Gavs ESB-4 Hollowbody Bass

[Fretworn]

Damn Gav, what a shame.

If you really think the bubbles are the top veneer of the ply lifting, then I'm not sure you should try sanding them back, as I assume you will end up sanding through the top veneer and who knows what you will find underneath. I tried to sand lifting veneer on a table once. Totally ruined the table. If they are really that noticable then you may need to sand back the whole sides and put some sort of solid colour on the sides so the patches can't be seen.

Or are they small enough so you can live with them?

[gavinturner]

@Wokka, @Fretty - thanks for the replies guys. Yeah it's definitely under the veneer not the clear. I can feel the bubble(s) sink and spring back when i put a small amount of pressure on them.

I really don't want to ruin my finish at this stage, so sanding back is a last resort (that i probably won't attempt anyway). You can't really see them if you don't know they are there, but unfortunately i will know from now on . I'll have to live with them if there's no easy solution I think.

I wondered whether putting a pin/needle/nail in the top of them might release some of the air pressure in there and allow the wood to sink again? Unfortunately as I've no understanding what has caused this I'm not sure if this would help. There's definitely air in there though since I can gently compress each bubble with my finger..

I'll keep pondering it. Maybe someone out there has experienced a similar thing before..

cheers,
Gav.

[Gavin1393]

My thought is that the glue holding the veneer in place was missing under this section, so that when you applied the paint it seeped through the veneer and then since there was no glue to hold the shape it has warped creating the 'bubble' effect.

I's suggest getting a syringe with a needle, add some super glue and inject the super glue into this area. Then using a flexible metal sheet, press the sheet hard up against the body of the guitar until the glue is dry.

[wokkaboy]

hey Gav, sounds like its worth trying to put a pin hole on the bubble to release the air - you won't see a pin hole in the finish. Sounds like sanding back isn't an option.
I'd email a pic to DB and ask his advice, I've never seen this happen and have no idea whats caused it. Have you had any humid or hot weather ? Sure you have followed the usual T.O. procedure.
Its a real bummer to get this far into a build and have the issues you are having, hope you can sort it bro !

[adam]

Hey Gav, I jjust did a Google search on "repairing bubbled veneer" and there's loads of links and even a YouTube video. I'm at work so can't do much more, but if you don't get answers on Google, it may be worth an email to dingobass@pitbullguitars.com.

[gavinturner]

@Gav, @Wokka - thanks guys. I'll have a think about it. The superglue approach sounds like an option. @Adam - thanks for reminding me of google . I'll have a look and see if I can find that video.

cheers guys!

Gav.

[gavinturner]

yep, here's the video @Adam referred to. @Gav - of course - was right on the money with syringe & glue. The only additional detail added by the video is to drill two holes, one for the syringe and one to allow the air to escape. You guys rock. Now all i gotta do is find the equipment .

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWrIWNjK_U[/embed]

cheers,
Gav.

[pablopepper]

That seems really straight forward. Gotta love YouTube tutorials.

[lawry]

I hope it is this straightforward for you Gav. Man, it would've broken my heart.

[gavinturner]

Thanks for the sympathy @Lawry. It's a bit of a shit I don't mind telling ya. If I don't fix the bubbles then it's going to be impossible to cut and polish the clear coats.

Fixing the bubbles looks easy in the video on a flat piece. Unfortunately mine is right in the curve of one of the cutaways. Will be almost impossible to clamp. I might find something heavy to rest on it like Gav suggests, but I'm not sure what I've got. I'll try a few permutations and see if I can find a way to apply enough pressure to hold the bubbles down while gluing.

cheers,
Gav.