Yeah, it was the Behr water based wipe on poly. It was new to me, so the whole thing was in experiment. But it came down to availability and ease of use this time of year.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Winter Buildoff 2022: Still A Diva
- Thread starter TerribleTim68
- Start date
So....the wife says "Just put it together, show it off and fix that later." 
So I guess I'm gonna go ahead and assemble it, knowing that the Sushibox has slipped through my grasp.
So I guess I'm gonna go ahead and assemble it, knowing that the Sushibox has slipped through my grasp.
Tim
I’m guessing you melted some of the finish when you went to machine buffing. My advice, see if you can level the affected area out again, then add back a couple more coats, then re-buff by hand. Don’t give up!
EDITED - I also just saw your comment about how you are getting some grit when you are buffing the body. My guess is that the finish hasn’t cured up hard enough yet, and you’re pulling off partly cured finish particles.
I’m guessing you melted some of the finish when you went to machine buffing. My advice, see if you can level the affected area out again, then add back a couple more coats, then re-buff by hand. Don’t give up!
EDITED - I also just saw your comment about how you are getting some grit when you are buffing the body. My guess is that the finish hasn’t cured up hard enough yet, and you’re pulling off partly cured finish particles.
Last edited:
I'd go with what lonnybass and your wife said. Touch it up as best as you can then put it together! Don't let the finish line (no pun intended) get past you.
@TerribleTim68 truth be told, I’m going to strip mine and start over after the finish, not happy with the color and finish at all. Get it through, fix it later
Well, I assembled it last night. Snapped off two screw heads on the rear cover, so that's fun. So between the messed up finish and the snapped screw heads, I'm about as unhappy with this build as I can be.
On a good note, it makes noise, so that works. I'm gonna just call it done for now and walk away. I'll probably post some pics in a few days, after I'm less irritated with it. But as for the build-off, I don't think it's gonna go any further than what it is right now. It's a mess, I'm frustrated, it needs a lot of work, after three months and some pretty lofty hopes and aspirations, I'm just at my wit's end with it right now. The action is monstrously high, I can't get it down low enough to actually play comfortably until I figure out how to recess the pickup deeper because when you fret below the 12th it buzzes on the pickup. I can't put the rear cover on until I figure out how to dig the two broken screws out of there. The nut is still a touch too high as well. And then there's the finish, I'm now seeing a spot on the front that I burned through right at the round-over and an area on the back of the neck that I burned through as well, not to even mention the the area on the headstock flaking off.
What I learned from this is that I am just NOT ready to build at this pace. So yeah, pics coming later.
On a good note, it makes noise, so that works. I'm gonna just call it done for now and walk away. I'll probably post some pics in a few days, after I'm less irritated with it. But as for the build-off, I don't think it's gonna go any further than what it is right now. It's a mess, I'm frustrated, it needs a lot of work, after three months and some pretty lofty hopes and aspirations, I'm just at my wit's end with it right now. The action is monstrously high, I can't get it down low enough to actually play comfortably until I figure out how to recess the pickup deeper because when you fret below the 12th it buzzes on the pickup. I can't put the rear cover on until I figure out how to dig the two broken screws out of there. The nut is still a touch too high as well. And then there's the finish, I'm now seeing a spot on the front that I burned through right at the round-over and an area on the back of the neck that I burned through as well, not to even mention the the area on the headstock flaking off.
What I learned from this is that I am just NOT ready to build at this pace. So yeah, pics coming later.
Step away for a while. It’s all recoverable but a clear, calm head helps.
Rôckhewer
Commercial User
- Feb 28, 2015
- 2,922
- 9,028
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder- RockHewer Custom Guitars LLC
....
that's all I gon' say 'bout that.Cue the inspirational Gabriel... & bro hugs...
So heresy a few cheesy photos to show how cool it could have been. These are indoors with crap lighting. -
And one showing the Diva amongst her bass brethren -
And one showing the Diva amongst her bass brethren -
Just wanna offer some emotional support. You're on your way towards something really cool. Keep it up!!
Rôckhewer
Commercial User
- Feb 28, 2015
- 2,922
- 9,028
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder- RockHewer Custom Guitars LLC
Um... that l
ks like a complete instrument.
Looks killer from here... and "makes noise".
So what if it needs a good setup /tweak...
....and a refinish.
Maybe check bylaws and statutes of your WBO entry contract?... I'm pretty sure at this point you're contractually bound to stay "in the show".
Bitchin bass
ks like a complete instrument.Looks killer from here... and "makes noise".
So what if it needs a good setup /tweak...
....and a refinish.
Maybe check bylaws and statutes of your WBO entry contract?... I'm pretty sure at this point you're contractually bound to stay "in the show".
Bitchin bass
Yeah I agree Rock. As far as the WBO goes, I'll get some better photos later and throw it up for voting. I'm just not convinced it'll do as well. But yeah, it's a bass. It's technically "done".Um... that l
Looks killer from here... and "makes noise".
So what if it needs a good setup /tweak...
....and a refinish.
Maybe check bylaws and statutes of your WBO entry contract?... I'm pretty sure at this point you're contractually bound to stay "in the show".
Bitchin bass
@Rôckhewer is totally right
So it needs some further refinement, it happens. It's still a cool build
So it needs some further refinement, it happens. It's still a cool build
You've already put it together and taken some pics... Dissasemble and try to fix it before the final date? If you manage to do it, new pics and submit. If you don't... submit what you already have?
I mean, worst case scenario you have it how you want, a bit later.
And sorry for that, poopie happens when you're almost there...
Edit: I didn't know we have a "profanity filter" that edits words... Never wrote poopie
I mean, worst case scenario you have it how you want, a bit later.
And sorry for that, poopie happens when you're almost there...
Edit: I didn't know we have a "profanity filter" that edits words... Never wrote poopie
Regardless of whether I finish or not, I realized and learned a ton of stuff and had fun participating.
This was a good exercise in gauging what a commissioned build might be like. In order to not spend more time fixing mistakes than building and be satisfied enough with the results to sell a bass,.... And to finish one in under 6 mo,... I'd have to meet some criteria: I need a lot more build experience under my belt and I need to not have a full time job (or at least a job that I don't have to leave home for).
So, looks like I will just be building for fun and myself in the foreseeable future.
Also, I learned that I should probably shoot for something a little less complicated than the current bass, for future build offs. As fun as this was, it would be a huge punch in the gut if something broke or happened to the finish a week before the deadline.
Aaaaand...I probably shouldn't have said that....
Another small side thought that popped in my head: if I make any mistakes on this bass that I can't live with, chances are, 10 basses from now, I might have the experience and confidence to go back and fix it/redo it better.
So - don't take commissions, take the time you need, build it so you're happy, and if you want to sell it, sell what you built after it's built, rather than trying to build to spec on a schedule. And don't price yourself short if you choose to do so.
Yeah, building to sell was never a primary motive. It was always for fun. That was just a fun little back burner thought, as in: hey, if I get good at this, I could make a few bucks on the side too.
The build off gave me some useful experience and data, to help reference that idea a little more clearly. But I wasn't thinking about that when I entered. Just an after thought.
The build off gave me some useful experience and data, to help reference that idea a little more clearly. But I wasn't thinking about that when I entered. Just an after thought.
I'm basically setting myself up for the potential positive extractions from this experience, in the event that something goes wrong.
That looks great. I think the lesson here is that nobody will know anything went wrong if you resist the urge to post closeups of problem areas.
