Author Topic: Refinshing my 82 spoiler (Read 503 times)

fdeeptone · « **on:** May 09, 2010, 10:49:23 AM »

HI all, I read through the forums under refinishing and most everyone directs the job to Alembic but in my case i just cant afford to do this.Our drummer owns his own refinishing business and has offered to strip the bass and refinish. I am not sure what kind of finish should be used on the bare wood once its stripped and sanded. I beleive my spoiler has the koa wings. Should it be oiled first. or varnished or just clearcoated? I trust hippie (our drummer to do the work but want to make sure the correct finishes are applied. Any help?
Here is a link to some pics of the spoiler as you can see it is in dire need of a refinish.
http://cid-065b7782ed48fdec.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/instruments
Thanks,
Mark

dfung60 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2010, 02:00:10 PM »

Your buddy is probably the best guide on this! When it was being built, the pre-treatment for premium wood like this is pretty mimimal but the preparation is going to be exacting.

In your case, you strip all the hardware, strip the existing finish, sand the body to remove all the damage. No oil would be used unless you want to end up with a bare oil finish instead of the regular gloss varnish. Your buddy can make a call as to whether a colored filler is desirable on the grain, but I don't think this was done on your original koa. The grain pattern of the mahogany back of a Les Paul is often enhanced using a darker grain filler before the varnish. The entire face of the fingerboard will need to be fully masked.

After everything is immaculately prepped, it's just a lot of spray coats of polyester or polyurethane varnish and a lot of time. The only tricky part of a guitar refinish is that they will be spraying all sides of the instrument. There are a lot of curves and tricky areas (particularly around the neck joint on a through-body instrument). This is a lot of work both for spraying and sanding afterwards, but shouldn't pose any big deal to a refinishing pro.

Good luck!

David Fung

fdeeptone · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2010, 06:42:31 PM »

David,

Thanks for the input,I know hip hasnt done a guitar before but has refinished alot of beautifuL antiques, Thanjs for being so thorough with your reply!

Mark

terryc · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2010, 02:27:04 AM »

If you friend has done antiques then this should be a breeze.
I have restored old furniture myself using the traditional french polish method(taught to me by ex father in law).
Prep is 90% of the finish.
One word of warning..the Alembic logo does not remove easily, it has pins on the casting which are securely glued into the head stock.If you try to remove it it will bend or snap, you can get a new one from Alembic(quote serial number of bass) or you could mask it over prior to spraying.

FC Bass · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2010, 04:53:35 AM »

Here's a usefull topic for the removal of the logo: Click here

If you break it, you'll have to send the bass to Alembic for a replacement, they will not send you one ;-)

If you're carefull you'll be fine, I always remove them when I clean up my basses.

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2010, 05:14:13 AM »

fc spoiler..yep, I stand corrected, the bass would have to back to Alembic.
Personally I would just carefully mask the logo.

fdeeptone · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2010, 06:09:01 AM »

not to change the subject but I have ran into another problem, maybe a little input on this?
I've noticed for some time the neck pickup is barely half the volume of the bridge pickup.
I adjusted the height first on the neck to bring it closer to the strings then I adjusted the trimpot taking the bridge all the way down and the neck all the way up. Well the bridge is still twice as aloud. This is also just checking the bridge and the neck separetly, then checking them both together. I then switched the connections inside the bass and the neck is louder then the bridge. Does this mean that the
pickup itself is hosed? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am guessing im only getting half of what this bass is possible of.

Thanks, for all your input.
Mark

adriaan · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2010, 06:37:20 AM »

Since the problem switches to the other pickup when you swap the leads, the pickups are quite probably fine, and the problem is likely to be somewhere in the electronics - might be the wiring, the soldering, or some component.

fdeeptone · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2010, 07:11:05 AM »

well thats a relief! now determining what would cause the output problem. maybe the module that the oickups connect to? Anyone know any tests i can run from here?
Thanks,

Mark

FC Bass · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2010, 07:20:26 AM »

Have you seen this?: Click here
Your Spoiler should have 2 trimpots inside to control the volume for each pickup.

fdeeptone · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2010, 07:22:51 AM »

yes i tried that already. I turned the bridge down all the way and the neck up all the way and the bridge was still louder. I also switched the connections and the neck got louder. adriaan pointed out that proves the pickup is ok.

fdeeptone · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2010, 07:51:17 AM »

im thinking maybe a ground? The bass is buzzing thru my amp and when i touch the guitar cable it stops.I checked the cable and amp with another bass and no problem.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2010, 09:03:26 AM »

grounding issue for sure

fdeeptone · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2010, 10:06:47 AM »

i noticed the controls are loose inside the cavity and my switches are somewhat loose.
not sure if this would cause a ground issue or not but ill tighten them all up and see;)

adriaan · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:25:38 PM »

Yes, on an Alembic the grounding is not the usual wire going to the bridge, but the pots touching the shielding paint. Tightening the controls and switches would definitely help with the grounding, would be amazing if it also solved the other problem.