This is how you paint a bass (when you have zero patience)

[StudioGC]

I purchased two American Performer Jazz basses recently. The first was a copper (penny) maple board jazz bass. It was on sale and local, so off it went in the boot and home with me (Boot...England remember....trunk).

Wow, what a bass. I've had American performer mustangs that I was very impressed with and this didn't disappoint. BUT I hate Poly finishes... and not a fan of Maple fret boards. I like to keep things traditional since I play for a 60's band.

So, since I liked the copper (penny) model so much I ordered the white/rosewood model and modified it to my liking.....No poly and a thin nitro paint job. Here it is pre nitro job:

 

[StudioGC]

Nice day on the Thames....varnishing benches....why not refinish a bass body too....

 

[StudioGC]

Lamb to the slaughter

 

[StudioGC]

Avert your eyes...! Actually the finish on these new Fender basses is fairly thin....but still poly, so still feels like plastic to me....hence ...it's gone.....

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Greetings,

I beg to disagree.

When you have zero patience.........

You drop it off at the body shop with a color chip and pick it up a week later.

Still can go hang out and hang by the water too.

 

[StudioGC]

Ahhhh, but you respond too soon! It gets better my friend!

 

[StudioGC]

Sanded to 240

 

[StudioGC]

Quick dry sanding sealer:

 

[StudioGC]

2 coats nitro white primer (after some quick dry filler used on some spots):

 

[StudioGC]

2 light coats of NW guitar nitro paint...let dry for 2 hours....

 

[StudioGC]

Ready to install CS 60's pick ups. Note....I tinted the neck with vintage neck amber and also shielded the cavities. Bonus.

 

[StudioGC]

So, long story short...I like nitro thin covered bass bodied. I like to feel the wood. I don't know if tone is different or not, I don't care. I also like fiesta red, not easy to come by in nitro. But now I have a USA Jazz bass in nitro. Happy days....and it took me about 5 hours to get to this point. No need to wait for paint to cure.....I want my bass to be used, not pampered.

 

[Killing Floor]

Looking good.
Your work bench? Nice location.
In Texas I can throw my boots in the trunk. You can toss a trunk in the boot. Crazy planet.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

awesome job, and nice view!

 

[StudioGC]

Looking good.
Your work bench? Nice location.
In Texas I can throw my boots in the trunk. You can toss a trunk in the boot. Crazy planet.

Dude.....that is perfect. Brings me back to my days in Terlingua, Texas. Great State.

 

[pigpen ridding]

Avert your eyes...! Actually the finish on these new Fender basses is fairly thin....but still poly, so still feels like plastic to me....hence ...it's gone.....
View attachment 4210543

i recently saw a video where they used a hair dryer and a spatula too remove the original paint and it lifted it straight off with little maintenance needed before a respray

 

[StudioGC]

i recently saw a video where they used a hair dryer and a spatula too remove the original paint and it lifted it straight off with little maintenance needed before a respray

I used a heat gun, and actually, now that you mention it, lower heat would be better for removing the finish (on these basses) so a hair dryer maybe better.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Do you own the river side property? Or is it ok to do a paint job at a public location in the UK?

 

[StudioGC]

Do you own the river side property? Or is it ok to do a paint job at a public location in the UK?

The company I work for owns the property. We repaint two 80' foot vessels every year at the same pier....so a bass body not a problem!.

 

[J_Bass]

Why do you put those nuts on the strings? Any advantage?


Very cool bass, I like the red a lot!