Only just recently started playing bass, never played a string instrument before and I love it.
Thought I'd make a project along with learning to play and settled on a HB-4S violin bass.
Pics up next post.
Happy days.
Printable View
Only just recently started playing bass, never played a string instrument before and I love it.
Thought I'd make a project along with learning to play and settled on a HB-4S violin bass.
Pics up next post.
Happy days.
Attachment 42816
Top, hope pic uploaded.
Pic of the back
Attachment 42817
I don't play the bass, but every time I see these hb4's I am soo tempted.
Sent from my 2201117SG using Tapatalk
The top and back look nice. How do you intend to finish it?
Going with Angelus leather dyes and Tru-oil in a dragons breath inspired look on the front and attempting a nuclear burst on the back with sunset fade on the sides.
I got a start on it today, pics to come.
Rage, sounds like it will look steller. I too am using angelus leather dyes on my build as well.
Whoa... pretty sure I saw all that at a Grateful Dead concert in 1980! :pQuote:
...a dragons breath inspired look on the front and attempting a nuclear burst on the back with sunset fade on the sides.
Well after crapping my pants about applying the stain to such a crazy thin veneer with no way to fix any stuff ups, I just went for it gritting my teeth.
So this is how it looks now with first colours down.
Attachment 42819
Attachment 42820
Attachment 42821
A few glue lines and scratches showed up
Attachment 42822
Not happy with the glue lines but ya get that on these apparently.
Not sure how to fix it without messing up the colours.
The back wasn't quite what I planned on but it will do.
That looks awesome. Re. Glue lines, touch up with acrylic paint as those on the bottom right look like soak through. Might be hard to match the yellow though. Or add a darkish burst around the edge to hide. I was forced to the latter and hid mine ok.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The back and sides look great! The front will be great once the glue is shifted. I have heard others try to remove the glue lines using Goo-off with a (soft wire!) brush. Others have also fixed the middle join line with marker pen.
Hopefully others will add more detail.
Mock-up with supplied gear.
Attachment 42823
That will look brilliant.
That is absolutely wonderful work, great job!
Stuck contemplating the neck and headstock colour pattern at the moment and how to tackle the glue issue and re blending the colour after removing the glue.
I'm half tempted to just leave it alone and put a wipe on poly all over it.
I've never done anything like this with dyes or woodwork before.
It took me half a day to convince myself to add the first drop of dye as I was sure I was going to mess it up first go. Ha ha
Attachment 42826
The other glue spots aren't as bad and I should be able to touch up.
I wouldn’t goof off as it will remove your dye and blending will be a nightmare. Go to an art store and try to find some acrylic paint and blend in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rage
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just curious, did you try and identify and remove the glue before applying any dye?
I did look for glue, only saw two small surface spots which I removed beforehand. None of the major spots of glue stood out at all.
Like they weren't there, I'd never have seen them.
I had wet down the top a few times cause I had considered doing a natural clear finish over the spalted top.
If it was me, I'd leave it and call it a "relic" effect. The proximity to the control hardware mitigates it somewhat as well.
Overall, it is looking bloody awesome.
Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
Try using oooo steel wool very lightly. Don't try and make the glue match. Fade the color into the glue shade. The lighter binding will make it work.
Looking amazing rage!
I had a similar glue spot on my TL. I applied a couple of layers of stain building it up with a q-tip and then blended it in with the rest. Can't see the spot anymore now.
Sent from my 2201117SG using Tapatalk
Another method for disguising the glue spot around the lower bout, is tinting some Tru Oil with the Angelus.
That leather dye is alcohol based and will mix just fine with oil based polyurethane or Tru Oil. I would apply the tinted mixture to the glue area until the right colour was achieved, let it dry, then continue with untinted Tru Oil.
Just a thought...
Thanks for all the suggestions guys it's great.
Brief update.
Neck stained and set in.
Couple coats of tru oil applied.Attachment 42890Attachment 42891Attachment 42892
Bravo for all of this - I admire your creativity and adventurousness here.
I know the nervousness of doing staining like this for the first time but you have far exceeded anything I've been able to do. I admire your "do or die" attitude and what has ended up being a quite unique looking instrument.
I can only wonder at your approach to actually learning to play bass - I'll bet that will be something.
Bravo.
Loving the finish, beautiful job!
Peter