DJP's JB Bass Build

[DJP]

Trying a bass build this time.
Kit seems nice. Needed to tackle one or two glues spots around a crack that seems to have been glued in the body.
Have had a little success with goof off and a wire brush, and then scratching away with a needle followed by 60 grit sand paper but some of the glue seems to be more than a surface phenomenon. Has diminished considerably though.

[Simon Barden]

That does look like a nice body and the join lines seem to be straight; not angled like they often are. Is the crack in an obvious place or will it be hidden by a scratch or control plate?

[DJP]

Crack not a majot issue Simon. Have grain filled. Interesting tho - when I did the mock up build everything fitted perfectly. 2 months later the neck is too tight for the pocket (been very wet and humid here in Perth - so wondering if that has contributed)

[DJP]

Mineral turps reveal following grain fill and sanding with 80Grit. Hmmm ... looks like an old oak church pew. Lovely - but not what I want. Thinking I will ebonise wood with steel wool and vinegar solution, buy a red pickguard and do something like a Wilko Johnson black-n-red Fender tribute (albeit a bass version).

[wokkaboy]

some awesome grain there DJP, should look great in red and black. It's usually worth grain filling ash, have you done so or plan to ?

[DJP]

Yes, this has been grain filled with ebony timbermate. I laid it on quite thick and ended up leaving it a few weeks. Was like rock when I started to sand it off ! However, when you look closely you can see it really has done a great job. It is amazing how many really tiny holes / wrinkles in the grain there must have been ! The photo is the first sand back with 80 grit. Never owned a bass - this is a bit of an experiment.

[wokkaboy]

no worries DJP that's why the grain has popped so nicely. Keep on sanding !

[DJP]

Happy with the headstock - not too much cutting and sanding required to get it to this state.

[DJP]

Here is result after a lot of sanding. Still got some great grain. I was going to try a tea followed by steel wool and vinegar wash to darken it. However having tried it in the neck pocket, it is clearly rubbish on Ash even after applying tea ... unless you want the beautiful chestnut and funny greyish green result. Am now thinking about perhaps trying a black india ink stain. I want black, but with grain (not as black as priests socks ... perhaps more a strong blackish grey - with the ebony timbermate still showing the dark figuring). Then a nitro spray finish. No idea if I will be successful r.e. the colours tho.

[wazkelly]

Hi Buddy, just caught up with this thread and was curious to see how the chemical wash worked on Ash.

On my Alder Tele the first stain coat looked more olive green than grey/black and I completely freaked out but shouldn't have panicked as it still keeps oxidising for several days. Stupid me grabbed some cheap black ink pad ink to darken it up and oh what a disaster.....best to avoid that crap as it has a very sticky oily residue and makes everything look crap.

Ended up sanding most off and thankfully had left the steel wool in vinegar solution to brew a few more days so there was enough to do the job.

If you want more black/grey tones then a good quality India ink is the go and suggest trying to soak up as much as you can from the initial stain application, ie. dunk rag in ink and wipe on and then with a clean rag try to almost buff or polish off as much as you can before it completely dries. Using a damp clean rag works better but being water based and introducing more water watch out for Timber Mate shrinkage once it rehydrates and dries again. On my Red J Bass this left unexpected grain contours which I think now look great and retained them as a further grain feature.