Solarez test build. Okoume Pbass

[Gilmourisgod]

No, I did mean this thread. I've watched the Highline guy before and have learned from his videos, but sometimes he tends to over-explain. I've found this thread very concise.

BnB

Yeah, he's a wordy dude! He does nice work though, so I forgive him. I'm a total YT freak now for tutorials, back in the Day there were like 5 decent books on guitar construction in existence, if you could find them still in print. I bought a copy of the unfortunately named Melvyn Hiscock book, which is excellent, but you know... one picture equals.....

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Yeah, he's a wordy dude! He does nice work though, so I forgive him. I'm a total YT freak now for tutorials, back in the Day there were like 5 decent books on guitar construction in existence, if you could find them still in print. I bought a copy of the unfortunately named Melvyn Hiscock book, which is excellent, but you know... one picture equals.....

I agree. I watch a ton of videos on pretty much everything guitar building related on YT. I watched the Highline guy's video on doing a guitar finish with oil paints...went horribly wrong. However, I'm going to use a few of his ideas on from his video on DIY pin router.

Sorry for the hijack...

BnB

 

[/\/\3phist0]

No, I did mean this thread. I've watched the Highline guy before and have learned from his videos, but sometimes he tends to over-explain. I've found this thread very concise.

BnB

Why , Thank You !
I'm pleased that what I provided here was found helpful.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I agree. I watch a ton of videos on pretty much everything guitar building related on YT. I watched the Highline guy's video on doing a guitar finish with oil paints...went horribly wrong. However, I'm going to use a few of his ideas on from his video on DIY pin router.

Sorry for the hijack...

BnB

Yes, the oil paint finish seemed cool .
Terrible process, getting it to dry, futile and frustrating.

**I did not try cooling it next time I will.
I chose not to as I thought it would inhibit Flow.
I will buy makeup applicator WEDGES next time as it will allow "wet edge" brushing like strokes rather than the smear on like the circular pads.
@Gilmourisgod , the UV wavelength is 385nm. There are several distributers of these lighting fixtures .

* I'm going whole hog and getting a shed / workshop installed from the proceeds of this and previous builds.
This will allow to spend more time working as opposed to shuffling equipment. Will allow winter work, and more comfortable summer work.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Got busy with other things, it's a bass!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That's a damn sweet bass. Kitty digs it.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Better pics will follow.
It weighs 8lbs.
I really like Okoume, machines easy, not too brittle. The figuring captures light like fiber optics . Heavy Chatoyance!! Looks to the naked eye like Tigers Eye.

I think that this Solarez pops the grain and shows depth as well as oil based product. Before I tested Solarez, I ran a coat of shellac to compare (sorry no pics ) and Solarez looks better!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

That's a damn sweet bass. Kitty digs it.

Butterfly is "all about that bass"


Thanks!!

Will get better pics, and put it on the bay / verb / etsy / and the classifieds .

I'm not much of a 4 string guy.

This bass needs a setup and a fret level, but just plugged it in and it really sounds nice. 250k Alpha full sized pots and an orange drop cap, switch craft jack, chinese ceramic pups, chinese hardware , old korean neck, with dual action rod. Nice vintage P profile medium jumbo frets.
It's a player.

*** Oh and the Solarez buffs to a mirror shine! 2500 grit, polishing compound, scratch remover , and wax.

 

[goodchicken]

In case of bad weather, this could be cured from sunlight through a window, right?

The guy from Highline showed how this grain filler was white when it was thick. So I wonder if you try this on some ash with deep grain lines, could you possibly end up with a white-ish grain fill in those areas?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

In case of bad weather, this could be cured from sunlight through a window, right?

The guy from Highline showed how this grain filler was white when it was thick. So I wonder if you try this on some ash with deep grain lines, could you possibly end up with a white-ish grain fill in those areas?

I would think so, but the cure time would be longer, as the UV wavelength could be filtered by the glass.
UV curing lamps (385nm) are widely available and in-expensive and would be a better solution.
Highline's video was of an earlier formulation, I saw no whitening, as a matter of fact it was crystal clear.
Okoume is similar to mahogany, and has an open grain with voids , these show no haze or whitening in this test.

Ignore the audio but here is a video showing how clear the finish ended up, and the final sheen after hand buffing.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Any idea how this compares to other finishes as far as hardness/scratch resistance? The Highline guy describes it as a replacement for Nitro, but that’s not a particularly durable finish. Obviously time will tell, but wondered if you have any initial impressions. The older Solarez formulation was reputed to be extremely hard, he used that in some earlier videos.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

My impression is that it's harder than lacquer, not as hard as poly. Durability is not the same as abrasion resistance.
I think Solarez will be more durable than both. It may scratch easier than Poly, less than nitro.
Durability I expect to be better than both:
Nitro evaporates over time, is susceptible to alcohol contact, abrades easily, dents easily.
Poly cracks easily especially on soft woods, even a small dent/ding develops cracks around the perimeter.

Solarez "appears" to be abrasion resistant, and flexible. is repairable (like Nitro UNlike Poly)
A beneficial compromise, balance of aspects. I understand that it is still in development/improvement.
I'm going to contact them and direct them to this thread. Suggest that they sign up and interact

I'll inform them of how the interactivity with our user base here has been beneficial to Mesa for example in developing products that "give the people what they want"

bear in mind that they do provide different formulations designed for other applications, that have other end results that could easily be used as a guitar finish.
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and this may even be bullet proof!
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[/\/\3phist0]

Chapter 2 of the Solarez I Can't Believe it's Not Lacquer efforts (I LOOOOOVE this product)
Gold Glitter Precision (8lb build) Solarez I Can't Believe It's not Lacquer

 

[atrapp]

You are a really talented builder!
How does the Solarez feel on the neck, is it tacky? I use scotch brite to take the sheen off most every neck to get more of an oil, or I guess an unfinished feel. If you have time to comment I'd sure appreciate it.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

You are a really talented builder!
How does the Solarez feel on the neck, is it tacky? I use scotch brite to take the sheen off most every neck to get more of an oil, or I guess an unfinished feel. If you have time to comment I'd sure appreciate it.

Thanks for the kind words!
It feels no stickier than gloss poly.

This entire neck on the gold glitter ( next build) was deglossed , rather only the face of the headstock is polished . The fretboard and back were leveled and sanded up to 10,000 grit (micro mesh) but not buffed. To maintain the finish, as abrasion and wiping will eventually polish it, I suggest using melamine sponges (Mr Clean magic erasers)

The end result is a soft slippery feel much like a powdered pool cue.

 

[atrapp]

Thanks for the kind words!
It feels no stickier than gloss poly.

This entire neck on the gold glitter ( next build) was deglossed , rather only the face of the headstock is polished . The fretboard and back were leveled and sanded up to 10,000 grit (micro mesh) but not buffed. To maintain the finish, as abrasion and wiping will eventually polish it, I suggest using melamine sponges (Mr Clean magic erasers)

The end result is a soft slippery feel much like a powdered pool cue.

Very cool, I've wondered about using the melamine sponges on a bass, are you using them dry, just the neck or to polish, oh and on Poly. Not too sure about taking one to a 7.5K Sadowsky custom build.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I use them dry. It is super gentle, like 10,000 grit sandpaper. Very little material is removed , easily buffed back to gloss with polishing compound and elbow grease

I've done it to many of my basses.
Finish type matters not. It simply micro scratches the surface. I have deglossed entire bodies , but mostly neck backs.

As to Sadowsky I'm sure you could get a matte finish from them .

 

[atrapp]

I use them dry. It is super gentle, like 10,000 grit sandpaper. Very little material is removed , easily buffed back to gloss with polishing compound and elbow grease

I've done it to many of my basses.

Sorry for being not getting this, you are using them to polish the entire bass, not just to degloss the back of the neck, yes? BTW I did just use one wet and then dry on the back of a nitro neck - is sweet.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Sorry for being not getting this, you are using them to polish the entire bass, not just to degloss the back of the neck, yes? BTW I did just use one wet and then dry on the back of a nitro neck - is sweet.

I don't see these as part of the polish process, the scratches it leaves are inconsistent, and being so soft, not level. I use Micro Mesh sheets for prep to polish.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I don't see these as part of the polish process, the scratches it leaves are inconsistent, and being so soft, not level. I use Micro Mesh sheets for prep to polish.

I use them dry, because I can see the effect on the surface immediately, and can go only as far as is needed.