My first attempt at stripping and restoring a 4003. Actually, I'll just be doing the preparation as I'm much better at destroying stuff than restoring things. The truly good work will be done by Paul W when he repairs all the damage that I'm probably doing now, and turns it into something that doesn't make reasonable people fall to their knees weeping. Anyway, it's his advice that has got me this far, so.....
First off, getting off the clearcoat. I figured that as the bass was already a Mapleglo, it wouldn't be too thick or too hard to get off. I figured wrong. The stuff is a mile thick and could be used to coat the space shuttle for re-entry. Anyway, after attacking the coat with 80 grit to rough it up, many applications of Jasco were needed. Then lots of hand sanding with 100, then 220 grit. It's a toss up who got more material stripped off them during the application of the Jasco, me or the bass.
- Stripping the 4003
Then it's on to removing the binding. This stuff was locked up like an old lady on a cheese diet. Lots of application of the heat gun and an X-Acto no 18 chisel blade. If you don't have Tourettes and would like to aquire it, I can't reccomend this activity highly enough.
- Removing the Binding
Finally it's done. The next step is to meet up with Paul W next week to borrow his bar heater to get the glue softened up so that I can remove the fretboard and get at the broken truss rods. What could possibly go wrong ? At least I know why this stuff doesn't come cheap when you get someone else to do it.
nice read.
