duane v Posted March 10, 2023 Author Share Posted March 10, 2023 See the below image of a Hofner bass with binding. There is plenty of room to remove material so that the neck will be flush with the fretboard. The binding channel is about 1/8" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 It’s hopefully a lot less than 1/8” but keep in mind even 1/16” is massive when you’re trying to transition under a gloss finish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted March 10, 2023 Author Share Posted March 10, 2023 The neck is a maple slab.... I don't think there will be any issue in regards to rigidity with the loss of material It's a one day job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted March 10, 2023 Author Share Posted March 10, 2023 The binding is gone. A heat gun and a very sharp chisel is a must. The average binding channel depth was about .040" which means sanding won't be a huge undertaking. No damage and trimming the fret ends is next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 20 hours ago, duane v said: The average binding channel depth was about .040" which means sanding won't be a huge undertaking. This is what I was referring to when I said “hopefully a lot less than 1/8”. Not referring to structural integrity but aware that 1/8” would be an obscenely thick fretboard binding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted March 13, 2023 Author Share Posted March 13, 2023 Removed the stock fretboard dots and replaced them with the 8mm and 6mm dots, then replaced the last fretboard dot with a rosewood dot because the 61 Hofner didn't have that dot. Next I'm going to sand the fretboard with 1600 grit to clean up the gloss stuff that Hofner put on the fretboard. Then I'm going to drop fill the the side marker holes and fret slots with rosewood powder and super glue . Then I'm going to completely remove the finish from the back of the neck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted March 15, 2023 Author Share Posted March 15, 2023 With the binding removed, the neck has been scraped, contoured and sanded. I also clean up the fretboard, filed the sharper than &:%# fret-ends and polished the frets. Cabinet maker forums have me some killer advice in using cabinet scrapers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted March 22, 2023 Author Share Posted March 22, 2023 I decided I would do some other finishing work since the weather isn't at all good for spraying lacquer. But next this weekend is looking hopeful. So I spent some time reshaping and cutting the nut and getting it glued on as the nut was originally cut for a right hand bass, I still need to shave some material off the top. Converting a nut that was originally for a right hand bass to work properly left handed was no easy task I then had to drill two pickup channel holes for the lead wires as the centerblock wouldn't allow to use the original two holes to feed the leads to the left hand volume plate location. I also drilled the four holes for the surround mounting. I had to drill a hole in the center block so the tailpiece ground wire could be fed. Also cut the grooves on the bridge saddle. Plays good but I'm going to file down the frets as the are super tall. They would be great for a guitar but it feels weird on a bass. Kinda glad I did this now then after the bass was completely sprayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share Posted March 31, 2023 So over the last week I was able to get quite a bit done. I really wasn't happy with the butterscotch lacquer as it was hiding the grain and the bass started to look like a banana. So I completely sanded the bass to bare wood and go with a vintage amber. To me it looks much better even though the trade off will be is the patch will be more visible but I'm willing to live with that . I will be laying two coats of clear today then I will shoot the red on Sunday 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 5, 2023 Author Share Posted April 5, 2023 Finished laying the Revolution Burst... Did some blending and cleanup work, then added two coats of clear then hit the whole bass with a thin coat of vintage amber. Today I will start doing the final clear coats ... A total of 10. I gotta give props to those that can freehand this type of work.... I had to use multiple templates with rattle can nitro paints... not easy..... And scraping the binding was a complete PIA... Someone needs to design a tool.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 Well I cant say its the prettiest burst but you certainly did a good job of replicating it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 5, 2023 Author Share Posted April 5, 2023 It's definitely a clownburst for sure... lol The refinish and repairs to Pauls 61 bass was performed somewhere in London. My guess they were trying to do a Fender burst but kinda missed the mark on that one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 Great job so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 6, 2023 Author Share Posted April 6, 2023 The ll coats of clear is on and all the blue tape removed.... (thank god for naphtha). now it's time for the 14 day curing process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted April 6, 2023 Share Posted April 6, 2023 On 2/9/2023 at 9:48 AM, Karloff said: I'd love to have a Rickenbacher someday Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 6, 2023 Author Share Posted April 6, 2023 I had a Ric and it was the worse sounding and playing instrument I laid my hands one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted April 6, 2023 Share Posted April 6, 2023 This popped up on my Youtube suggestions. Thought it may be of interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 7, 2023 Author Share Posted April 7, 2023 That was cool Rabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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