Need some help with this finish.

[trujo777]

Ok thank you all for the attention. I have "El Negro" here and he has something on the front. it does not look like a ding since there is no hole on the wood, it looks like a chunk of wax finish came off but I was told earlier by somebody at Dan B that this is not a waxed finish. This is a Fortress One 99 German made. is this simply some wax that came off? could somebody tell me? I have been using Gibson stuff for the finish and also tried the Feed N Wax (this is why he is shiny). (the problem I descibe is that thing you see between the pick ups and towards where your face is while playing. (2nd picture)

also is there anything that can be done to get rid of those "shadows" behing the strings between the pick ups? (1st picture)

any comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Snooze]

beautiful bass. i have a -95 in french violet myself.

looks to be a colored oil finish, and then it's a big no-no to use wax on it. that may ruin the finish. only wax natural oil finish, not colored oil finish. one of many things i've learned like a mantra after having been on this forum for some time.

if i'm not mistaken, the colored oil finish is part wax. like molten wax rubbed allover the wood and then sealed with an oil finish. someone else might know this better than me though.

 

[james brunnning]

Nice bass i like the color.I'm still not sure how to fix or refinish the bass yet.My Vett has the same kind of damage.There are a couple of threads about refinishing and the type of finish Warwick uses.I just don't remember who did what.Dig around the site I'm sure you will find the info you need.

 

[trujo777]

I need some help from the pro's like our friend Thumbin (The Mod Master).

Mod Master...are you there?


As Dorothy would sing along...... I am off to see the Wizard......

I just sent him a PM. Hope he gets it.....

Anybody else that can help ? I checked the forum and they are over 37 pages and I can not find anything to fix this spot. there are articles to refinish the whole thing but not just this little dot.

Like the witch from the West says....... " I'm Melting, Meelting, Meeeeelting"

 

[Grgzilla]

Trujo,you say you've been using guitar cleaning products on your coloured oil bass?That's a BIG nono & might well be the cause of your problems.Coloured oil finishes need nothing more but a wipe with a damp cloth.I think you've damaged the finish with some of the products you've used on it.I dunno how to fix it other than to get it re-finished.

 

[trujo777]

I was using that Gibson stuff that "our friends at Guitar Center" recommended me and since they are Warwick authorized dealers, I took their advice. The I was told this needed wax so i started using the Feed N wax but the finish just got glossier but the shadows were still there and the missing part of that finish did not get filled. I thought about getting just Warwick wax and apply to it to fill in this thing but now I am clueless on what to do.

How easy is it to refinish the whole thing? can somebody shopw me a link or something?

will it get rid of the stain of my wood? because I love the color of it.

 

[Casey]

I recall Warwick using polyurethane over the oilstained finishes... This looks like just that. In which case this should be a fairly easy and super cheap fix.

Get some semi-gloss polyurethane (make sure it's semi gloss so it all matches up... gloss is VERY glossy) and a box of q-tips, Dab some polyurethane into the areas that need it and let it dry. It should take 2 or 4 hours to dry and then about 24hours to cure completly. wipe it down real good with a damp cloth and maybe even a bit of soapy water. and everything should match up real good.

If you have the time and patience I would suggest building the whole finish on the body back up. Wipe the body down with some acetone and begin polishing the body with the polyurethane doing very thin coats and letting each one dry for about 4 hours or so. Wipe down after each coat with some lemon oil. I've done this to a couple of basses and to a fretless mod I did and it turned out to have an EXTREMLY glassy finish... Very mirror like. If your going to do the whole body remember to take your time.

But for now, I would just suggest the q-tip and polyurethane to get the small stuff.

So now for the explanation why they say dont use wax or oils on the finished basses... The basses with finishes have a finish that is oil based. Oil deteroriates those finishes making them dull or thin... And over time the finish will wear away. Although I did mention above to use lemon oil after each polyurethane coat you put on, This is to make sure the finish is even and smooth.

Hope all this works for you.

 

[Grgzilla]

If you decide to re-finish it you'll need to get a luthier to do it.I've known one guy to sand back a coloured oil finish.He sanded for over 30 hours & made himself quite sick from not wearing a mask.The end result I thought,was bad & he should've just left it alone.
Let me explain the finish so you can get an idea of whats happened.
there are 2 kinds of oil finished basses from Warwick,oil & coloured oil.The wax is applied(coloured or not) melted,allowed to dry then buffed off & re-done.That's it.The oil,or pigment in your finish actually seals the wood well & needs no further treatment.The basic oil finish is the one that needs waxing.You can wax the back of your neck if you like but that's all you should wax,feed & shine etc.

*edit,your bass doesnt have a polyurethane(satin) finish. :wink:

 

[Doog]

It might be an idea to contact the custom shop, maybe ask them what they suggest. You really have nothing to lose, and it is a Warwick bass so they might have some really good advice.

 

[trujo777]

Thank you all forr this. now I am lost since I have heard it has polyurethane finish, others saying it is waxed and others now that is not poly.

any more advice?

 

[Grgzilla]

Thank you all forr this. now I am lost since I have heard it has polyurethane finish, others saying it is waxed and others now that is not poly.

any more advice?

The finish on your bass is a "black coloured oil finish. :!:
I think you're confusing the words wax & oil.Warwick dont do Wax finishes.The finishes available are;
oil (ok to wax)
coloured oil (your bass has this finish in nirvana black-not ok to wax)
stained high polish
etc
etc
etc

 

[Florin]

Actually Greg, the Warwick Oil finish is done with hot melted wax
The color oil finish... has this name, but is more like a satin finish.
Trujo, I personally like the way your bass is looking. It is normal for a instrument with this age to have some battle scars. You could refinish the whole instrument, or just those spots, but better not do it by yourself, take it to a pro.
But again, it looks perfect to me, I'd leave it that way.

 

[Grgzilla]

there are 2 kinds of oil finished basses from Warwick,oil & coloured oil.The wax is applied(coloured or not) melted,allowed to dry then buffed off & re-done.:

:wink: