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Showing off my new P Bass Build

Sam Pajanna

Sam Pajanna

Guest
Mar 12, 2016
18
26
57
#1
This is the first bass I've ever built and the second guitar I've built from scratch. The pickguard was made for me by a friend who etched the image of Zatoichi(a Japanese film series) into an aluminum pickguard. I am very pleased with how it turned out. I have a Lindy Fralin in there and a Fender bridge. Hope you enjoy it.
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Reactions: G19Tony, Low84, The Ryantist and 7 others
#9
ZachM said:
Nice job, I really like the simple and clean look.

How did you do the finish on this instrument? I've been considering options for a build I want to start in the fall and really like this style and color.
Click to expand...

Hi, thanks! I used Fiebings black leather dye and Tru oil. Initially I thought of doing a Japanese Shou Sugi Ban finish to go along with the Zatoichi theme, but there are a few really thin spots on the wood, and I used poplar for the body and I felt it would just burn up, so what I did was a compromise.
 
#10
Sam Pajanna said:
Hi, thanks! I used Fiebings black leather dye and Tru oil. Initially I thought of doing a Japanese Shou Sugi Ban finish to go along with the Zatoichi theme, but there are a few really thin spots on the wood, and I used poplar for the body and I felt it would just burn up, so what I did was a compromise.
Click to expand...

Cool idea and it really looks great.

Did you have to do any grain filling at all with this body? From what I've read it's not a necessity with Poplar but can be done if you wish. I like the grain on yours, it kinda reminds me of the satin finish on Link Removed where you can still feel the grain a bit. I've always wanted that kind of effect but in black, and yours looks like what I'm going for.

I also like that you left the fretboard with no inlays, that makes it look nice and minimal. Did you do side dots on the fingerboard? Also what wood did you go with for the fingerboard?
 
#11
ZachM said:
Cool idea and it really looks great.

Did you have to do any grain filling at all with this body? From what I've read it's not a necessity with Poplar but can be done if you wish. I like the grain on yours, it kinda reminds me of the satin finish on Link Removed where you can still feel the grain a bit. I've always wanted that kind of effect but in black, and yours looks like what I'm going for.

I also like that you left the fretboard with no inlays, that makes it look nice and minimal. Did you do side dots on the fingerboard? Also what wood did you go with for the fingerboard?
Click to expand...


I didn't use any grain filler at all on it. I used side dots and cocobolo for the fingerboard. I dont think you really need to use grain filler on any wood, unless you want a completely smooth surface, for instance if you are painting it or making a writing desk. If you want to see the pores, you don't use filler.
 
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