Luckyvision

Thanks, that's what i needed, a little hand holding. i'll be back in a month or longer with prelim results. sooner if i have questions or screw it up, lol --Lucky

Hmm, yep, you did say that.. i have to pay more attention to the details...ok, follow the sanding with grain filler? are they all compatable with lacqer?

S.N.A.F.U.!!! I attempted to sand down the layer of black lacquer & it just all went to sh*t... --first i learned new lacquer is soft, so that when you sand it you get spots of lacquer build up that just...suck... --second i learned that a palm sander just makes it worse --SO.. I now have a body with lacquer bumps all over it, some bareish wood patches, damage to the filler around the plate i made to fill the pickup cavity.. if i had another choice i'd chuck this thing onto the railroad tracks, but i'm not giving up... so how do i fix this child from hell?? i was thinking of taking a rag & some lacquer thinner & trying to rub down the spots, then lighting..uh, i mean, rub down the whole thing. then what? all i want is to get it flat..

alright, I haven't got any clearcoat on there yet, only one 'base' coat of black sprayed on today.. I did notice that where i stripped off the original coatings, i removed all the clearcoat & left the basecoat of black on the sides (the top & bottom were sanded down to the wood) and the sides have a nice smooth surface... being tomorrow is saturday, i REALLY appreciate the quick responses too! --Lucky

Ok, so pardon the ignorant questions: --is sealer the same as grain filler? --to apply the grain filler, how far down do i sand my base coat of lacqer? completely back to bare wood or just enough to eliminate the shiny? so now my procedure should be: sand (dull?), grain filler, color coat(s), clearcoat. correct? --Lucky

I'm refinishing a Bass that needed to have a pickup cavity filled, so i cannot stain it (the repair would show) I sanded the whole thing down to a 320 grit level & gave it a first lacquer coat & all the grain of the wood is showing (where the wood filler was used it's nice & smooth) I was told that sealing wasn't needed because the first coat of lacquer would act as a sealer, & it should be sanded then repainted & then gloss coated. I am hoping this will be perfectly smooth when i'm done... I was surprised at how obvious the grain is after the first coat, so my Question(s): --Will the first coat really act as a sealer & sanding it down smooth it out? --what final grit should i end up with to get it smooth as possable? --i had planned to basecoat/ sand/top coat(s)/ clearcoat/buff, is this the reccomended progression? Now don't get mad at me: the paint is rattlecan rust-oleum 'specialty' high lustre black lacquer (& clear gloss) I have no access to a paint gun, compresser, etc & no way to even beg someone to borrow or do it for me, & very little money for this project either, but i have time, patience & the desire to do the best job possable with what i have to work with. Thanks, --Lucky

I'm trying to avoid that.. what i've done is taken a 1/4" piece of maple, made a plate, but then sanded down 1/4" around the insde of the cavity (a little less actually) when the pickups get here, i'll trace around them to get the j-bass cut out. then glue the plate down, sand it level & fill the edges. this means i'll be painting it, so i guess i'll just go with a basic black body with white pickguad, unless anyone else has better suggestions for a paint scheme. --Lucky

I was given a beat up asian fender j-bass knock-off. as i have to watch the cash & can't a fford a working bass right now, i decided i'd fix this one up. the pick-ups in it were actually rusty & corroded, the wiring was all badly soldered & it was just a mess. i've stripped it down & sanded the body. here is the problem: i'm going to install some slightly used Squire pick-ups (got a pair for $25) but sometime in the past someone has routed out the bridge pick-up for a humbucker. (btw, here is a pic as it looked when i got it, can anyone id the pickups or even the manufacturer? it has no i.d. except 2 bits of japaneese writing http://www.xz550.com/art_files/VisionBass.jpg ) so i need to fill the bridge hole so the squire pick-up fits cleanly. i was thinking to either veneer a new maple top, (but would that raise the bridge up enough to make it unajustable?) -or- fit the bridge hole with a maple "cover" (rout down the thickness of the new maple cover, glue it in & fill the seam around it, leaving the cavity for the pick-up) the frets are low, but that is a project for later. i've already replaced the broken plastic nut with a bone one. if i veneer will i have action problems? (but it'll look cleaner, & i could stain & sunburst) or if i fill, then i'll HAVE to paint it... this is my first stringed instument, it's just a learner, but i'd like it to look decent (i'll settle for ppl not laughing.. ) and play acceptably. i'll get a fine Bass when i can afford it. i've been long winded, but thanks! --Lucky