Ah, OK. Well, I got it off by basically "shaving" or whittling it with my Benchmade combat knife - cause that's what I have at 2300 hrs that works.
It looks like this now.
Had to save the signature area but the clear coat IS discolored...
I hate to say this to you. But looking at that headstock. I think it's a lost cause.
Here's why. Fire has a nasty habit of pulling the moisture out of things. The cracks in that headstock are where the three pieces of Rock Maple have been bonded. This means the heat near that area of the headstock was high enough to melt the glue (or soften it greatly). This is not a good sign. If this neck starts developing fissures at those joints it's dead.
That wood looks pretty cooked. Meaning in the abscence of visible fire damage, the wood has had the moisture heated out of it. It's like cooking it in an oven. And there are now areas inside the grain, deep inside the fibers of the wood that are compromised. It's an organic material and extreme heat accellerates the deterioration of the wood. Part of the purpose of the finish is to preserve the moisure inside the wood. And that's because without it the wood cannot bend or flex.
My fear for this neck is that even if you refinished it and attempted to hydrate it, it will be weakened to the point that it's a matter of time before that headstock gives/snaps when put under the enormous pressure that bringing large bass cables up to tune creates.
You are very fortunate this is a bolt-on. I'd order a new neck.
You'll need to send the whole guitar back to ensure it's fitting/seated properly. But I think you are never going to be able to trust this neck.
If it got this hot, the truss rod got hot as well. It's not tempered steel. So that means it expanded and contracted during the event. Which also makes it suspect in my opinion.
Did any of the frets come off? Or is glue seeping (or was glue) seeping from under them?
I only mention all of this because my grandfather was a furniture maker and my father is an accomplished master carpenter... I've been around antique furniture that was "slightly" fire damaged and my entire life I've heard my dad go on and on about how wood is never the same after being "baked" in a fire.
Just thought I'd share. I'd hate to see you put all this effort into that neck only for it to be compromised or give you issues.
Contact PJ and run this by him. [email protected]
I'm thrilled you are saving this bass. Perhaps if you decide to order a replacement neck you can do what I've always wanted to do... order one with the Crown Inlays.
So, I'll pour on some love and see what happens.
Maybe later I can get a crown inlayed neck.
)
