Bass finishes

[TRex]

I plan to buy an unfinished bass body to kick off my bass build, but I'm not sure how I want to paint and finish the body. Is a poplar P-Bass body with a maple neck

Im definitely going to hold off making a final decision till I can see how the grain of the wood looks. Any suggestions?

Maybe a simi-translucent Tabacco sunburst?

Or maybe just stain in a dark redish-brown, like this

I am debating weather to do a normal P-Bass pickup, or maybe a P-J Setup

Maple neck with maple fretboard

Black pickguard

Stock style everything else (not Everything is worked out yet

 

[jtougas]

Re: Bass finishes

More details. Hardware? Pups? Inspiration?

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass finishes

More details. Hardware? Pups? Inspiration?

Just edited a bit, that should be enough

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Bass finishes

Wait to see the piece itself definitely. Poplar can have a green tint to it and some streaks in it that might not be totally pleasing to look at with bursts or see through finishes.

I also suggest going PJ.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Bass finishes

Wait to see the piece itself definitely. Poplar can have a green tint to it and some streaks in it that might not be totally pleasing to look at with bursts or see through finishes.

I also suggest going PJ.

+1 to this

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass finishes

Wait to see the piece itself definitely. Poplar can have a green tint to it and some streaks in it that might not be totally pleasing to look at with bursts or see through finishes.

I also suggest going PJ.

Yea, I'll probably just do a solid color if the wood color and grain looks bad

+1 to this

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Bass finishes

what about one of those Fat Pole humbuckers like the Musicman
I had one in a Carvin years ago
it sounded
SWEEET!!!

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Bass finishes

what about one of those Fat Pole humbuckers like the Musicman
I had one in a Carvin years ago
it sounded
SWEEET!!!

Indeed. They are sweet pickups!

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass finishes

what about one of those Fat Pole humbuckers like the Musicman
I had one in a Carvin years ago
it sounded
SWEEET!!!

I have not looked at those too hard, I'll look at them today

Indeed. They are sweet pickups!

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Bass finishes

I have not looked at those too hard, I'll look at them today

Good call.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Bass finishes

check the Carvin website

the one I had was branded by them

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass finishes

Well I'm ordering the kit tonight, after I consult my uncle about it. He plays a bit of bass, but now really only plays guitar

He isn't a believer on tonewoods, so he will probably like this idea of a kit.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Bass finishes

He isn't a believer on tonewoods

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass finishes

Haha, I can believe it has an effective on sustain, but it can't be a ton of difference in tone between resonant wood

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Bass finishes

Haha, I can believe it has an effective on sustain, but it can't be a ton of difference in tone between resonant wood

No comment.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Bass finishes

Not to hijack the thread, but can automotive paints be used to refinish a bass as well?

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass finishes

No comment.

?

Not to hijack the thread, but can automotive paints be used to refinish a bass as well?

I believe some of the finishing materials are the same

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Bass finishes

If I remember right, the very first few commercial Fenders were all transparent finishes or bursts. The solid colors came later when people would refinish them with automotive finishes like fiesta/candy apple red, black, white, surf green, etc. Though those might just be the COLORS not necessarily the finishes themselves. The Frankenstrat was done with red bicycle paint.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Bass finishes

?

Hey, a lot of guys think wood has no impact on tone and some even think wood has no impact on sustain. A lot of those same guys have only played on maple bass necks their whole lives attached to either alder, poplar or swamp ash bodies.

That being said, guys who have played basses with wenge necks or bubinga necks tell a completely different story. I always say every bass player deserves to play on a bubinga neck at least once in their life. The tone is fat & incredible and the sustain is unbelievable.

 

[crguti]

Re: Bass finishes

Why will you cover a beautiful top with a pickguard?