Off with its head! 6-string headless conversion/parts build

[Reedt2000]

The stain dries pretty quick so I pulled the tape. All in all, not bad. A little bleed around the edges of the head, but I expected that and should be able to deal with it.

Need opinions, should the heel be red too? I can always lay a layer of red on top of the current color...

 

[herndonbassist]

That looks like a pretty good match. I suspect that with some gloss, it'll look like it even better!

 

[bound'n'blocked]

The stain dries pretty quick so I pulled the tape. All in all, not bad. A little bleed around the edges of the head, but I expected that and should be able to deal with it.

View attachment 3970076

Need opinions, should the heel be red too? I can always lay a layer of red on top of the current color...

this is looking great. As to the heel, maybe dab a little red over it, to mimic the grain pattern. I think that color did really well

BnB

 

[Beej]

I think a touch more red on the heel will help it stand out less. Great colour matching though - it's hard to get red/oranges in the right tone.

 

[Reedt2000]

Prepped the neck, cleaned up stain bleed, and got the first of many wipe-on satin poly coats on. I decided to wait on trying more red over the heel, the poly will darken the raw stain so I'm hitting it with wipe-on too. I can shoot gloss over it later with no problem, and because this is a gel stain, I can add red later if I want to by just going over the satin poly. The way its hanging I can't get decent pics but here is how just one coat darkened the colors.

 

[Reedt2000]

Continuing to build coats and it's looking good

It feels pretty good too, though its hard to judge before things are fully cured. I figure I can smooth it out to a feel I'm happy with using super light sanding when its fully coated and cured (if i need to)

 

[CatchaCuda]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this come together. I'm jonesing!

I still need to find a body for the fretless neck from you. Not that my project would be on par with yours!

 

[Reedt2000]

The finish on the back of the neck is done, and It came out nice. I ended up with 8 coats though I sanded back with 800 after 4, and with 1200 right before the final coat. It looks good, really smooth and even. I'm gonna give it a couple days before I start handling it and do the gloss sections.

The heel looks good too and should look better with the gloss on it. I'm happy with the color

 

[bassspielplatz]

Congratulations!
I recently finished my own. Repossessed body and neck, turned into a 33" 6 string bass. Essentially, a MIDI controller that sounds phenomenal. Lucky for me, I wasn't crazy about the existing finish, so I stripped it down to the bare wood, and painted it black!

 

[Reedt2000]

Time so start the body finish repair. Started by setting up my makeshift booth (really just to keep the over spray from getting on the other stuff that lives in my basement), then mask up with a flexible 3M automotive tape and standard blue tape.

I covered the bulk of the body with contractor paper so I didn't tape the whole thing which would mean more cleaning later. Shook the can (A LOT) and started shooting.

I'm mostly happy. There is the top left edge which shows more orange through than I'd like. I may try laying gel stain on it in the middle of the process, I wanna see what it looks like with a couple coats on it. It is almost nonexistent in the pics but stands out a lot more in person.

I might mix the stain with a little wipe-on to try and blend it better...

 

[Reedt2000]

Congratulations!
I recently finished my own. Repossessed body and neck, turned into a 33" 6 string bass. Essentially, a MIDI controller that sounds phenomenal. Lucky for me, I wasn't crazy about the existing finish, so I stripped it down to the bare wood, and painted it black!View attachment 3988144

That's awesome

Somehow I missed this post. How to you like the Hipshot bridge? I'll update you on how the thrust bearings work out.

 

[CatchaCuda]

I don't mean to derail your thread, but I think this Warwick Rockbass Corvette is going to have surgery and receive the FL 6 neck that you sold me.

I grabbed this and a case for $150 on Craigslist a few weeks ago. But, I just cannot get the neck to fight the string pull.

It's time for me to practice routing on some scrap.

 

[Reedt2000]

I don't mean to derail your thread, but I think this Warwick Rockbass Corvette is going to have surgery and receive the FL 6 neck that you sold me. View attachment 3993323 View attachment 3993327I grabbed this and a case for $150 on Craigslist a few weeks ago. But, I just cannot get the neck to fight the string pull.

It's time for me to practice routing on some scrap.

Sweet! Sounds like a cool project

What are your plans for pickups? Are you gonna keep it 6 string? You could convert it to broad neck 5er. (I can derail all I want, it's my thread )

 

[CatchaCuda]

For pickups, I have no clue, really. I'll start with the neck pocket mods, new bridge and if that works out, I'll think about pickups.

I'd like to make it a 6! Though, I have a Harley Benton FL 6, so I really have no use for another... I sold my 1 and only 5. I have multiple 4 strings...why did I even get this Rockbass?? If I try matching the headstock to the body, I'll see if you recommend Unicorn spit.

 

[Reedt2000]

For pickups, I have no clue, really. I'll start with the neck pocket mods, new bridge and if that works out, I'll think about pickups.

I'd like to make it a 6! Though, I have a Harley Benton FL 6, so I really have no use for another... I sold my 1 and only 5. I have multiple 4 strings...why did I even get this Rockbass?? If I try matching the headstock to the body, I'll see if you recommend Unicorn spit.

You got it for the same reason I would have...

...it was there

I'll tag @Gilmourisgod cause I've seen he's got a slick way to make routing templates of odd shapes by making a mold of the neck heel.

There are a number of things you might do, like maybe a 10 or 12 string (5 strings doubled, 6 strings doubled, 4 strings tripled...)

Your only limited by your imagination (and lower abdominal area organ's fortitude )

 

[CatchaCuda]

Well thanks for the ideas and help! I wanted a non-fender body, perhaps that's why I got this.

Enough of my ramblings. Any updates on your headless?!

 

[Reedt2000]

Well thanks for the ideas and help! I wanted a non-fender body, perhaps that's why I got this.

Enough of my ramblings. Any updates on your headless?!

No, been really busy. The only thing I've done is paint some red over the spot that bugged me before continuing the clear. In order to avoid brush marks ive had to do several really thin coats to touch it up. I hope to get back to it this weekend, and mask and start spraying the bits on the neck.

 

[Reedt2000]

I'll see if you recommend Unicorn spit

They do have this Zia Teal that may be pretty close.

Or a darker blue/green

It would darken with clearcoat, but the amber some clears give you might shift it more green...

I went with it for two reasons. The ease of thinning and adjusting color saturation with just water, and the ability to top coat with oil based products (which is something I'm familiar with).

 

[Slidlow]

But, I just cannot get the neck to fight the string pull.

Try it strung as a piccolo. Everyone should have a piccolo.

 

[Reedt2000]

Try it strung as a piccolo.

That's a good idea

Do you know if it's a 2-way truss rod? If its only one way, you might be able to do the old fender trick by taking the nut off and put shim washer on it. That or try clamping relief in, then string it up.