Author Topic: Bit of a refresh of my '77 Series I (Read 382 times)

tomhug · « **on:** September 09, 2013, 01:50:59 PM »

Hi All,

I've been playing more frequently in general and playing my Series I quite a bit. As for maintenance, I keep it clean, protected in its case, change the strings when needed, oil the fingerboard once a year. I've never had to adjust the truss rod (ever - in 27 years!).

I've been thinking that a spa-day for my trusty series I is in order. Nothing drastic, mind you. I've procured some Liberon Clear Fine Paste Wax Black Bison. Now I am thinking do I need to refresh the oil finish? which got me to thinking the bass was made in 1977, but refinished by the mothership in 1981 - am I certain it was refinished in oil?

So before I get started I will need to do a bit of research. The build notes are here

My purpose behind this is not to get it looking brand new, but simply to make sure the finish is as fully protected as it can be for regular use. The way the bass looks now is:
[shown in following post]

I'm not too worried about the brass. I do need to replace the pickup selector (although the collar around the shaft works just as well... I also note my truss rod cover which was put on in 1986 as a temporary measure, made from fragments of a broken copy of Are You Experienced Vinyl and screws cobbled from a Sony Cassette Walkman has finally cracked (!) )

What I am planning on doing is:
- thorough cleaning and wax application
- fingerboard cleaning (perhaps a bit of fine steel wool)
- very light fret polishing

Questions:
1) Is there a way to tell for certain that I'm still dealing with an oil finish? (I assume that when it was refinished they did not change the type of finish on it. It looks very different from my Essence.
2) Is there a way to tell that the oil needs re-application? I am hoping it doesn't need anything other than the wax.
3) I'm assuming that I should clean, but not wax, the back of the neck. (Dumb question, I suppose, but as long as I am going to be waxing it, I might as well get as much done as I can).
4) I am also planning on removing the hardware to facilitate a thorough waxing. I will proceed with caution and follow what information I can from the FAQ and board.

Advice? Cautions?

Sorry about the huge pic. Doesn't seem to be a way to delete/re-upload a smaller copy once I've posted?

(Message edited by TomHug on September 09, 2013)

[moderator's edit: oversize picture removed by request]

(Message edited by davehouck on September 09, 2013)

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2013, 03:30:48 PM »

(You can upload a smaller copy in a separate post. Afterwards, if you wish, I can remove the large picture from your first post. Just let me know.)

I think it's pretty cool that your truss rod cover is from Are You Experienced!

tomhug · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2013, 03:52:26 PM »

Yes, please. Here's one that should be sized OK.

>

I was at college and somehow something heavy landed on my copy of Are You Experienced. It was shortly after I had first gotten this bass, and I needed a panel for the truss rod (the previous owner had mounted something on there, even though the bass probably never had a cover when shipped from Alembic. So I was able to make something useful out of a lost album, and bring a little Jimi with me when I play, too.)

Thanks Dave.

tomhug · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2013, 03:55:56 PM »

I was trying to quote Dave's post, but clearly I didn't do it correctly.

Rather, than trying to edit my post (again), I'll just back away from the computer for a bit...

Thanks for the assist, Dave.

edwin · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2013, 08:23:51 PM »

Nice bass! It looks like a satin finish to me, more than an oil finish. But I could be wrong. I'd love to see more of it!

count · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2013, 09:06:05 AM »

hi! funny, I'm doing the exact same to mine at the moment. :-)
your finish definitely looks like a paintjob, as if it hasn't had any kind of rewaxing/etc since 81 (some 30-odd years!) it would've looked a lot more shabby if it had been oiled.

you could always sand it down and do a complete refinish i oil (which in essence is what I'm doing) but it takes some time, and a complete diassembly of your axe.
totally worth it if you've got the balls to do it though!

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2013, 09:31:09 AM »

Tomhug ____Please _____An emphatic no ! I would suggest not sanding it down . I would concur with Edwin that it looks like a satin finish like the finish on my 81-1940 . Lemon oil for the fingerboard and Alembic Supreme Polish For Guitars for the other surfaces will do fine. Your Bass will love you for it , and you will love yourself for avoiding a possibly damaging error .

tomhug · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2013, 10:26:40 AM »

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Edwin, here are my original showcase pics.

Here are some more recent pictures:
late sun, back porch 01, late sun, back porch 02, & late sun, back porch 03

playing live.

on stand 01, on stand 02, & on stand 03

I am most definitely NOT sanding this down. I just want to make sure I am doing what I need to to keep the wood protected. I haven't ever waxed it, but I have cleaned it. I always assumed that it was an oil finish with some wax and that I'd have to restore the wax at some point. But maybe I'm wrong. I've never heard of an alembic satin finish. (I was just assuming it had taken on a satin patina because it needed new wax [aka through benign neglect :-)]

sonicus · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2013, 11:21:38 AM »

A very swell bass !

mica · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2013, 05:19:16 PM »

That's a regular polyester finish with a satin rubout. From the year, it was probably done with various Mirror Glaze slurries. Waxes and oils will just sit on top of this finish and act more like dirt than anything else. Use a good guitar polish (like our Supreme Polish) to clean the painted surfaces.

Use oil on the fingerboard only - use fine Scotch Brite rather than steel wool so the little bits of steel don't wind up on your pickups or dancing around in the electronics cavity (they seems to get everywhere!). Oh yeah, get a new pickup selector knob while you're at it

That bass looks sublime!

edwin · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2013, 05:33:15 PM »

Or imbedded in your fingers! Nothing worse than a steel sliver in the playing pad.

OK, back to bailing to keep the water out of the basement.

count · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2013, 06:42:47 AM »

Oh yes, I take it back. For the life of all that is holy do NOT sand that down.!
But also, like Mica says, waxing it will only make it dirty.

You can get a new knob here:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=SWITCH%20KNOB%20ALEMBIC%20BASS%20OR%20GUITAR%20NEW&_itemId=1300

sonicus · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2013, 07:56:26 AM »

Count ,
Alembic sells parts here http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/parts.html

The link that you provided is for an eBay seller that is selling circuit boards and power supplies that appears to be trying to undermine Alembic Inc. in away that in my opinion and the opinion of other folks here that is just NOT cool ! He has made openly disparaging and defamatory remarks on eBay about Alembic Club members as well.

In my experience Alembic will help you and sell you parts directly with a smile .
Why not buy your parts from Alembic ?

count · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2013, 11:02:21 AM »

I wasn't aware you could to be honest...
I Figured the part on ebay was a used item.

sonicus · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2013, 11:58:21 AM »

A function of the Alembic Club as I perceive it is as a product user information and support group that has this Web blog provided by Alembic Inc. I try to do my best to up hold this function and support Alembic when possible. Good Information with truth and integrity is my goal.