Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
SBO 2023: The Ocean - Assembly Build
- Thread starter MonetBass
- Start date
That was the mistake I made. I started with satin poly, but the waterslide decal didn't adhere to the face properly, thus the cloudiness. After sanding it down & removing the decals, I applied three coats of gloss poly, and you see the results. Semi-gloss might work, but I wanted a glossy headstock face anyway.
If for some reason you change your mind and did want the satin finish after all, as long as the poly coats are compatible there is no reason you couldn’t hit the final couple of coats with satin. Jus sayinThat was the mistake I made. I started with satin poly, but the waterslide decal didn't adhere to the face properly, thus the cloudiness. After sanding it down & removing the decals, I applied three coats of gloss poly, and you see the results. Semi-gloss might work, but I wanted a glossy headstock face anyway.
Well, the gloss poly added some yellow to the headstock color. So it doesn’t match the body as closely as I wanted. Thoughts?
That is interesting, can I ask what poly you used so I don’t accidentally buy it?
And I’ll assume the poly you went with was not supposed to have a tint to it?
Could the stain have needed more time to “gas off” jeez that is a bummer tho…
This is really bugging me the more I think about it. So I've decided to sand it all off, including as much of the dye as I can. A natural headstock isn't what I wanted, but if it's not an exact match, I don't want it. I'm also going to get some Varathane Ultimate spray poly, which is a clear gloss, for finishing the headstock. I also got some more decals.
Last edited:
I can see your point entirely but I also think your stain match was so very close that I personally would have been really happy with it as a “matching” headstock.
The lighting is very different in those two pictures. It doesn’t match that well, honestly.
Well, if there weren't baffling, annoying problems to deal with, it wouldn't be lutherie. 
No, because then it would be luthiery.Well, if there weren't baffling, annoying problems to deal with, it wouldn't be lutherie.
"Luthiery" didn't become a word until 'Muricans started misspelling it.No, because then it would be luthiery.
That answers my next question. I'm not a huge fan of glossy finishes so it's good to know that there's another way to get a satin finish. You know, were I to undertake something similar...
The headstock is now sanded back. Not all of the dye came out, but that’s OK. It will subtly tie into the body color, which I think will be cool. Varathane Ultimate CLEAR gloss will go on top.
Ah, I missed that. You could try again but with water based poly. Reports are it doesn't amber the final product
