Bass refinish

WezV

Another MR build revisit.


This was from the time i was messing around with copper leaf and ageing it.   The bass was inspired by a teisco spectrum, but with a curvier waist and more  fendery aesthetics.

I finished it in copper leaf aged with vinegar.  All encapsulated in rustins plastic coating.  Not the kind of thing most would like but its been my main bass for the last 5 or 6 years now

There are two main issues  though.  I always thought the back looked much better than the front.  And sadly the Rustins was too hard and has cracked badly as the copper has expanded an contracted.  It would be nice crazing if it wasn't razor sharp.   I had better results with acrylic lacquer  over the metal finishes in the end





The good news is it all came off really easily with the heat gun, at least down to the black base coat



part of me is tempted to just wax it at this point, but i think i will carry on back to wood - the rest won't come off so easily.   I think i am also going to try my spare mojo dual foil in it 

GoldenEraGuitars

Oooo a blank canvas!!! 

Would you consider a swirl?  

WezV

I did try some swirls around the same time I coppered this.   I think it's going to be something more standard

WezV

getting there.   

Bridgehouse

Nice body shape. Really nice body shape. 

Sarge

Nice!
Also good to know RPC comes off easy with a heat gun, noted for future change of mind  

WezV

Sarge said:

Nice!
Also good to know RPC comes off easy with a heat gun, noted for future change of mind  

Ah well, it really doesn't 

the only reason it worked here was due to the thin layer of copper in the finish.  The same reason it was delaminating in the first place.


the base layer needed to be scraped and sanded off.  The RPC does scrape and sand fairly well

Sarge

Ah ok thanks for clearing that up. 

WezV

I have a can of pelham blue left over.

and my first bass was a teisco spectrum badly refinished in gold...  I managed to strip the  gold off to reveal a really nice blue underneath
 
Just like this one








Incidentally,  I am not the only guitar maker to use this shape as inspiration

Schechter copied the body and headstock outline almost exactly on their Avenger design

WezV

like this

DannyP

That's lovely that is! Kind of Ry Cooder/David Lindley vibe but in bass form.

TTony

That pickup is a whole bunch of wows all by itself.

Nice save on the original body.

WezV

TBH I would have kept the old finish If it hadn't turned into a health & safety issue.... but it's fair to say it hid the funkiness of my teisco/fender mashup

WezV

fairly happy with this

paulnb57

Looks great!

Andyjr1515

Yup - I like that a lot.  It suits the shape and style of the bass.

WezV

Another necro bump.

It was Pelham blue for 6 years, now ocean Turquoise, lightly reliced



I put the laser engraver to work on the headstock.