/ Register

Squier VM Lake Placid Blue Refin!

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by reverb508, Apr 12, 2012.

  1. Apr 12, 2012 #1
    reverb508

    reverb508 Guest

    Jan 6, 2008
    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.

    [​IMG]

    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.

    [​IMG]

    Finally making some progress.

    [​IMG]

    Look at that nasty stuff!

    [​IMG]

    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.

    [​IMG]

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

    [​IMG]

    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.

    [​IMG]

    There's definitely some flaws in the finish, but I'm pretty happy with the results. What do you guys think?
     
  2. Apr 12, 2012 #2
    trunkshope6

    trunkshope6

    Jun 11, 2006
    Southern California
    That is sweet man props for doing it your self
     
  3. Apr 12, 2012 #3
    Wannaflea

    Wannaflea Guest

    Jun 7, 2011
    Jersey, CI
    More pics please, looks HOT! Good job man
     
  4. Apr 12, 2012 #4
    jwj1701

    jwj1701

    Nov 17, 2011
    Lexington KY
    Excellent job dude. Blue is my favorite color. Very nice.
     
  5. Apr 12, 2012 #5
    Sifl

    Sifl

    May 14, 2008
    Seattle, WA
    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.
     
  6. Apr 12, 2012 #6
    dabbler

    dabbler

    Aug 17, 2007
    Bowie, MD
    Noice! Luvs me some LPB!

    Good job!
     
  7. Apr 12, 2012 #7
    afzoomie67

    afzoomie67

    Mar 1, 2011
    Downingtown, PA
    Damn! I like that.
     
  8. Apr 12, 2012 #8
    KingRazor

    KingRazor

    Jun 4, 2010
    Beaverton, Oregon USA
    Looks great dude.
     
  9. Apr 12, 2012 #9
    droo46

    droo46

    Jun 16, 2011
    Salt Lake City, Utah
    Very cool. Love the pickup covers.
     
  10. Apr 12, 2012 #10
    chuck norriss

    chuck norriss Inactive

    Jan 20, 2011
    Way better. Good job.
     
  11. Apr 12, 2012 #11
    reverb508

    reverb508 Guest

    Jan 6, 2008
    @Sifl Here's a shot of the matching headstock with all of the hardware on.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Apr 12, 2012 #12
    reverb508

    reverb508 Guest

    Jan 6, 2008
    Thanks for the compliments guys! I'll try to get some more pictures up tomorrow.
     
  13. Apr 12, 2012 #13
    mellowinman

    mellowinman Free Man

    Oct 19, 2011
    Minneapolis
    Dude! You did that with CANS??? That is totally awesome!!!!

    Very very appealing bass you have there.
     
  14. Apr 12, 2012 #14
    blendermassacre

    blendermassacre Supporting Member

    May 28, 2009
    kansas city, mo
    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.
     
  15. Apr 12, 2012 #15
    reverb508

    reverb508 Guest

    Jan 6, 2008
    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
     
  16. Apr 13, 2012 #16
    MIMJAZZ

    MIMJAZZ Supporting Member

    Dec 13, 2009
    Los Angeles, CA
    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?
     
  17. Apr 13, 2012 #17
    reverb508

    reverb508 Guest

    Jan 6, 2008
    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.
     
  18. Apr 13, 2012 #18
    blendermassacre

    blendermassacre Supporting Member

    May 28, 2009
    kansas city, mo
    been there. never again. haha.
     
  19. Apr 13, 2012 #19
    1SHOT1HIT

    1SHOT1HIT Guest

    Feb 17, 2012
    USA
    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.
     
  20. Apr 13, 2012 #20
    P. Aaron

    P. Aaron Supporting Member

    Sep 16, 2002
    Livin’ on a slab in Plano, TX
    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.