Squier VM Lake Placid Blue Refin!

[reverb508]

Hey guys, just thought I'd share my experience of my first attempt at a refin. I bought this Squier VM 70's bass a few years ago.

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Last month, I decided to try my hand at refinishing. After a failed attempt to strip the finish using Aircraft remover, I had to step up to a heat gun. To all thinking of attempting to strip bass painted in poly: you've got your work cut out for you.

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Finally making some progress.

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Look at that nasty stuff!

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Finally, when the bass was stripped, I had to go back and fill all the dings and dents I made whilst hacking away at that poly with wood filler. After 2 coats of primer, I was ready to give it a color coat. I bought 2 cans of Reranch Lake Placid Blue and got to work.

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While I was at it, I decided to give the bass a matching headstock.

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Finally, after 5 or 6 coats of Reranch Clear, I installed a new tortoise shell pick guard from Warmoth, neck pickup and bridge ashtray covers and an Audere preamp. Here's the finished product.

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There's definitely some flaws in the finish, but I'm pretty happy with the results. What do you guys think?

 

[trunkshope6]

That is sweet man props for doing it your self

 

[Wannaflea]

More pics please, looks HOT! Good job man

 

[jwj1701]

Excellent job dude. Blue is my favorite color. Very nice.

 

[Sifl]

So awesome! I recently refinished my VM P and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Takes some time and a ton of patience, but totally worth it!

LOOKS GREAT!

Do have any more pics of the headstock and neck? I want to paint the headstock on a neck with a maple fret board, too.

 

[dabbler]

Noice! Luvs me some LPB!

Good job!

 

[afzoomie67]

Damn! I like that.

 

[KingRazor]

Looks great dude.

 

[droo46]

Very cool. Love the pickup covers.

 

[chuck norriss]

Way better. Good job.

 

[reverb508]

@Sifl Here's a shot of the matching headstock with all of the hardware on.

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[reverb508]

Thanks for the compliments guys! I'll try to get some more pictures up tomorrow.

 

[mellowinman]

Dude! You did that with CANS??? That is totally awesome!!!!

Very very appealing bass you have there.

 

[blendermassacre]

Super sweet, especially with that blocked / bound neck.

Just FYI, next time, you don't have to take off the poly coat, just the clear. You obviously CAN take the poly off, but there's no real need to. Sand off the clear, a pair of primer coats, and you're good to go.

 

[reverb508]

Thanks! Yea, if I had to do it again, I would have just roughed up the old finish with sandpaper and painted over it. At the time, I wanted to go down to the bare wood and just go with a pure nitro finish. I definitely made it a lot harder on myself, but it was fun. Never again, though... never again. haha

 

[_jojo_bass]

2 coats of primer, 6 coats of clear, but how many of the actual color coats did you use? I really want to do a refin, but I'm getting hesitant. Would you say it's an easier project with all the reranch stuff?

 

[reverb508]

I believe I did 3 coats of color. The first was really light to build a good foundation, then I went a bit heavier to build up the color. Reranch has a great guide on their site. I didn't run into any problems using the Reranch cans. I guess you can get over zealous and get a run, but even then, you just sand it out and apply another coat. It's pretty forgiving.

 

[blendermassacre]

Thanks! Yea, if I had to do it again, I would have just roughed up the old finish with sandpaper and painted over it. At the time, I wanted to go down to the bare wood and just go with a pure nitro finish. I definitely made it a lot harder on myself, but it was fun. Never again, though... never again. haha

been there. never again. haha.

 

[1SHOT1HIT]

Looks excellent.

I'm not sure how much experience you have with painting, but know that there are many people out there that just would not have been able to pull it off w/o major flaws.

Spray can painting is a fairly simple art as long as patience and common sense are used.
I think it looks awesome and would be my color of choice had it not been for my current obsession with the 50's & early 60's pastel colors IE; Shell Pink, Sea Foam Green, Surf Green ect.
I plan to do my Squire in Sea Foam with a custom graphic in the paint.

Pat yourself on the back you did an awesome job I look forward to seeing more pics soon.

 

[P. Aaron]

You may have had an easier time using that orange paint stripper stuff. It's a bit pricey but it cuts through anything...for your next re-fin.

Like the finished project however. Nice look.