after about two to three passes on each side, as guided by the Guitar Reranch 101a guide:

In the second photo (which is the back of the bass), I put it on just a teeny-tiny bit too thickly on the bass horn, I think. No runs or drips, but I hit it a little too much while trying to get into the cutaways. Still looking pretty good for my first go at it.

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

After a chill 400-grit sanding and tack cloth wiping, I started my second coat tonight.

Here are a few pics…

It definitely is starting to look like a real guitar now. My lighting and camera both suck pretty greatly; in real life this looks pretty good.

It looks like I have some more filling to do around the pickup cavities, which really bugs. Check it out in these two pics below. I'm not sure what to do here. I do know that I'm pissed/disappointed about it, though.

Any tips on how to go about those areas without screwing up what I've already done would be appreciated.

 

[joselorellano]

I don't think those will be very visible (if at all) after a few more coats, clear, and wet sanding/polishing.

 

[Brett Zeppelin]

I don't think those will be very visible (if at all) after a few more coats, clear, and wet sanding/polishing.

Thanks for the confirmation. I will go with that advice. If my build fails, I'll just blame it on you. Just kidding.