Musicman USA Sub refinish- Questions

[A Future Pilot]

Looking good! I think I personally prefer the other shade of green, but I totally understand not wanting to spend another $40 on it!

 

[Chaser1]

Looking good! I think I personally prefer the other shade of green, but I totally understand not wanting to spend another $40 on it!

I as well preferred the other colour, but I just couldn’t go down that road again. I am at my third sand back restart in this project. It’s funny because this colour is actually closer to the colour I had originally planned on which was an army olive green. That other colour was really cool. I am kind of wondering if it was impurities in the other paint that caused the cracking, maybe something in their mix process when they made the cans?

 

[Chaser1]

Here it is with my two pickguard choices. I think I am going to order a tortoiseshell as that might be the perfect combo. It’s weird how much colour shift there is between the two pictures they look like different greens. The bottom green looks really close to my inspiration colour.

 

[Chaser1]

Getting closer. Started doing my wet sand today, this is after doing 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000. The body is smooth but I can still see shiny spots and the paint is not the uniform dull to start buffing. I went back to 1000 and have been working on getting it all even with no shiny spot. I am getting closer. Figured I should show off a preview shot with the neck. I think it’s going to look pretty awesome. It’s a darker green than it shows up in pics.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

A quick tip that will save you some hours of level-sanding: 3M makes a special coarse rubbing compound called 05954 Super Duty Rubbing Compound. It's available online or in some auto parts stores in the Auto Body section. It isn't cheap, but it's worth every penny.

This rubbing compound basically bridges the gap between 800 grit and 2000 grit. Level sand to 800-1000 grit. Then buff with the 3M Super Duty, which will take out those scratches and bring the surface up to a semi-gloss sheen. Then, buff it with a normal rubbing compound (I use Meguier's Ultimate) to take it up to a full shine. The 3M compound takes the place of a whole lot of wet sanding.

For years, I fought with that problem of getting from level sanding up to buffing. I've experimented with a lot of different rubbing compounds, even some that are called Coarse, and I haven't found any other than the 3M that will quickly take out 800-1000 level scratches.

I don't even do wet sanding at all any more on my water-base polyurethane finishes. I do the level sanding dry with Mirka AutoNet 800 grit, then go over it lightly with Mirka Abralon 1000, dry. Then, buff with the 3M Super Duty and Meguier's Ultimate to full gloss.

 

[Chaser1]

I wound up sanding to 5000 so I didn’t need a crazy amount of polishing. I used Meguiars ultimate compound followed by Meguiars ultimate polish and now there is so much shine it’s crazy. I should be able to reassemble this afternoon! Looking forward to playing this bad boy.

I added the pic without the pickguard and now kind of wish I would have filled the pickguard screw holes, it looks pretty badass without one.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Naw. Looks great. The pickguard “breaks things up” just about the right amount.

 

[Chaser1]

I’m done!!! All polished, rewired and setup. I think the neck needs a bit to settle in now that it’s back under tension but I am loving the result!

 

[endy_y_p]

Beautiful work!..I wish I could do the same.

A bit of newbie question here, do you sanded first after the final color before the clear coats or just shoot a clear coat while it still hanging?. Thanks

 

[CatchaCuda]

It looks very nice, job well done! May I request a pic of the back?

 

[Chaser1]

Beautiful work!..I wish I could do the same.

A bit of newbie question here, do you sanded first after the final color before the clear coats or just shoot a clear coat while it still hanging?. Thanks

I did not sand before I shot clear. I sanded my primer coat before colour, so the colour went on pretty smooth.

 

[Chaser1]

It looks very nice, job well done! May I request a pic of the back?

Sure here is the back.

 

[5fingerfrenzy]

Thank you for sharing. Your perseverance paid off and the results are amazing! I've had a bass professionally refinished before, but reading this has me thinking I may want to take a crack at it myself sometime!

 

[Chaser1]

Thank you for sharing. Your perseverance paid off and the results are amazing! I've had a bass professionally refinished before, but reading this has me thinking I may want to take a crack at it myself sometime!

I would say give it a shot. There can be a lot of frustration, especially if you rush, which got me into trouble, but really if worse comes to worse you sand back and try again. It’s a fun project, and when you finish and get the result you were after, it’s the greatest feeling. You build a connection to the instrument. My next project will probably be a build from scratch, doing this has kind of given me itch.

 

[CatchaCuda]

The rear looks so light in that pic! It looks great, and comfortable to boot.

 

[Chaser1]

The rear looks so light in that pic! It looks great, and comfortable to boot.

Ya, it is def not that light in real life, I had it right in front of the window and it washed it right out. It looks exactly like the darker pic, thats the true colour.

 

[mouthmw]

Fantastic! I actually prefer the color you ended up with, it's more of that army, olive type of color and looks gorgeous with the black neck/headstock/pickguard. Kudos!

 

[Mathil8]

Wow, can't believe how great this turned out. Great job!

I have a black USA Sub 5 I was wanting to paint white, but am now considering re-finishing it entirely. Any recommendations/tips outside of the info in this thread?