Vinyl wrapping a bass?

[Seth DuSith]

Has anyone ever vinyl wrapped their bass before? I am considering putting one of those multi tone/clear wraps on my blue Jackson bass, just to spruce it up a little. Anyone ever do anything like this, in this forum before?

 

[Clark Westfield]

I did it awhile back with a skin I found online.

Worked for an about a year, but my inexperience trimming around curves caused it to come apart.

I eventually painted the bass altogether.

I would post pics, but I can’t find any.

 

[Seth DuSith]

Thank you for replying

So it's likely always gonna be a temporary solution eh? That it is likely to always eventually fall off? Any advice how I could make it stay on a lot more permanently?

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Having a company that does wrapping on cars do the job should give a long life.
I would find a local shop and talk with them.

 

[Seth DuSith]

Might be out of my price range. But I suppose if I want it to stay on, that might be the only guaranteed way

 

[evs]

I bought some automotive vinyl wrap.
I got the 3M Dead Matte Black.

To make it easier to deal with the curves, I did the front and back of the body, but left the sides.
I really like it and it has held up for me.
Occasionally I get a crinkle in the vinyl at the horn, but a hit with the hairdryer makes it right again.

It is a cheap way to try out a new colour!

 

[evs]

A couple more photos of the process:

 

[Seth DuSith]

Oh man, that looks amazing!! Thank you got sharing, I appreciate it. This is what I plan to do to my bass too. Just an easy way to switch it up. Any advice on wrapping it? Did you have to spray it with water first?

 

[evs]

Thanks!
I took the neck off and all of the hardware, knobs, pickups etc.
Then a bit of soapy water sprayed on body.
Lay vinyl on body (leave plenty of material which can be trimmed later).
Get the air bubbles out.
Then while hitting it with a heat gun, keep moving the air bubbles out, and stretch the vinyl around the edges.
Once done, carefully trim the vinyl and heat gun it down at the edges.

 

[pb9717]

I was inspired by your post and decided to follow suit. I play in a band thats very “showy”…lotsa lights, colorful clothing. I got this Cort single cut 5, its got a beautiful burl top, but it simply doesn’t go with the bands color palate.

So, I opted to vinyl wrap it in chrome/mirror finish. Here’s the before and after.

Im very happy with it, and I can just pull it off later. It comes off pretty easily.

 

[ebo]

These might inspire me to give it a shot. I have a bass I don’t like the look of, but I enjoy playing it. I have wrapped vehicles at work but don’t think I would have ever thought of wrapping a bass. Would be easier than a complete refin. Both of these benefit from all black hardware.

 

[JRA]

i have one ax that's pretty ugly (but it's an important player in my 'arsenal') and i've thought about wrapping it many times...maybe i'll actually get around to it....

but i think it's a great, cheap mod when thinking/obsessing about 'the looks'.

 

[SoonerBill]

Wrapping done right can last a long time. I know a service company that had their vans wrapped 4 or 5 years ago. They've been through ice storms to 100+ degree heat and still look like the day they were done.

 

[pb9717]

This type of material is not conducive to wrapping entirely around a lower “horn” or cutaway. You’re kind of stuck wrapping the top half, then the bottom if you want. If you attempt to encircle the lower bout you end up with a lot of wrinkles and excess material. It’s best to make it like a custom top.

This was my first foray and it was much more difficult than I thought it would be. The vinyl has a grid on the back paper, and a clear shield on the top. You cannot stretch the vinyl until you remove the top clear sheet. And then you need to warm it. I used a heat gun very sparingly as the vinyl will melt if kept too long under the hot air.

 

[Seth DuSith]

You did such an amazing job wrapping it. I don't even wanna show mine lol. That's just phenomenal looking

I bought really cheap vinyl.

 

[steve_ss]

As an alternative, may I suggest hydro dipping.





some other items:

 

[evs]

I was inspired by your post and decided to follow suit. I play in a band thats very “showy”…lotsa lights, colorful clothing. I got this Cort single cut 5, its got a beautiful burl top, but it simply doesn’t go with the bands color palate.

So, I opted to vinyl wrap it in chrome/mirror finish. Here’s the before and after.
Im very happy with it, and I can just pull it off later. It comes off pretty easily.

It looks great!
Such a fun and cost effective change.

 

[Seth DuSith]

As an alternative, may I suggest hydro dipping.





some other items:

I'm considering doing this with the bass I'm working on. I don't think I have the skills to pull this off, but I'm curious to try it anyway

 

[pb9717]

You did such an amazing job wrapping it. I don't even wanna show mine lol. That's just phenomenal looking

I bought really cheap vinyl.

My vinyl wrap was $15 on eBay. 2ftx5ft.

 

[pb9717]

As an alternative, may I suggest hydro dipping.





some other items:

I did a hydro image /dip years ago on a Tobias growler. It was not cheap, and I had to do the clear coat on top of that myself. Cost well over $100. here’s that one….