Refinishing my 1979 4001 Autumnglo

[Wiker]

I probably agree with Scotty about the original colour, but it's a great thread Geir. Particularly like the way you've done the frets ends by keeping the binding nub. Are the fret ends cut square to achieve this?

Fret ends are simply cut down and sanded flush with the side of the fretboard before putting on binding.

[godber]

Thanks Geir, useful to know.

[Wiker]

With all the work you have done, why did you not add checker binding to this?

Checkered binding never appealed that much to me, but when this viewtopic.php?p=802845#p802845 was going on I was tempted. But I just didn’t have enough time for it – as usual I got started way later than planned, and I had to get it finished during the summer. Also, I think CB looks good with full width inlays – not sure how it’d look with those smaller triangular inlays.

[Wiker]

I love the darker finish against the binding, very sharp looking. I would love to see what a vintage (longer pickguard) looks like on this but I understand what you are aiming for. Definitely keep the toaster in the 1/2" location, though.

Something about extended pick guards that are more in harmony or something – looks great in my eyes. But, what I like about the darker burst is the contrast between dark rim and light centre, and therefore don’t what to cover too much of the centre. Umm ...

[Wiker]

Btw, no one noticed I have converted it to a two-string

[scotty]

As we say in Norway: "personal taste is like the butt – divided down the middle"
That's true

[jps]

Looks fine either way but my butt says longer pickguard!

[Wiker]

Looks fine either way but my butt says longer pickguard!

A talking butt

I expended you would vote for the long guard. It certainly has something about it that looks right. In my eyes not only that it reaches all the way to the surround, but also the uppermost curve and poutiness of the corners. I'm leaning more and more towards a compromise - a shortened version of the long guard, in effect closer to early '70s style short guard.

[jps]

How many sides does a butt have?

[Wiker]

How many sides does a butt have?

Mm... The obvious answer is 2. But I feel it’s a trick question, and then of course the correct answer is not 2. Hm... I give up - can’t figure it out.
Maybe the trick is to make be believe it’s a trick so that I don’t say 2, which is the correct answer after all.

[johnallg]

Great job, Geir! I love the color and it will look great when fully assembled.

Oh, and this butt says shorter guard - appropriate to the year of the bass and looks great with the color/burst.

Edit: I just looked back at the first post with the full dress original color and I like the darker finish you have now better.

Also, thanks ever so much for the full documentation with pictures of your efforts. Excellent.

[Grey]

It looks nice but I would have left it alone.

[Wiker]

It looks nice but I would have left it alone.

I know. Not many (if any) would have gone through this, and ruined the original finish, like I’ve done just to fix some cosmetic issues. But I am me

[Wiker]

Great job, Geir! I love the color and it will look great when fully assembled.

Oh, and this butt says shorter guard - appropriate to the year of the bass and looks great with the color/burst.

Edit: I just looked back at the first post with the full dress original color and I like the darker finish you have now better.

Also, thanks ever so much for the full documentation with pictures of your efforts. Excellent.

Thanks John
A short guard is almost finished. But I'm obviously not concerned with keeping things stock and period correct (1/2", toaster, horse shoe), so it won't be a period correct short guard but like on this '72 from the register (well, while at it I'm making a period correct guard also):

[jps]

It looks nice but I would have left it alone.

I know. Not many (if any) would have gone through this, and ruined the original finish, like I’ve done just to fix some cosmetic issues. But I am me

The guy who bought my old '67 4005WB did just that by having me send the bass to PW.