Jazz bass Mod becomes Build?

[fender3x]

I have a feeling there was a dollop of irony in the post from Mr. Bits ;-)


The paint powdered up today, so I sanded a bit and then used some AquaCoat filler which dries transparent. I have used it over color in the past... As well as over shellac, raw wood, wood hardener, and top coat. Will put on one more coat today in the bumpy spots, sand, and keep fingers crossed.

Sent from my CPH2655 using Tapatalk

[fender3x]

Well my experiments to gently (and in one case not so gently) remove the sticky on the binding have pretty much failed.

I got the best results with the not-so-gentle use of a razor blade. Not very satisfactory though. I was able to remove some, but not completely and sometimes it just moved gummy around.

I tried a gentle brush cleaning soap (called Pink Soap) by the mfg. It's what I used to clean my brushes after use with the clear coat. Did not harm the clear coat (good!) did not much bother the gummy (bad).

I also tried lighter fluid. One forum recommended the use of naphtha, which I could not get at the big-box store* But then I saw that it was used in Ronson brand lighter fluid--which I have. So I tried it...only to discover that it (a) wasn't naphtha but rather butane and (b) didn't do any better than the pink soap.

*No big green shed here. The biggest one is Orange. We don't have a fun nick name for it because shopping there is not a joyful experience.

[Trevor Davies]

At least now you (and we) know what does not work!

[fender3x]

At least now you (and we) know what does not work!

Today I tried white vinegar with a little dishwashing liquid. It sort of worked on the fingerboard. It may have made the gummy a little softer on the binding. I worked it with a soft cloth about as long as I could stand. Then I alternated between that, a hotel card-key and a popsicle stick. I got most of it off...but also took off a tiny bit of topcoat on one side of the binding. Ultimately what got the last of it off was some 350 grit sandpaper that I sacrified...since it clogged pretty fast. I used a tiny paintbrush to touch up the spots where I took the finish too far down. Turns out a credit card *can* damage the finish.

So, I don't have a recommendation for something to take off the gummy without taking off the finish or damaging the binding. Closest I get is that you should not leave leave a neck too long (a) with even low tack tape stuck to it or (b) near a window where it gets direct Florida sun (how in the world did I not think that would be a problem?)