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Sacrificial LTD

Possum Willy

Possum Willy

Feb 29, 2020
250
210
Thomaston, Ga
Disclosures
I am way worse than I think I am LOL, but I love to play!
#1
Hey guys, been busy playing, but came across one of my "lost" bass guitars, an LTD Jazz. Last year, was thinking about buying a Fretless, but with the re-discovery of this guitar, I think I'd rather have a luthier take a look at it, as it always had a wonderful sound.

Any ideas of cost for such a project?
Thanks,
Possum Willy
 
#5
stefaniw80401 said:
Well, your ESP/LTD jazz could be killer. Why not post some pictures here and maybe a sound bite or two. As an owner of a Carvin Bunny Brunel BB-70 bass, I was interested to find that BB teamed up with LTD for a subsequent signature instrument in this 2016 video (click here).
Click to expand...
Well, she's in pieces at the moment, and being a lady, rather embarrassed to show herself
 
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#6
stefaniw80401 said:
Well, your ESP/LTD jazz could be killer. Why not post some pictures here and maybe a sound bite or two. As an owner of a Carvin Bunny Brunel BB-70 bass, I was interested to find that BB teamed up with LTD for a subsequent signature instrument in this 2016 video (click here).
Click to expand...
OK, you asked for a couple of pictures, so I'll only take two. It's in bits and pieces.
Doesn't surprise me BB King would have teamed up with LTD, their both Greats!
 
#8
stefaniw80401 said:
Well, your ESP/LTD jazz could be killer. Why not post some pictures here and maybe a sound bite or two. As an owner of a Carvin Bunny Brunel BB-70 bass, I was interested to find that BB teamed up with LTD for a subsequent signature instrument in this 2016 video (click here).
Click to expand...
WOW, just the Bunny hopping all over his ESP/LTD, wish I had his pedigree, then I could afford "non junkers" but alas, I digress. More than anything, I want this to be my Bass, I do all of my own work on them, BUT I know when I'm out of my wheelhouse too.
So a really good luthier in the west middle Georgia area, would be what I'm looking for, and one that doesn't mind being asked a million questions....
 
#9
stefaniw80401 said:
Well, your ESP/LTD jazz could be killer. Why not post some pictures here and maybe a sound bite or two. As an owner of a Carvin Bunny Brunel BB-70 bass, I was interested to find that BB teamed up with LTD for a subsequent signature instrument in this 2016 video (click here).
Click to expand...
Awesome video, learned:
Tapping tricks
Tapping tricks and
Tapping tricks
 
#11
Possum Willy said:
Well, she's in pieces at the moment, and being a lady, rather embarrassed to show herself
Click to expand...
As promised, earlier in the day, pics of Sexy Sadi, Before, and well, After she gracefully undressed for me :smug:
Puter is still acting wonkified, let me know if there are at least 2 pics showing...
20230815_231520.jpg Sadi 1.jpg
 

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#16
Sanding? I don't follow. Are you wanting to refinish that instrument or rip out the frets? I've done the latter myself on a Spector Q4 -- wasn't too bad. I used a large square nosed nail clipper to pull the frets. Afterwards I made a 2x4 sanding block first by putting sandpaper face up over the FB and rubbing the 2x4 over it till I was happy with that. Then I filled the fret grooves with maple wood laminate edging from HD. Then I used a razor chisel to trim off the excess. Then I used my 2x4 sanding block to smooth over the fill. I used super glue in the fret grooves and raised some dust with the sanding block which filled the tear out from the fret tangs. Rubbed some tung oil and voila -- a fretless bass was born.
 
#17
stefaniw80401 said:
Sanding? I don't follow. Are you wanting to refinish that instrument or rip out the frets? I've done the latter myself on a Spector Q4 -- wasn't too bad. I used a large square nosed nail clipper to pull the frets. Afterwards I made a 2x4 sanding block first by putting sandpaper face up over the FB and rubbing the 2x4 over it till I was happy with that. Then I filled the fret grooves with maple wood laminate edging from HD. Then I used a razor chisel to trim off the excess. Then I used my 2x4 sanding block to smooth over the fill. I used super glue in the fret grooves and raised some dust with the sanding block which filled the tear out from the fret tangs. Rubbed some tung oil and voila -- a fretless bass was born.
Click to expand...

To answer the questions first asked, yes and yes. Starting with 600 grit wet sanding paper then going with 000 steel wool to get the satin finish I love so much, but not on the body, only the neck. Still quite a lot of work...

Read the rest of your reply (all puns intended) and you answered how I could make this a fretless all by my lonesome. THANKS!

How did you handle the inevitable chipped parts of the fretboard??
Thanks,
Possum Willy (long story)
 
#20
stefaniw80401 said:
Slow super glue and sanding over it raises fingerboard dust which sticks to the super glue filling the tear out.
Click to expand...

Hope you don't mind the 1001 questions that will ensue LMAO!
This is, obviously, a labor of love, meaning, "Step by step One goes Far" and I have so many projects that are already burning slowly on the grille of life. This project will be "bit by bit, one goes far" please stay in contact on a weekly basis, as this will ensure that I am making some sort of slow steady progress.

Pulling the frets will be easy, and nerve racking, purchased a small set of horizontal dikes just for pulling frets. After pulling frets, that's where I'll lean on your experience, and the pace will become agonizingly slow, and the questions will blossom LOL.

Many thanks ahead of time for being my information Quelle!

Possum Willy
Stepping in dog poo and smelling like it
 
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