ONCE A WHITE/BT 4001
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Paul: You have ushered in a whole new era of guitar finishes that have not been seen on Rickenbackers before. A top notch guitar and a top notch finish. You have turned it up to 11, again. I look forward to a few close up photos after you buff this one up.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
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- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
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Thanks, Peter, and welcome, Reid!
I worked on the finish some more last evening, and the final flow coat finally went onto the fretboard and the front. I had a situation where I was not happy with the front surface reflections and decided it needed more varnish (memo: buy an electronic paint-thickness gauge; it's about time!), so although it had been buffed out, I resanded and recoated with four more coats of varnish, sanded at least two down to get things flat again, and flow-coated the front again.
Now we should be ready to re-flatten and re-buff, and put this one all together one final time.
In case you're wondering what this "flow coating" thing is; I sometimes will lay the bass or guitar flat on a level surface in my booth, and spray a nice double coat of thinned-down conversion varnish over the horizontal surface on top--in this case the front of the bass, the fretboard and front of the headstock.
This thinned-down CV flows out because of its reduced viscosity and added reducer (which takes longer to "flash-off". The resulting surface is lika a mirror, though it still requires a minimum of flatting and a complete buffing.
I worked on the finish some more last evening, and the final flow coat finally went onto the fretboard and the front. I had a situation where I was not happy with the front surface reflections and decided it needed more varnish (memo: buy an electronic paint-thickness gauge; it's about time!), so although it had been buffed out, I resanded and recoated with four more coats of varnish, sanded at least two down to get things flat again, and flow-coated the front again.
Now we should be ready to re-flatten and re-buff, and put this one all together one final time.
In case you're wondering what this "flow coating" thing is; I sometimes will lay the bass or guitar flat on a level surface in my booth, and spray a nice double coat of thinned-down conversion varnish over the horizontal surface on top--in this case the front of the bass, the fretboard and front of the headstock.
This thinned-down CV flows out because of its reduced viscosity and added reducer (which takes longer to "flash-off". The resulting surface is lika a mirror, though it still requires a minimum of flatting and a complete buffing.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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rickaddict
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6163
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:46 am
"It is a beaut! That finish that the Paul's concocted is amazing.
Congrats to all, and enjoy, Jeff,
Reid"
Thanks Reid, and welcome! I'm looking forward to being re-united with the old girl.
I agree (obviously) that this finish looks fantastic on a Rick bass.
My trusty and faithful ugly duckling, transformed into my crown jewel!
Thanks for the update Paul. And thanks for being a perfectionist. I know it had to be frustrating to take the sandpaper to it and spray it again after you had buffed it out. I really respect a craftsman that sets such high standards. I wish there were more like you!
Congrats to all, and enjoy, Jeff,
Reid"
Thanks Reid, and welcome! I'm looking forward to being re-united with the old girl.
I agree (obviously) that this finish looks fantastic on a Rick bass.
My trusty and faithful ugly duckling, transformed into my crown jewel!
Thanks for the update Paul. And thanks for being a perfectionist. I know it had to be frustrating to take the sandpaper to it and spray it again after you had buffed it out. I really respect a craftsman that sets such high standards. I wish there were more like you!
Play what you love, love what you play!
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jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
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- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
- Contact:
Here are some shots of the bass, finished this afternoon just a few hours ago:
White and checkerboard binding, new (radiused) pickguard, routed for 1/2" pickup spacing, new toaster, full-width crushed pearl inlays, red marker dots, newly-rebound neck (in celluloid), and of course the Mink paint, with a tiny bit of diamond dust added to the clear.
I believe this is one of the most beautiful basses I've done. Thanks to Jeff for his patience while I "got to it"...
I've also finally completed Russ' Union Jack 340/12, with gold guards and TRC. Pictures tomorrow.
White and checkerboard binding, new (radiused) pickguard, routed for 1/2" pickup spacing, new toaster, full-width crushed pearl inlays, red marker dots, newly-rebound neck (in celluloid), and of course the Mink paint, with a tiny bit of diamond dust added to the clear.
I believe this is one of the most beautiful basses I've done. Thanks to Jeff for his patience while I "got to it"...
I've also finally completed Russ' Union Jack 340/12, with gold guards and TRC. Pictures tomorrow.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
OMG!!!!! (Gosh, for those non-pagan among you) That is absolutely positively better-than-anyone-else-anywhere AMAZINGly beautiful!!!! A new apex for Paul....
WHY did not anyone tell us that THIS one was coming???
How could I buy TWO of these right now????
Jeff, not a DIME over $9999.95, OK?
And I will be calling Russ (my fellow Asperger) tomorrow to cajole and humour HIM into Compromise
Hey Russ, wanna trade patents on plasma tech?
WHY did not anyone tell us that THIS one was coming???
How could I buy TWO of these right now????
Jeff, not a DIME over $9999.95, OK?
And I will be calling Russ (my fellow Asperger) tomorrow to cajole and humour HIM into Compromise
Hey Russ, wanna trade patents on plasma tech? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and sit in with the band whenever you can, to keep your chops up!
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bassduke49
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am
