Advice on how to remove logo from headstock and apply a waterslide decal

Stagelab

Stagelab

Dec 26, 2015
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Queens, NY
#1
I have a Sadowsky Metroexpress bass with the odd Roger Sadowsky Designs logo instead of the Sadowsky Metroexpress logo that’s on the newer models. It was a legal issue that forced Sadowsky to go with the other logo initially.

I’m going to sand off the original logo and apply a waterslide decal I got from voodoo-decals.com. Attached the decal and instructions.

Do you recommend I stick with the instructions voodoo provided or go with these more involved ones, which are based on @musiclogic’s personal experience with water slide decals?


If I follow the instructions on Talkbass what color Scotch Brite should I use?

As for removing the existing logo, would 220 grit, then 400, then 600 be alright? Will use a large eraser as a block.

Thanks for the help. First time doing this work.
 

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#7
While I agree with those who say you should keep the logo original; it is your bass and you asked for help.

A picture of the current headstock with logo will help. Some logos are decals over a clear coat. These are the easiest but not common. If this is the case you may be able to get it up with water, a damp sponge, etc. if not light sanding with a high grit paper should work.

if the logo is a decal under a clear coat, you have to remove the clear coat, put on the decal, and replace the clear coat. Depending on the finish used it will range from being difficult to do without being obvious to all but impossible.

If the logo is an inlay, you will have to sand off the finish, remove the inlay with chisels, scrapers etc, fill the inlay, refinish the wood, then put the logo on and then a clear coat. Once again, the chances of this going well are vanishingly small.
 
#8
RSBBass said:
While I agree with those who say you should keep the logo original; it is your bass and you asked for help.

A picture of the current headstock with logo will help. Some logos are decals over a clear coat. These are the easiest but not common. If this is the case you may be able to get it up with water, a damp sponge, etc. if not light sanding with a high grit paper should work.

if the logo is a decal under a clear coat, you have to remove the clear coat, put on the decal, and replace the clear coat. Depending on the finish used it will range from being difficult to do without being obvious to all but impossible.

If the logo is an inlay, you will have to sand off the finish, remove the inlay with chisels, scrapers etc, fill the inlay, refinish the wood, then put the logo on and then a clear coat. Once again, the chances of this going well are vanishingly small.
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Here’s a photo. The headstock has a satin finish. It’s not an inlay. It’s a decal.

Musiclogic’s instructions I linked to above look like they were based on years of his experience. Starts with sanding off the finish of the face of the headstock and decal, applying lacquer to the new decal, installing the new decal, and adding layers of lacquer on top. It’s just a bit more involved than the instructions that came with my decal.

Have you done decal work, and what makes it so difficult to get right? This would be my first time.

I’ve contacted the decal company to get their input as well on the two sets of instructions.
 

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#10
FugaziBomb said:
Don't do it. Not just because it's incredibly lame to pass one thing off as something else, but also because the results probably won't be very good.
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I don’t see this as passing one thing off as another. I’m not putting a fender decal on a parts bass. This is a Sadowsky Metroexpress and I’m putting a Sadowsky Metroexpress logo on it, as Sadowsky originally intended before learning the name was hijacked.

I posted here for advice on the execution so I get good results. I won’t do it if I’m not confident in the process and my ability. Musiclogic who wrote the longer instructions seemed to get great results from his approach, and was able to get the outline of the decal to not be visible. That’s the hardest part.
 
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#12
FunkHead said:
Sometimes the 1st Run ends up being collectible. I wouldn't do it.
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I’ll say with high confidence that a poorly constructed Chinese made Sadowsky production bass will never be a special collectible. These basses were shipped with plenty of QA issues, mine included. They aren’t special and I don’t see them being prized in the future. A Sadowsky NYC or maybe a Metroline, sure. Maybe also the Japanese built Metroexpresses, which were a short run and well made. But not a Chinese Metroexpress. Despite this, I’ve fixed the QA issues on mine as best as I can and will play it on the regular.
 
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