Newbie to board, but ...

Paddydaddyo

Paddydaddyo

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I am a former Corvette FNA Jazzman owner, who just picked up a Streamer Std (single MEC pu model) after a year and a half of owning an Ibanez. Suffice it to say, I missed "The sound of wood!"

Anyway, I just wanted to say hey and ask a finish question. The Streamer I just bought is in really good condition, but the finish (Nirvana Black) got something spilled on it at one point that sort of disolved part of it in a few places ... My question is this: If I was to have a luthier refinish it in a solid color--how would the sound be effected?

Thanks for any input.

Pax
 
Hi and welcome aboard!

There are no audible sound differences between basses that have different finishes!

Cheers.
 
but there IS a difference in sound:
the more you like your instrument, the better you play, and that way, the better your sound will be
;-)

on acoustic instruments (guitars, double basses, cellos, ...) the finish does affect the sound, but you don't have to worry about that on a solid body guitar.
 
Actually the finish can affect the sound of solid body guitars and basses. Applying lacquer over the wood will reduce it's resonance - the thicker the lacquer - the more prounounced the effect.

I'm not sure how a solid lacquer would affect your bass, but you probably would notice a difference.

What colour is it and what finish does it have at the moment?
 
which ever way you look at it, the difference is very small and (in my opinion) not somethinng that you should worry about
 
No human being would be able to tell the difference.
 
If any concerns I'd go with nitrocellulose lacquer. It's what ric and Gibson put on their instruments. It's a lot thinner than polyurethane. That being said you have to be careful with it as it does ding up a lot easier too.
 
nitro paint is just vintage.

people who heard the first electric basses in their childhood grow up with that sound, and think it is the perfect bass because they know it from being a kid.
and that's fender and gibson.
just like the guy who wants to buy a ford model t because his grandfather had one.
you know ?

that's doesn't mean nitro paint is better.
remember: nitro paint does crack after a while, it does yellowish in the light, it gets damaged by sweat and alcohol.
but on the other hand, that's what makes the mojo, right ?

you can also rub on some ultra-thin shellac coating, like the luthiers do who build acoustic guitars.

or just oil and wax it :-)
 
iuserneim said:
remember: nitro paint does crack after a while, it does yellowish in the light, it gets damaged by sweat and alcohol.
Click to expand...


Guess I'll hafta remind my '77 Rickenbacker to do all those things, it still looks like new with the exception of dings and scratches.
 
haha.
well said.

i heard that rickenbackers are quite oblivious, so they won't age without a reminder

;-)
 
My Nirvana Black $$ is ageing with grace and panache! I always thought I could get a solid colour over it if it got to be really shabby, but I just like the mojo. Having some sort of damage like paddydaddyo describes is different of course.

I don't believe there will be a real audible difference... there's a whole lot of things that you'd notice first... like type and age of strings... and how long your fingernails are (!!???)
 
Welcome to the forum PAX :-) The sound will change a little bit I guess, but not that much to worry about it.
 
finish on vett

Try looking at automotive paints,There are a lot of colors and the paint is pretty tough.You would have to be careful not make the finish to thick.
 
Thanks everybody! Much good information and input ... now I will be thinking what color to paint it eventually. Maybe "Sherwood Green Metallic" like this Lakland JO ?!?!



Originally a DuPont color used on '57 Mercury models like this:



Fender used it on their guitars as a custom color from '60 to '65. All I can say is: Mmmmm-mmmm GOOD!

Pax
 
With the help of 4 cups of coffee and Photoshop CS, I give you the rough approximation of the world's first Sherwood Green Metallic Streamer!

Sorry, my once mad Photoshop skilz have gotten a bit rusty, but it still looks good enough to pursue!

Pax
 

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Greg said:
No human being would be able to tell the difference.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm not human then... Cause I can hear a difference between a painted and an oil finished bass...

To prove it... I use to own Washburn a few years ago. It had a clear coat over a figured maple top. It had a bit of low end and very little highs or mids... I removed the finish on it and oiled it. And instantly the mids and the highs came through.

So the finish will effect the tone... The finish will mute the tone a bit, Problaby not noticable to some... But I HATE basses with any type of finish on them unless it's an oil finish.
 
Paul McCartney would agree, his Ric used to be Fireglo.
 
thumbin said:
Greg said:
No human being would be able to tell the difference.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm not human then... Cause I can hear a difference between a painted and an oil finished bass...

To prove it... I use to own Washburn a few years ago. It had a clear coat over a figured maple top. It had a bit of low end and very little highs or mids... I removed the finish on it and oiled it. And instantly the mids and the highs came through.

So the finish will effect the tone... The finish will mute the tone a bit, Problaby not noticable to some... But I HATE basses with any type of finish on them unless it's an oil finish.
Click to expand...

That proves it? :lol:
 
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