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Refinishing my bass.......

Discussion in 'Basses [DB]' started by C.Veltman, Oct 10, 2001.

  1. Oct 10, 2001 #1
    C.Veltman

    C.Veltman

    Jun 6, 2000
    Stockholm Sweden
  2. Oct 11, 2001 #2
    rablack

    rablack

    Mar 9, 2000
    Houston, Texas
    Beautiful job! IMO it is not too red - looks perfect to me. However, if you just can't live with the color you can give it to me :)
     
  3. Oct 11, 2001 #3
    C.Veltman

    C.Veltman

    Jun 6, 2000
    Stockholm Sweden
    Thanks Rablack
    for the generous offer ;-) Let me think about it !
    Btw, it´s a small bass only 99cm scale !
    I will continue to update the pages and hopefully show the bass completely refinshed in a few days...

    kind regards,
    Christian;)
     
  4. Oct 15, 2001 #4
    Mike Goodbar

    Mike Goodbar

    Jun 6, 2001
    Charlotte, NC
    I've been thinking about doing the same thing to my old Englehardt.

    What did you use to remove the old finish? I would think that furniture-finish remover would also loosen the glue.

    Has anyone here refinished a plywood bass? Results?
     
  5. Oct 15, 2001 #5
    steve chase

    steve chase

    Feb 20, 2001
    isle of wight UK
    I refinished my chinese plywood bass last year with no ill effect,i used straight paint stripper to remove the original finish,it didn`t loosen the glue on any joints,but i don`t know what they use to put it together in the first place.I know somebody who took the varnish off his 100yr old german bass with a razor type scraper and it looks o.k. but took an age to do.
     
  6. Oct 15, 2001 #6
    C.Veltman

    C.Veltman

    Jun 6, 2000
    Stockholm Sweden
    Hi Mike :)
    I used alcohol for the first layers of schellac
    and then Liberon Stripper (French product).

    Yes, I have previously refinished a plywood.
    It had half a neck and no scroll so it had to be darkened (please view the scan).
    The woodgrain is actually artistoilpaint mixed with fine terpentine and smeared with a cloth in
    rythmical sequences to create the pattern.
    (A bit hard for me to explain...)
    Colours used were, black, madder brown and
    venetian red. On top a nitro finish.
    The result was "rather" ok but I was not very happy
    with the somewhat "dead" surface of the varnish.
    I prefere French Polishing with schellac. Although
    the varnish created by skilled luthiers using
    oilvarnish can be extremly pleasing to the eye.
    (Something I have to try some day...)
    Have you visited the MIMF (Musical Instrument Makers forum) yet ? Just as great as Talkbass
    but specialiced on subjects for luthiers :

    http://www.mimf.com/cgi-bin/[email protected]^[email protected]

    Best of luck !
    Christian
     
  7. Oct 26, 2001 #7
    C.Veltman

    C.Veltman

    Jun 6, 2000
    Stockholm Sweden
  8. Oct 26, 2001 #8
    Mike Goodbar

    Mike Goodbar

    Jun 6, 2001
    Charlotte, NC
    Thanks for continuing to share this... absolutely fascinating! And the photos are, as usual, gorgeous. Are they digital photos or scans?


    Now, I wonder if I can get my plywood Englehardt to look that good...?
     
  9. Oct 26, 2001 #9
    rablack

    rablack

    Mar 9, 2000
    Houston, Texas
    CV - great work. I like the darker color.

    Mr. Goodbar - I'm thinking the way to make an Englehardt look that good would be fairly straightforward. First replace the top with a 100 year old solid top, then the back and sides with similarly aged pieces. Finish up by replacing the neck. Then follow CV's lead on the refinishing. While you're at it upgrade the fingerboard, bridge, soundpost, tailpiece and endpin. Voila - an upgraded Englehardt
     
  10. Oct 26, 2001 #10
    C.Veltman

    C.Veltman

    Jun 6, 2000
    Stockholm Sweden
    Hi rablack and Mike !

    The photos are made with a digital camera, slightly enhanced.

    Mike, don´t be to optimistique about my result ! I have already failed twice ;-))
    I am not giving up yet....the bass is now all glazed and has to dry for a few days before I can continue.

    Rablack, if you wait only a few days more you will know all my mistakes and then you don´t have any problems with any Englehardt ;-))

    Thanks !
    CV