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What color should I paint my Flea RW?

#44
I love the original Shell Pink but in this case I might say take it all the way down to Natural. Unless the grain looks gross, I guess.

Either way, I wouldn't do another relic, I'd want a new looking bass. But that's just me
 
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#46
Fat Bottom Kyle said:
What is up talkbass massive? Happy 4th to you. I recently scored a deal on a loaded flea road worn body. It was super cheap but took some work to clean and set up. The previous owner covered it in permanent marker and the only thing that took it off was some light sanding. The previous owner also gave it extra relic'ing and took off a lot of the gorgeous pink finish. He also drew on the wood with the sharpie. With some elbow grease I was able to get her back to normal somewhat, but I feel like the road worn look is pretty crazy. It feels like stolen valor. Love the bass and want to keep it, so I'm thinking a paint job is in order. It would be cool to do a light nitro coat over the pink and when it wears it will have a little pink underneath. I'm having trouble picking a good color though. Thoughts on a new color? Here are some pics of the rescue mission.
View attachment 5114539 View attachment 5114539 View attachment 5114540 View attachment 5114542 View attachment 5114543 View attachment 5114544
Click to expand...
Clear it. Satin clear
 
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#47


(monty python...)

That marker work is kind of cool- if you squint at it from a distance it kind of looks like a brook trout.

I have a "normal" RW flea jazz. I'd really like to take down a lot of the factory finish and some of the more intense "relic-ing" and spray it sherwood green, or forest green, or almost hunter green, with the pink edges showing through around the "relic" zones. Not because the existing color is bad (it often just looks like a weirdly aged dirty whiteish to me) but because I really like green and I'd like a green jazz bass. I think messing with your bass and refinishing it would be kind of punk, and Flea would approve.
 
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#48
I'd go for a vintage pastel color like Sonic Blue, Daphne Blue or Fiesta Red.
I'd also swap the pickguard for a mint green one.
In case you want tort, I'd go for a good looking, proper 60s looking like Spitfire, Avantguard or Lava pickguard.
 
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#49
Auer said:
No.

A JB deserves better than a boutique coffe table butcher block wall hanger
Click to expand...

IMG_3862.jpeg


Hardly boutique.
 
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#53
Sharpies do more damage than you might think. They are surprisingly abrasive, cutting open a microscopic grooved channel into any lacquer or plastic surface for the ink pigments to leach into. I've seen macro photos of a Sharpie'd signature on a nitro-finished guitar and the damage was visible.

Try getting it off white plastic without having to use polishing compound or some solvent that will etch the plastic.
 
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#59
Looks completely fine to me - you did a good job without removing too much of the original finish. You already said you like the pink, you KNOW it looks good. Stop worrying about the road worn thing, who cares about that. It's a cool looking bass and you worked to restore the finish, I vote it looks good, keep it.
 
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