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Rattle Can Refinish Club

#2,061
Finished putting this one together a few days ago. Had it listed in the classifieds, but I'm gonna hang on to it for a little while. It ended up being one of those rare times when a bunch of parts ended up coming together magically. Plays perfectly, and the neck feels amazing!

IMG_0119.JPG
IMG_0124.JPG
 
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#2,062
So, long post.

I'd bought one of those super cheap Ray4 basses back in late 2021. Like the bass, hate the look. The MM pickguard really does look just like a toilet seat.

Plus the flat black finish was not overwhelming anyone with any sort of intrinsic awesomeness. It's a serviceable finish but that's really about it.

Let's see what we've got in the old paint crate. Oh look!

0.jpg


A decade-old can of Rustoleum lacquer (not their enamel) and some spray nitro lacquer.

January 9: dismantle the bass and bag up the parts.

1.jpg


Let it sit until February 12, because of laziness. February 12, get out the sander and body filler and go to town.

2.jpg



3.jpg



4.jpg


You will note that there's some filler in places that aren't screw holes. I got this for cheap as it took a hard dive off the hanger in Guitar Center. No time like the present to fix those up.

Also a word about their factory finish: unlike most polyurethane, it's SUPER thin and fairly brittle. Not even sure it's poly TBH. Don't know what it is, but if it IS poly, they did a great job with it.

Put it on a stick, sprayed it red, sprayed on...not that much clear coat. Far thinner than normal. That will end up affecting how I treat it on the other side quite a bit.

I normally do a couple of coats a day for a week. I live very close to the beach so I've got to watch the humidity or I'll get blush. I spray outside, we don't have much in the way of bugs or blowing grit or anything like that. Then walk it into the open garage to outgas. I don't spray in the garage because we have a gas-fired water heater, I prefer not being blown up.

Cure for six or so weeks.

April 24, 2022: Rubout and buff time. Gonna do it all by hand so as not to go through my very, very thin nitro finish. Wet sanding:

5.jpg


Rubbing compound. Oh, this will look nice.

6.jpg


Also got rid of their hideous bridge and just popped in a cheap Fender-style bridge with brass saddles. New pickup as I want to run VVT, passive, parallel coils and not in series. Does it make bass-type noises?

7.jpg


Yes it does. And voila:

8.jpg


One MusicMan bass with no pickguard and a much improved finish. And my shop dog, of course. He supervised everything.

EDIT: a few notes.

1. Shooting old paint can be risky but this stuff was just fine.
2. VVT passive MM pickup has a great, beefy, clean tone that is not anything like a standard MM sound. Worth investigating if you like clean bass tone.
3. Yes, there is a third strap pin. I put it there as the bass tends to neck dive a bit otherwise.
4. I will be gigging this weekend after this one, so we'll see just how good the sound of this is in a real-world situation.
 
Last edited:
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#2,063
arbiterusa said:
So, long post.

I'd bought one of those super cheap Ray4 basses back in late 2021. Like the bass, hate the look. The MM pickguard really does look just like a toilet seat.

Plus the flat black finish was not overwhelming anyone with any sort of intrinsic awesomeness. It's a serviceable finish but that's really about it.

Let's see what we've got in the old paint crate. Oh look!

View attachment 4671619

A decade-old can of Rustoleum lacquer (not their enamel) and some spray nitro lacquer.

January 9: dismantle the bass and bag up the parts.

View attachment 4671621

Let it sit until February 12, because of laziness. February 12, get out the sander and body filler and go to town.

View attachment 4671622


View attachment 4671623


View attachment 4671624

You will note that there's some filler in places that aren't screw holes. I got this for cheap as it took a hard dive off the hanger in Guitar Center. No time like the present to fix those up.

Also a word about their factory finish: unlike most polyurethane, it's SUPER thin and fairly brittle. Not even sure it's poly TBH. Don't know what it is, but if it IS poly, they did a great job with it.

Put it on a stick, sprayed it red, sprayed on...not that much clear coat. Far thinner than normal. That will end up affecting how I treat it on the other side quite a bit.

I normally do a couple of coats a day for a week. I live very close to the beach so I've got to watch the humidity or I'll get blush. I spray outside, we don't have much in the way of bugs or blowing grit or anything like that. Then walk it into the open garage to outgas. I don't spray in the garage because we have a gas-fired water heater, I prefer not being blown up.

Cure for six or so weeks.

April 24, 2022: Rubout and buff time. Gonna do it all by hand so as not to go through my very, very thin nitro finish. Wet sanding:

View attachment 4671625

Rubbing compound. Oh, this will look nice.

View attachment 4671626

Also got rid of their hideous bridge and just popped in a cheap Fender-style bridge with brass saddles. New pickup as I want to run VVT, passive, parallel coils and not in series. Does it make bass-type noises?

View attachment 4671627

Yes it does. And voila:

View attachment 4671628

One MusicMan bass with no pickguard and a much improved finish. And my shop dog, of course. He supervised everything.

EDIT: a few notes.

1. Shooting old paint can be risky but this stuff was just fine.
2. VVT passive MM pickup has a great, beefy, clean tone that is not anything like a standard MM sound. Worth investigating if you like clean bass tone.
3. Yes, there is a third strap pin. I put it there as the bass tends to neck dive a bit otherwise.
Click to expand...
Gorgeous! :thumbsup:
 
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#2,065
PeaveyPlayer said:
Considering doing my atelier z myself. Just working up the courage lol!

Am I stripping anything on that natural finish or just sanding ? Start at 220?
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of not refinishing $2k instruments unless you have a LOT of experience, but hey, it's your life and money.

Given that the finish on that is, if original, topnotch I would:

1. Use lacquer only, not enamel.
2. Just sand it LIGHTLY, not strip it.
3. Use 400 grit just to give the paint something to grab onto and then apply color and then a lot of thin clear coats.

Good luck. Again, I think it's a bad idea, but good luck regardless.
 
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#2,066
arbiterusa said:
I'm a big fan of not refinishing $2k instruments unless you have a LOT of experience, but hey, it's your life and money.

Given that the finish on that is, if original, topnotch I would:

1. Use lacquer only, not enamel.
2. Just sand it LIGHTLY, not strip it.
3. Use 400 grit just to give the paint something to grab onto and then apply color and then a lot of thin clear coats.

Good luck. Again, I think it's a bad idea, but good luck regardless.
Click to expand...
It had a hole in the back that wen through the inside of the control panel to the back
So… it needs it
 
#2,070
arbiterusa said:
So, long post.

I'd bought one of those super cheap Ray4 basses back in late 2021. Like the bass, hate the look. The MM pickguard really does look just like a toilet seat.

Plus the flat black finish was not overwhelming anyone with any sort of intrinsic awesomeness. It's a serviceable finish but that's really about it.

Let's see what we've got in the old paint crate. Oh look!

View attachment 4671619

A decade-old can of Rustoleum lacquer (not their enamel) and some spray nitro lacquer.

January 9: dismantle the bass and bag up the parts.

View attachment 4671621

Let it sit until February 12, because of laziness. February 12, get out the sander and body filler and go to town.

View attachment 4671622


View attachment 4671623


View attachment 4671624

You will note that there's some filler in places that aren't screw holes. I got this for cheap as it took a hard dive off the hanger in Guitar Center. No time like the present to fix those up.

Also a word about their factory finish: unlike most polyurethane, it's SUPER thin and fairly brittle. Not even sure it's poly TBH. Don't know what it is, but if it IS poly, they did a great job with it.

Put it on a stick, sprayed it red, sprayed on...not that much clear coat. Far thinner than normal. That will end up affecting how I treat it on the other side quite a bit.

I normally do a couple of coats a day for a week. I live very close to the beach so I've got to watch the humidity or I'll get blush. I spray outside, we don't have much in the way of bugs or blowing grit or anything like that. Then walk it into the open garage to outgas. I don't spray in the garage because we have a gas-fired water heater, I prefer not being blown up.

Cure for six or so weeks.

April 24, 2022: Rubout and buff time. Gonna do it all by hand so as not to go through my very, very thin nitro finish. Wet sanding:

View attachment 4671625

Rubbing compound. Oh, this will look nice.

View attachment 4671626

Also got rid of their hideous bridge and just popped in a cheap Fender-style bridge with brass saddles. New pickup as I want to run VVT, passive, parallel coils and not in series. Does it make bass-type noises?

View attachment 4671627

Yes it does. And voila:

View attachment 4671628

One MusicMan bass with no pickguard and a much improved finish. And my shop dog, of course. He supervised everything.

EDIT: a few notes.

1. Shooting old paint can be risky but this stuff was just fine.
2. VVT passive MM pickup has a great, beefy, clean tone that is not anything like a standard MM sound. Worth investigating if you like clean bass tone.
3. Yes, there is a third strap pin. I put it there as the bass tends to neck dive a bit otherwise.
4. I will be gigging this weekend after this one, so we'll see just how good the sound of this is in a real-world situation.
Click to expand...

That’s a great finish. Got some real G&L vibes from it. I totally wouldn’t have the patience to wait that long between coats and clear coat.
 
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#2,076
arbiterusa said:
So, long post.....

View attachment 4671627

Yes it does. And voila:

View attachment 4671628

One MusicMan bass with no pickguard and a much improved finish. And my shop dog, of course. He supervised everything.

EDIT: a few notes.

1. Shooting old paint can be risky but this stuff was just fine.
2. VVT passive MM pickup has a great, beefy, clean tone that is not anything like a standard MM sound. Worth investigating if you like clean bass tone.
3. Yes, there is a third strap pin. I put it there as the bass tends to neck dive a bit otherwise.
4. I will be gigging this weekend after this one, so we'll see just how good the sound of this is in a real-world situation.
Click to expand...

That looks great, awesome color and nice work. Very unique look without the pickguard.

Enjoy it to the max! :thumbsup:
 
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#2,077
PeaveyPlayer said:
are you guys using primer?
Click to expand...

Just my opinion, and I'm no expert, but if you are planning to finish a brighter color using a white primer will give a good base. A lesson learned from my own past experience.

If you've never done it before I'd make one more recommendation. Find a body, any low cost body from here or evil-bay or whatever. Practice, practice on that so you have some experience before attacking the Atellier. You'll learn things and go into the project with some confidence and experience.
 
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#2,078
WI Short Scaler said:
Just my opinion, and I'm no expert, but if you are planning to finish a brighter color using a white primer will give a good base. A lesson learned from my own past experience.

If you've never done it before I'd make one more recommendation. Find a body, any low cost body from here or evil-bay or whatever. Practice, practice on that so you have some experience before attacking the Atellier. You'll learn things and go into the project with some confidence and experience.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Find the cheapest body possible and give it a shot. I definitely wouldn’t use an Atelier as my first attempt.
 
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#2,079
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