paint

Im looking for a pro painter. I have a guy here in the Detroit area who has painted many basses for me and usually does a great job. I've wanted to get a bass painted in the attached finished for years and he cannot make it work for whatever reason. I'm looking for some who can. I'd prefer...

Hello Luthiers - I am in the process of modifying a neck. Turning it from a Squier (of dubious origin) to my own with some decals and dyeing the fretboard black with Fiebings. My question is, what is the best bet for getting the headstock black? I am planning on doing the ash body in...

Hey TBers I am new to this forum so this post might be misplaced. Currently I own a beautiful Yamaha TRBX504. Recently I noticed some of the black paint of its matte Satin Polyurethane finish came off and the metal knobs seem to have some wear (see pictures). Any idea what caused this and how I...

The main shielding paint that has been talked about here is the spray on variety of MG Chemicals Super Shield Nickel 841AR. The brush on versions of that only comes in larger quantities that are expensive and in sizes larger than I could ever use.. Since I build so few instrument (and over...

Here’s the backstory. I’ve tinkered with basses and guitars since I began playing, more out of lack of funds than anything. I recently took a pro set up course to actually learn what I was doing. l’ e always enjoyed modding instruments, especially basses. recently I picked up a 2009 Aria Jazz...

I like when the seller's advertisements show the Rustoleum touch-up paint in the picture so you can be sure to get the right shade when it's your turn: KISS Bass - musical instruments - by owner - sale

I thought I had the surface of my bass's body completely flat after pore filling, so I went ahead and started spraying lacquer coats. After letting all the coats of lacquer cure on the body for 72 hours, the pore started to become visible again. Is there any way that I can fix this without...

I want to recover my warhorse of a 4x10 Ampeg cab with something other than rat fur or Tolex and Duratex seems like a good option. I want a red cabinet. In the world I wish existed, I would simply buy a quart of red Duratex, but alas, it's not a thing. They apparently stopped making their deep...

Here is my customized Fender Rumble 500 amp. While I'm certain that it won't be to everyone's tastes, I did this for my own mental health. (And yeah, you may be questioning mine for doing all of this, that's fine.) Photo gallery here, along with the steps/materials used. I wanted to...

hi there everyone. I've heard that if you want to paint a bass or a guitar with nitro paint, you need to use a primer. is it true? is it necessary for primer to be also nitro-based or an acrylic one is ok too? and if a nitro paint needs nitro primer and I can't find any in my town, can I use a...

Hi all, Wondering if there was a simple way to repair the cracks in the paint around the neck pocket/ shoulders? Is there something more sinister happening other than just shrinkage cracking? I guess it’s from movement over the years and temperature changes

Hi all, I'd like some help in determining if the cracks on my '74 Jazz are just superficial or have they penetrated the wood underneath. The bass itself is a well-loved beater since before I inherited it. If they are something I'll probably worry about in the future, can you suggest anything I...

I’m aware the cost is $300-$500 typically, but a huge portion of that is labor. I’ve got the time, space, and patience but I’m wondering if anyone here has done there own refinish? How’d it go? Was it worth it or would you have rather paid a pro? This is mostly for fun, the paint would probably...

So I moved into this new house that is much bigger than my old house, with high ceilings, and an open concept thing. The echo/reverb is really bad in the house, and even after we are done accumulating furniture and curtains and all of that, I think it will still be a problem. We have to paint...

Hi everybody, I hope this is the right discussion... I recently acquired and old warrior: 1984 Ibanez MC 924. This old warrior has a lot of scars and dents, but I don't care about them. I like them on old instruments. What I don't like, and I would like to get rid of is those long paint furrows...

I have, in parts, a Hagstom 2B from the 60’s that was originally white, but that I stupidly spray painted metallic blue when I was a dumb teen. Thinking about restoring it & would like to remove the spray paint without ruining the original finish. does anyone know if these were nitrocellulose...

Hello all, I have a cheap bass body that has moved with me over the years, unfinished. Over the years, it has accumulated a couple chips in the wood around the neck pocket. I want to fill the chips with some kind of putty to make the neck pocket appear square around the edge again, and then...

Painting has begun

I built a bass not too long ago, and finished it with some gunstock oil just to get something on it to protect it. It's a very thin layer and can be sanded off super easily. What places could I mail the body in to have finished with an actual paint job? I have seen MJT but I wasn't sure if...

I'm planning on getting a squire p bass and upgrading it and repainting it. any good pickups and colours to choose from I'm using a tortoiseshell pickguard most likely

I recently became the owner of a Classic Vibe 70’s P bass, and this thing is a heck of a player and quite the tone machine. It’s a great bass, but there’s one small problem; the neck tint really bugs me. It’s just too dang yellow! It reminds me of a Pittsburgh Steelers/penguins bass. (Pic...

I use basses as the canvas, or support, for paintings/drawings using shellac, as ground, as ink/paint, and as topcoat. Interested in various experiences of top-coating shellac. Tried multiple shellac layers with thin spray can nitro layers over that-works but not best possible outcome. First try...

Hey guys! I’m picking up a Fender Aerodyne tomorrow and I want to go full stealth black on it. Black tuning pegs, bridge, nut, knobs. Aside from the hardware I also want to paint or darken the fretboard and paint the neck itself black. Also I was wondering if anyone who owns one knows what the...

So I've been working on and off on a Short Scale Fenderbird for a while. I wanted to redo the stain on the back becuase there was a little blotch that showed up in the original pass (first photo). I applied some stain primer and followed the directions. The result was nonsence. I dilligently...

Have you ever bought an instrument at deep discount because it had a flaw that you either didn't care about or was easily fixed? I bought a Player Precision off Sam Ash that had been returned. Within seconds, I understood what the previous owner's beef was... Horrible buzzing on the A string...

Hello, guys As you know, we're all in quarantine locked inside, so I decided it'd be fun to mess a little bit with an old Washburn WB10 from 1994 I have laying around (It's a Jazz Bass, both in looks and electronics), it always felt nice, it's built in the USA, the wood is alright and the sound...

Hi. This isn't specifically about an issue with a bass I own, but something bigger to Fender. I recently had a Jazzmaster in for a setup and when it came back, there was paint chipped off around the trem on one side, and paint flaking off on the other. The tech almost certainly damaged the...

Title pretty much says it all. I picked up this cool 78 yesterday for a song. Needs a little TLC but if has good bones. The lacquer/stain job is odd but I kind of like it. Would you alter it? If so, to what?

Hi, I'm GASing for a new bass and found one used. The bass is okay, but... uhm, dented a little. Nothing seems critical to me, but there is one long crack in the finish that seller thinks as worst part. It's not really noticeable from side, but this is the photo where you can see it well: My...

So, I got a JB, defretted it, added another pickup, did some electronics mods on it, no big stuff. Thing is, I got the itch to do something with the headstock. After I defretted it, I blackened the board and now it's an all black bass (apart from the chromed/nickel metal parts) with the natural...

Hi all :bassist:, so i've just bought this crusty (pics!) Hofner model 182 bass from the mid 60's, mostly original (only the tuners have been replaced), and it still has the factory "vinyl" paint / texture. Thing is, as you can see from the pictures, the whole binding around the guitar is...

Hope you all are having a great Sunday. I’m posting because I recently took one of my instruments to a luthier and whatever he used to clean it with, left white residue spots. This bass has a unique rough matte finish and I wanted to ask you guys how to get these white cloudy patches off and...

So i have a set of Bill Lawrence P46 pickups. Excellent in every aspect but one... The color. Now the pickups don't have removable covers so my only options are to suck it up or paint them. I've decided to paint. But i need your help. Any suggestions for paint brands? Should i cover the pole...

Hello everyone! I'm planning about starting a Jazz Bass project. I want to buy a player jazz bass and a Warmoth 24 fret neck replacement. I want to have the neck and headstock black like the Duff McKagan Signature. But other than the taping, I don't know what to use. Does anyone have a good idea...

My father, who just turned 79, worked for Fender in Fullerton back in the 60's. He was in the electronics R&D group. He got a 1960 Fender Jazz Bass and has had it ever since. He was under the impression it was a prototype, but with the dates on the neck and pots and the serial that seems...

I paint and stain cabinets, but Want to paint my own Bass Guitar. Unsure what type of paint. What type of clear coat. Where to buy? Thanks James Any suggestion appreciated. Final product is glam, glitter, and glossy. Similar to examples below:

I have come to appreciate the white finish on my Ibanez. I used to consider it sort of second to my black, dark stain, and sunburst basses. It looks good and stands out on a festival stage without being ostentatious or showy. It’s going to show the stage lighting, so it becomes a part of...