Restoring a Thumb.

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saibuster

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Hello everyone.

I've recently purchased a new SS II which completely blew me away. I got so hooked on the sound of it that i decided to sell my stingray and get a different warwick instead!

So after looking for a while i found a really good deal on a 91 Thumb.
This bass had a professional owner who used it non-stop on recordings
and gigs. He did take good care of it as there are no serious dings, but
there is a lot of usage tear and wear. It looks like a nice piece of bubinga
and since its oil finish i see no reason why i shouldn't restore it.

I've searched the forum to find conflicting opinions about products and techniques that i should use so i posted this message.

I'd basically like to know how to restore it, what sending paper to use, what oil to use and when to use...
I dont have any experience doing something like that but i have good technical grasp and i'll be very gentle and approach it with a less is
more approach.

Im sorry if this has been talked about before, but i'd really appreciate if anyone can summaries the restoration processes in one place.
If anyone got a link with this discussion it would be just as good!

Thanks in advance
Ito
 
All you have to do is sand it down & apply Warwick wax.That'll restore it nicely.
Originally,at the factory,it was finished with melted Warwick wax,then buffed.That all the natural oil finish is.
Sanding is can be done with either a scotchbrite kitchen scourer.
 
so no sanding paper, tung oil, layers of melted wax or anything like that?

just simple scotch-brite and a layer of wax?
 
Yep,that's all they did at the factory when it was built.
Melt some Warwick wax,apply it with a sponge,then buff it off.It'll improve if you do this a few times as the wax builds up.Dont apply too much melted wax though.It's easier to buff off a few thin coats rather than one big thick coat.
The thing with sandpaper is it makes alotta dust.Steel wool is the same.I recommend you remove all the hardware,pickups & control knobs.Mask off the electronics to keep it clean.Clean the fingerboard with some lemon oil,polish the frets with some brasso,taking care not to get brasso onto the fingerboard,perhaps by masking it off.This'll prevent scratching as well when you buff the brasso off.
Good luck. :)
 
thanks!

i'll post a before and after pics here with the products im using
once the bass arrives.
 
Hey man,

This was one of the reasons I joined this forum - restoring a thumb.
PLease read the whole thread here:


I hope it will help you :-)
P.S. -
I think that if you want to refinish with tru oil, you don't need to use melted wax anymore. you should apply it on bare wood.
 
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