Wood tail piece on 1976 S1 bridge? and other questions..

[JimmyJ]

Excellent patch.  Wouldn't see it if I wasn't looking.  And I still can't see it.

And I love the cardboard mounted electronics.  For a minute I thought somebody had made a Series I Cigar Box Bass.  HA!  I carry an extra wiring harness on the road in my emergency parts kit and have it mounted in a similar fashion.

Carry on with the strong work!

Jimmy J

[pauldo]

What screw hole?  😉. Looks really nice.

[jon_jackson]

Really good work on the screw holes! I had to go back to the original photo to find the locations. It looks like normal wood / grain variation now.

[Artgeckko]

Hello Club

Thanks!
As with the spoiler refurbish project, I'm learning a ton along the way. 
Many thanks for all the help and tips. 
Really takes a village!
I think the pictures do some justice to the actual work, but even my son asked if I had redone it, because he thought it looked " better".
I guess one always focuses on the problem...?

Edofhuncote,  I did grab a set of markers will double check for alcohol based or other.  Good to check. I like to learn by making mistakes, so any help to avoid is appreciated!
speaking of mistakes...
I was watching a video of the 'Driftwood Guitars' luthier talking about mistakes he had made...Where he put inlay on 13th fret instead of 12th...Suppose we all  prone? Even those far more accomplished than myself.
 
Have this week off (kinda) so I'm trying to get my plan of action for next steps.
Did a test of the shellac finish next to the danish oil, very, very little darkening / difference on a small piece of purpleheart.
Think I will stay with the shellac ( alcohol based ) and water based poly for topcoat...
Also looking up small metal number stamps for the headstock to re stamp the 76...

Electronics are headed north...so the pause button for a while...

Always looking for any comments and suggestions along the way. 
Talk soon
E

[Artgeckko]

Update -
Feel like I've turned a corner with this bass.
Electronics made their was safely to Alembic, confirmed with Mary, so now just to wait on a verdict / call?.

After much debate, and during some small spot repair, ding clean up, and sealer coats, I re, re, re-did the patch on back of neck.

This time after making some birch spokeshave slices from top grain of hardwood boards. 
Problem was the original maple patch seemed to get lighter as I applied finish to it, was a  little obvious, and it was nagging at me that it didn't look as good as I think it could. 

I've included some new pictures of the fix.  looks much better, IMHO.
Will start cleaning that up and re-applying the sealer(wax free shellac)  Top coat( water based Poly) probably in a week or so.
With any luck, maybe playing it by July?

[Artgeckko]

Hello -
Hope all is well...
Couple more shots to update, showing the fix, and the multiple coats of sealer / shellac.
If you have used it, its a bit tricky.  Stays tacky far longer than anticipated, and shows everything drips, prints, sags, etc...
The process is like this...coat, dry, sand, coat...in infinitum!

That said its coming along.

[edwardofhuncote]

That's going to look fantastic, Ed. 😎


My only tip here; a clamp-lamp or two and a fan speeds up the curing a little. Warm, dry air moving across it... still takes 4-ever. On the other hand... it ain't a race. 😄

[gtrguy]

That is a nice project! If i remember right, the Alembic refinish offers more than one look. It gives you the choice of a vintage look or a new look, depending on how much tint they add to the finish. However, it's been a while so I might be wrong.

[hammer]

I love the look you are going for.  Purpleheart should look purple and yours looks great.

[Artgeckko]

Hello -

Thanks for all the encouragement!
The odd thing is that despite being treated the same, and applied with the same shellac and top coat, the front and back have different looks
The back is far more purple and the front more brown.  Not sure why.
Bit of a delicate process with the shellac.
Not sure I will use in future. Seems to apply okay, but when dried, it’s often streaky and uneven.
Hope you all are enjoying a nice weekend.

[Artgeckko]

Forgot to post the picture...Top coat started.

[Artgeckko]

10 coats and starting to sand down to make smooth...
Getting there!

[Artgeckko]

Hello Club,
Hope this finds you well!

A bit embarassed to ask this question.
In my excitement to get started a few months back, I never noted the bridge height or at what level the nut, which I believe works as a stop for string height adjustment, was originally set?
Still awaiting the electronics from Alembic, but starting to put 76-412 back together...kinda a dry fit.

Any help would be appreciated.  Granted I haven't put on strings, nor has any nut or truss adjustments have been done, just getting the parts together.

Btw, The 1980 is coming along nicely too, the wood (padauk?? has a very open grain quality, and there has been many, many coats to make smooth-not quite there yet, but close.

[edwardofhuncote]

76-412 looks great Ed!


I wouldn't worry too much about pre-setting the bridge height... it's easy enough to run the screws on either side up or down as needed when you are setting it back up. Likely as not, you'll need to adjust the intonation on each string some too. Same for the truss-rod if you slacked it off for the restoration. Just do all that in your final setup.


Looking good man. 😎

[Artgeckko]

Thank you Edwardofhuncote!

Little tricky to make adjustments on that bridge design.  Maybe I will string it up and start on some preliminary adjustments -  minus electronics.
Will put another call into the mothership today and see if I can get an idea of when the repair will happen for electronics. 
Couple of better pictures catching some sun.