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

[CatchaCuda]

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.

I tried removing the nut, it just gets really loose, doesn't feel as though it can come off. I tried clamping relief in maybe 2 weeks ago, no dice.

 

[Reedt2000]

So today was the first in a while that I wasn't late, working a 2nd job, or just totally shot out when I got home, so I decided to put a little time in on this project.

The neck got the same treatment as the body. Mask with flexible tape for the lines and standard tape around those areas.

Cover the rest in paper. Chuck it in the booth.

Which may or may not be some saw horses, an old shelf, and a drop cloth clamped to my ceiling joists

And shake, shake, shake, shoot

My touch up efforts have really helped the funky spot. I don't think it will be perfect, but im OK with that and im moving forward

 

[CatchaCuda]

Way to improvise!

It looks good. I really want to see this all together!

 

[Reedt2000]

Not a ton to report on the project, other then building clear coat continues without issue

I'm about 7 coats in and feeling like I've got enough on to do light level sanding without hitting color before the process continues.

Pics don't look much different than the previous ones... so there aren't any this time

 

[Reedt2000]

OK, I feel bad for working on it and not having pics so I decided to use a box some new bass strings came in (thanks @CDamianBass ) to illustrate what I hope is gonna happen with the gloss on the body. I purposely cut the existing finish on the bias so I can lay new over the modified spot and level it down to the old. It seems to make logical sense to me, it will be a while before I find out if it works

Now I've got a gig to get to (outdoor, full safety precautions, and the band on an elevated stage well away from the visitors to our local German American Club's Oktoberfest )

 

[Reedt2000]

After a couple coats yesterday, I'm flatting back the gloss today. 1st with 800 grit (dry sanding), then with 00 Scotch Brite to even out the entire surface before I resume spraying.

I find this point really unnerving because you go from what looks like it could almost be the final product, to something that looks like this:

This pic is with a single pass of 800, after some more chasing shiny spots and the Scotch Brite it looks much smoother.

I always have that "did I just ruin it?" moment, but thankfully this time I have some experience under my belt and I'm going to trust in the process. It will be better off in the end.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

As Jerry Rosa has said in some of his videos, "Sometimes you have to make it look worse before you can make it better." I'm sure it's going to turn out great.

 

[Reedt2000]

Still building layers of clear. Using the gel stain has proven to be a good decision as I had a bit of a setback and didn't have to go backwards as much as if it was penetrating stain.

After the coats this past weekend I gave it a coat at night and touched the body touch up spot with my finger the next morning. It had been really humid and the poly was still soft so I put an ugly smudge in it

I let it dry 24 hours and got back at it with light sanding, which fixed the smudge... but burned through and took out a little of the color on the right side

With the gel stain I just took my tiny brush, gently laid a couple thin coats of red on the newly bare spot, and it's like it never happened

I also slightly darkened the red at the edge of the tuner relief area so its a better match to the side of the body. The gel lets me do that right on top of the poly and then get sealed up with layers on top so I'm back on track

 

[Reedt2000]

Well, went to untape the body in preparation for a couple weeks of cure time before final blend and polish and it seems I've had a small adhesion issue...

...like

...there wasn't any

I'm sure its the color that's to blame here. There is a thin underlying layer of poly which stuck well so I have to think it's my touching up in the middle that caused this. The neck pocket which didn't get any color other than before any poly went on doesn't have the same problem.

In any case the spot for the tuners is headed back to bare wood. I still have to unmask the neck and see if a similar issue occurred. Might be it's ALL gotta get sanded back and redone, but maybe not. If the neck is OK I'll take another shot at touching up the body. If not, I'll start getting myself used to the idea of a LOT more sanding...

 

[FretsAreFor]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Oh man, just when you thought the project was almost done!

 

[Reedt2000]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Oh man, just when you thought the project was almost done!

Yeah... pretty much...

That is the nature of this kinda thing though. I'm not super bummed, gonna take some time and consider the next move.

 

[Reedt2000]

So... the heel unmasked just fine

The head needs work, but that is because I forgot to lint lift the cat fur from my shirt while spraying, and is unrelated to the body issue

The heel and head got coats of wipe-on satin on top of the color before the gloss went on, so that is my updated plan for the body.

Sand the spot back to bare wood. Mix up color and stain, seal with wipe-on, shoot with gloss.

If that fails it's mondo sanding time

@Fat Freddy you're not the only one mate

 

[CatchaCuda]

Oh man, it was hard to like the last couple of posts...

I have no doubt that you'll get it sorted. I too, can relate to fur trouble. I haven't noticed cat fur, but my golden retriever finds his way everywhere!

 

[Reedt2000]

Oh man, it was hard to like the last couple of posts...

I have no doubt that you'll get it sorted. I too, can relate to fur trouble. I haven't noticed cat fur, but my golden retriever finds his way everywhere!

It's all good. If I couldn't deal with things like this, I have no business trying to build basses (or any instrument for that matter )

I'm taking it in stride. Trying to get creative. Need a tiny sanding block for tight corners? Cut a bigger one in half!

Look for bright spots, like this pretty pink sanding dust

 

[Reedt2000]

So a couple hours and some cramped sanding hands have me pretty close to trying again.

the more I've thought about it, the more wipe-on for the whole thing seems to make sense. The spray goes on thicker, but leaves a thick overlap on the masking. With wipe-on I might control that a little better (I've got enough wipe-on gloss to do this small spot). Ive had enough for today, feeling like I have a solid plan for moving forward

 

[S-Bigbottom]

If the paint came off in one piece I would have glued it back on and been done.

Good luck this time around.

 

[Reedt2000]

If the paint came off in one piece I would have glued it back on and been done.

Good luck this time around.

LOL

Unfortunately that was not an option. I could see the brush marks from my touch up efforts on the underside of the clear which peeled so I feel pretty good that it's what blew this up. Its OK, I do this kinda thing not just to have something to do, but also to learn. There is as much to learn from a failure as there is a success (at least thats what I keep telling myself ).

 

[Fat Freddy]

Well, went to untape the body in preparation for a couple weeks of cure time before final blend and polish and it seems I've had a small adhesion issue...

...like

...there wasn't any



View attachment 4006364

I'm sure its the color that's to blame here. There is a thin underlying layer of poly which stuck well so I have to think it's my touching up in the middle that caused this. The neck pocket which didn't get any color other than before any poly went on doesn't have the same problem.

In any case the spot for the tuners is headed back to bare wood. I still have to unmask the neck and see if a similar issue occurred. Might be it's ALL gotta get sanded back and redone, but maybe not. If the neck is OK I'll take another shot at touching up the body. If not, I'll start getting myself used to the idea of a LOT more sanding...

Aaaaargh!.....You know I feel for you man.....

 

[Fat Freddy]

LOL

Unfortunately that was not an option. I could see the brush marks from my touch up efforts on the underside of the clear which peeled so I feel pretty good that it's what blew this up. Its OK, I do this kinda thing not just to have something to do, but also to learn. There is as much to learn from a failure as there is a success (at least thats what I keep telling myself ).

Yeah......I'm having a whale of a time despite the balls ups...........

 

[dwizum]

I applaud your effort to color match. I probably would have painted it black and called it good.