LTD b-205 freebie refin

[melvins92]

I've had this fiver for a couple years now, and it's been in need of a refinish since I got it. My buddy (who's a garbageman) found it in the trash at work and was going to refinish it for a buyer but the sale fell through so he just gave it to me instead. The only real issue was that he had already begun sanding the finish off, so it's got a pretty worn look to it, would be great on a P or J but not modern body style, so it's getting some fresh paint.

The before pics

0818142309 by tchesko94, on Flickr

0818142310a by tchesko94, on Flickr

0818142310 by tchesko94, on Flickr

I'm not a huge fan of active electronics, so about a month after I got this bass I had pulled the active eq (not necessary because the emg hz's are actually passive), wired it with just a blend and master volume and taped over the holes to block dust. I haven't decided what to do with the holes yet but I've four ideas for them at the moment:

1) Individual volume/tone for each pickup plus pickup or tone bypass switch
2) Master Vol, Blend, 2 band active EQ or G&L style tone controls, and EQ bypass switch
3) Plug the three extra holes with plastic caps
4) Lights! blinky LEDs, mini strobe LEDs with variable speed to match song tempo, or just cool colors.
4.5) Option 1 or 2 with LEDs for backlit pickups

0818142310b by tchesko94, on Flickr

0818142310c by tchesko94, on Flickr

 

[themarshall]

VVT or V Blend Tone + killswitch or series/parallel switch.

 

[melvins92]

Filling nicks and gouges after rough sand to ready for primer

0819141319 by tchesko94, on Flickr

0819141319a by tchesko94, on Flickr

After a mist coat and two normal coats of primer, using zipties and a plant hanger to hold up body hang body to paint.

0819141513 by tchesko94, on Flickr

0819141514 by tchesko94, on Flickr

So what color is it going to be, you ask?

0819141615 by tchesko94, on Flickr

Purple as F*#K

0819141615a by tchesko94, on Flickr

The spots that look like the primer coming through are actually just reflections in the paint

0819141615b by tchesko94, on Flickr

After a night of sitting

0820141336 by tchesko94, on Flickr

0820141337 by tchesko94, on Flickr

The paint looks great in the pictures but there's a couple runs and a spot by the neck bolt holes that I tried to wipe when it ran and scraped away some of the first coat. It'll look good from a stage at least. Hopefully the issues are ironed out by some light sanding. I'm not that worried about it since it was a free bass, but it would be nice if the paint came out good. I'm between just doing clear or doing clear over some clear flake to finish it.

The hardware is still in ok shape and I like the sound of the emgs so that's all going back on when it's done. The issue with the hardware is that it was black chrome but from sitting outside in the trash the black faded away and fell off, so now one tuner is black (that was replaced), one is black chrome, one is faded and two are worn looking chrome. The bridge needs a good soak in metal cleaner, but is in good shape mechanically, and the original knobs were missing so I'm going to get a set so they all match. I'm keeping the paint on the neck as it is, so it gives it some contrast to the body.

 

[melvins92]

VVT or V Blend Tone + killswitch or series/parallel switch.

I didn't even consider a series/parallel switch, that's a good idea. After more reading I've found the HZ's can be split so that would be useful also.

 

[randallp89]

I have the same ltd b205 I love that bass. I just got it off craigslist in rough shape for cheap and just got done fixing it up. Did a fret polish, fretboard cleaning and conditioning, removed all the crap and cleaned the electronics, and resolderd and made a backblate polished the hardware and overall cleaning. Looks good now but ya never know I might get it hydro dipped one day. And I actually really like the hz's with a active eq

 

[melvins92]

I have the same ltd b205 I love that bass. I just got it off craigslist in rough shape for cheap and just got done fixing it up. Did a fret polish, fretboard cleaning and conditioning, removed all the crap and cleaned the electronics, and resolderd and made a backblate polished the hardware and overall cleaning. Looks good now but ya never know I might get it hydro dipped one day. And I actually really like the hz's with a active eq

It really is a great bass. The active EQ it comes with is a good EMG one, but I just don't feel like keeping up with batteries (mine is the older model without the seperate battery compartment). Having two pickups and possibly a series/parallel or coil split would be plenty versatile for my wants/needs. I go through a multi-fx/DI setup live so I can change my EQ/tones easily with that. Maybe I'll just put the EQ back in with a bypass switch, but I'll probably just sell it or put it in another bass at some point.

 

[randallp89]

Mine is the same exact one. Also only one compartment with a metal battery clip inside.

 

[miziomix]

Can't argue with a Rich Plum fiver. Looking good.

hold on... your friend found THAT in the garbage?? Friendly neighborhood.

 

[flameworker]

Nice find! Good spray can work, that's tricky, there is spray lacquer available that's quick drying and less prone to runs.

 

[Ronbeast]

How exactly did this end up in the garbage? It looked like a fully usable bass (if that is the way it came to you).

 

[melvins92]

Can't argue with a Rich Plum fiver. Looking good.

hold on... your friend found THAT in the garbage?? Friendly neighborhood.

How exactly did this end up in the garbage? It looked like a fully usable bass (if that is the way it came to you).

It was in great shape and fully functional sans a few scratches before he started taking the paint off the front, Idk what the story is on how it got to the garbage. I would figure someone who was angry with the owner would have burnt it or sold it so it was odd to find in good shape, normally he finds cheap or busted stuff. Though he did find a Tascam 244 (which he gave me) and a nice luna parlor acoustic (which I wanted but he sold before I could ).

Nice find! Good spray can work, that's tricky, there is spray lacquer available that's quick drying and less prone to runs.

Lacquer would have been the right way to go about it, but there was a can of krylon purple in the house so that's what I went with. I appreciate the praise, I'm not new to spray paint, but this is the first guitar/bass body I've done and it's not easy, but it is fun.