Modify body

[SLH]

What opinions/advice might someone share regarding modifying a body to make it more comfortable to play? My G&L LB-100 fits uncomfortably against my chest. I want the straight edge on the back of the rear horn to be softened/curved like a jazz bass. Thoughts. Thanks. Stephen.

 

[Beej]

A bigger radius roundover on the edges, just on the back might resolve that for you, and remain nearly undetectable to future players. Not a huge amount of work to undertake, but it can be finicky to get it perfect, and of course it will require a refinish. If you love it, and want to invest another few hundred into it, then by all means go for it. It will not likely increase any value in the bass though, but that may not matter if it means you put a million miles on it...

 

[SLH]

A bigger radius roundover on the edges, just on the back might resolve that for you, and remain nearly undetectable to future players. Not a huge amount of work to undertake, but it can be finicky to get it perfect, and of course it will require a refinish. If you love it, and want to invest another few hundred into it, then by all means go for it. It will not likely increase any value in the bass though, but that may not matter if it means you put a million miles on it...

 

[SLH]

Who might you recommend for that work? Stephen

 

[Beej]

Probably worth shopping around with any techs, builders and luthiers local to you - I'm on the other seaboard, and one country north. The work itself is pretty straightforward for anyone who's built a body - if you have access to a shop or know a skilled woodworker, you could do it yourself, and then have the refinish farmed out to someone like Pat Wilkins or Marty Bell.

Basically you just take a router with a bigger radius roundover bit and run it around the back of the body - you have to ensure you have the necessary clearance so you don't hit the control cavity or mess up the neck plate mounting area. Any cutaways will have to be blended with files, scrapers and sandpaper, then the whole thing gets sanded back to a uniform 220ish grit. From there it can be repainted - if you use a pro, they will reseal it uniformly, finish it exactly as you like and Bob's Your Uncle... Not cheap to get it professionally finished, but it will last a lifetime.

 

[SLH]

Thanks for the advice and time. Stephen