Jeff's #2 build - RCA-4

[teamjeffo]

After popping my cherry with the FS-1 Yeah/Nah-Caster, and getting some amazing feedback from friends and my local guitar shop, I've been granted permission from the households Secretary of Finances to go another round.

I had my heart set on a T-Bird bass, even before finishing the first build. Well, I shouldn't have dragged my feet, as the three stunning birds in the November GOTM has obviously increased demand. Adam tells me he's expecting more stock in March, but I've never been one to wait patiently. I found a place in Canada who could ship one out, but in all it was going to cost around $460 AUD. Add finishing product on top of that, and thats a hell of an outlay for someone who's only ever held a bass once before.

So a Ricky it is!

Now it hasn't arrived yet, but I am bursting with questions about finishing that need to be asked, and hopefully answered by the braintrust of this wonderful forum.

For the FS-1, I finished her with Wudtone Azure Lagoon. I was very happy with that, but this time I have decided (and committed) a rattle can nitro finish in Aztec Gold. I want the neck and headstock to suit.

My questions at the moment are:

1) Being a set-neck, should I prep and finish the guitar once the neck has been set? Or should I prepare the two individually like my first build, and perhaps glue after the pigmented coats are applied but before the clear coats?

2) Is it a simple case of scraping the binding like I had previously? Or is there complications of the nitro flaking or peeling?

I can't wait to share the journey again.

[phrozin]

When your doing a painted finish cleaning the binding can be a pain because of the thickness of the paint so maybe mask it off but take your time when your masking it up, as for neck i set the neck before i spray anything but some other guys prefer to do them separate but when doing the clear you will get a better finish if you set it before the clear. Just go with what you feel what will work for you

[Fretworn]

Trying to finish a set neck bass after gluing the neck would probably prove unwieldy and problematic.

[teamjeffo]

Received project #2 yesterday, I’ve sanded her and am just about ready to prime her.

Is it necessary to tape cavities when spray finishing? My guess is no, but I’ve been wrong before

[FrankenWashie]

Ah Jeffo, this one already has classic written all over it. Look forward to seeing how it turns out!

[Sonic Mountain]

Ohhh yeah, this is gunna be good. I wouldn't worry about masking the cavities. Nice tape job on the binding.

[Fretworn]

I’ve sanded her and am just about ready to prime her.

What did your daughter do to deserve such treatment?

[teamjeffo]

Hahaha!! I warned her that if she didn’t stop asking for Frozen, I’d forced her to watch me

[FrankenWashie]

What did your daughter do to deserve such treatment?

It could be worse, she might have been wielding a sanding block

[teamjeffo]

So the mantra “sand, sand, sand and when you think you’ve sanded enough, sand some more” couldn’t be more truer.

I’ve just primed the “Chickenfucker” (its name may offend) after spending a quality amount of hours sanding her the other day. Never did it occur to me that I should grain fill. Never had to do that as a Chippy before.

The grains don’t necessarily offend me, but I think it’s safe to say that I can kiss goodbye a mirror finish.

Anywho, I’ll give her some time and a sand and repeat before I bust out the Aztec Gold.