Gee that's a big guitar
- matthew
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:16 pm
- Location: Sydney, Inner West
- Contact:
I'll tell ya my secrets when i work it out for myself!
Its wierd stuff this hard shellac but seems to polish OK. I tried burushing it on, then wiping it on, then gave up and rubbed it on. The tinting in the mix does mean that it goes on a bit blotchy. I can rub it out but I kinda like the look. It builds slowly but nice effect. I want it darker.
I'm wondering whether to really "relic" the thing with rubbed-on dirt as well like the original.
I'm using the same tuners as on the other bass. Not quite crusty enough I supposed but i like 'em anyway.
Its wierd stuff this hard shellac but seems to polish OK. I tried burushing it on, then wiping it on, then gave up and rubbed it on. The tinting in the mix does mean that it goes on a bit blotchy. I can rub it out but I kinda like the look. It builds slowly but nice effect. I want it darker.
I'm wondering whether to really "relic" the thing with rubbed-on dirt as well like the original.
I'm using the same tuners as on the other bass. Not quite crusty enough I supposed but i like 'em anyway.
- sebastiaan56
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1279
- Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:23 am
- Location: Blue Mountains
- sebastiaan56
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1279
- Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:23 am
- Location: Blue Mountains
- matthew
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:16 pm
- Location: Sydney, Inner West
- Contact:
No Martin, I am not going to attack this bass with chains or anything like that. I am not trying to fool anyone that it is anything but a new copy of Stefano's old bass. The varnishing has been a process of "dressing" with a classy look.
No-one has mentioned the box she is sitting on. Over on the bass website they noticed it straight away ...
No-one has mentioned the box she is sitting on. Over on the bass website they noticed it straight away ...
- matthew
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:16 pm
- Location: Sydney, Inner West
- Contact:
This is an advantage of a bolt-on neck. Much easier to handle fingerboard dressing!
I've adapted an old black'n'decker workmate for benchtop use. It is really useful for holding tapered things like necks and fingerboards. A bag of lead shot in the box holds it nice and steady.
I fitted the bridge feet and strung it up with a rough string height and quickly done nut.
How does it sound? Well, new bass, new strings, its going to be bright for a while.
But ... louder than Sirente, despite the shallow ribs ... easy to play, the notes seem to just come out of their own accord. This bass works. And even though i just used some Corellis i had bought for the other bass but hated, surprisingly mean and growly down low.
Arco? No idea really as I'm a shocking arco player. Sorry. And now I've pulled it all down again to do the neck and bridge properly, adjust the machines a bit, and a few more touches to the finish.
However I have played it enough to be able to say with confidence that this bass as way better than the first one - which wasn't bad. And I can't wait to get it back together again!
I've adapted an old black'n'decker workmate for benchtop use. It is really useful for holding tapered things like necks and fingerboards. A bag of lead shot in the box holds it nice and steady.
I fitted the bridge feet and strung it up with a rough string height and quickly done nut.
How does it sound? Well, new bass, new strings, its going to be bright for a while.
But ... louder than Sirente, despite the shallow ribs ... easy to play, the notes seem to just come out of their own accord. This bass works. And even though i just used some Corellis i had bought for the other bass but hated, surprisingly mean and growly down low.
Arco? No idea really as I'm a shocking arco player. Sorry. And now I've pulled it all down again to do the neck and bridge properly, adjust the machines a bit, and a few more touches to the finish.
However I have played it enough to be able to say with confidence that this bass as way better than the first one - which wasn't bad. And I can't wait to get it back together again!
- matthew
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:16 pm
- Location: Sydney, Inner West
- Contact:
I antiqued them myself. The new machines were so shiny they looked way too heavy and they completely overpowered the scroll and the carving on the back. I may have overdone the patina but it will shine up again as I use it and polish it. I used a combination of artists patina solution and other chemicals/metal filings/oxides to get the look. And finished with black & brown bootpolish, rubbed back and polished
May I be the first well oiled punter to say ...
'Where'd you get that old bass ?'
When I got my Hofner bass, the tuners had been painted with estapol with a brush, just like the rest of the instrument ( including the bridge ) after many years, the brass ( and bronze ? ) has turned all different shades of green and brown and ancient evil underneath the finish. It's nice to have some ancient looking machinery right beside yr head to study while someone's taking a solo or to focus on whilst trying to remember what key the next tune is in ...
AP
'Where'd you get that old bass ?'
When I got my Hofner bass, the tuners had been painted with estapol with a brush, just like the rest of the instrument ( including the bridge ) after many years, the brass ( and bronze ? ) has turned all different shades of green and brown and ancient evil underneath the finish. It's nice to have some ancient looking machinery right beside yr head to study while someone's taking a solo or to focus on whilst trying to remember what key the next tune is in ...
AP
i got a hot rod ford and a two dollar bill, and i know a place right over the hill ...
www.flickr.com/photos/harvesterworks
www.flickr.com/photos/harvesterworks
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 69 guests