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Reversing P-J Mod???

#121
Oh, oh! I think I got it. This was the bass that Leo actually build to the Ringo Starr specifications. Ringo wanted that now infamous mudbucker sound that could only be produced using the famous St. Paul pickup custom made by George Peshaw, and they were only available through Pete's repair shop, so Leo after lovingly hand crafting his first personally made instrument in 15 years sent it there were the mudbucker was installed. Unfortunately Ringo had no rhythm and picked up the drums instead.
 
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#122
I did exactly this trying to turn my 72 bass back to stock and it looked awesome for about 3 months until a hairline crack appeared where the rout was. I'm told the only way to really do this is to veneer the entire face. Believe it or not I am considering that now at this point because this is a super hard and heavy ash body that I could no longer play for an all night gig. If I do this I'm considering having it chambered and then veneered. At least it would then be lighter, look perfect and I can use as a main player. I believe the value of the body is lost now anyway once the rout was done years ago. The neck is amazing and on another body now and was refretted by Sadowsky himself 25-30 years ago. Would love to have this neck back on its body again.
Any tips for this?
Turnaround said:
I'd lay a block of wood in that rout with the grain running the same way as the grain in the body. Then I'd rout a rectangular section about 1/8" deep over the area covering the entire rout and the half-circle mounting ears. Into that I'd inlay a piece of thick veneer (slightly over 1/8"), ensuring a tight fit of the inlay. Then I'd surface it all down level, seal, fill and it's ready for primer. If done carefully it will not telegraph through the finish.
Click to expand...
 
#123
RNG1 said:
I did exactly this trying to turn my 72 bass back to stock and it looked awesome for about 3 months until a hairline crack appeared where the rout was. I'm told the only way to really do this is to veneer the entire face. Believe it or not I am considering that now at this point because this is a super hard and heavy ash body that I could no longer play for an all night gig. If I do this I'm considering having it chambered and then veneered. At least it would then be lighter, look perfect and I can use as a main player. I believe the value of the body is lost now anyway once the rout was done years ago. The neck is amazing and on another body now and was refretted by Sadowsky himself 25-30 years ago. Would love to have this neck back on its body again.
Any tips for this?
Click to expand...

I'm gigging today, but I'll post pics later of the last restoration. It was very professionally done by Ben, and I'm confident that no evidence of all the mischief that was done to it previously is gone.
 
#124
RNG1 said:
I did exactly this trying to turn my 72 bass back to stock and it looked awesome for about 3 months until a hairline crack appeared where the rout was.
Click to expand...
That's likely because the veneer was laid with the grain perpendicular to that in the body of the bass, which is the way you might do it out of hand. Done well it would be indetectable for eons. Depending on a whole lot of factors I won't begin to get into here. Regardless, application of a veneer to the entire top would eliminate the problem.
 
#125
Turnaround said:
That's likely because the veneer was laid with the grain perpendicular to that in the body of the bass, which is the way you might do it out of hand. Done well it would be indetectable for eons. Depending on a whole lot of factors I won't begin to get into here. Regardless, application of a veneer to the entire top would eliminate the problem.
Click to expand...

Maybe mine was not done correctly. I know it's a big ordeal at this point but I would consider the chambering and veneer at this point if someone is confident in performing this.
 
#126
RNG1 said:
Maybe mine was not done correctly. I know it's a big ordeal at this point but I would consider the chambering and veneer at this point if someone is confident in performing this.
Click to expand...
Maybe. There are a number of factors that could contribute to the "telegraphing" you experienced. A total top veneer is a better option anyway.
 
#128
UPDATE:

The body color has been nicely fading (as promised by Ben) and I replaced the pickguard with a Spitfire. Shown here with two of its stablemates (Left: '58 Fender Custom Shop Precision, 2005 NAMM Ltd Edition, Relic - - - and Center '59 Fender Custom Shop Precision NOS in Shoreline Gold. It is still in heavy rotation, and looks, plays and sounds amazing.

58 CS - 59 CS - 1959 P-Basses.jpg
 
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#132
wvbass said:
That's great work and a beautiful end result. I know this thread started a long time ago, but it made me think of another thread that adds the "but I still want to see some grain where the hole was" problem.

i'm fixing a hole...............
Click to expand...

I missed that thread, so THANKS for the link! He did an amazing job!
 
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