SS1 total makeover - need your thoughts

[Patrik]

I have this SS1 and I love it to death but one thing disturbes me a bit. It's a bit dark and its getting darker. The bass is not tinted but it has a clear matte finish and it doesn't require waxing. This is pretty convenient as I can clean it with a damp cloth and I pretty much hate waxing. I can live with waxing thoug.

What I want to do is to strip that finish off in order to get that bright maple back and then have it waxed.

I heard that natural maple gets pretty dirty after a while. Is that a big problem?

Should I do it? Please share your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[ThirdthumB]

I'd say it's really labour intensive.........And you're not sure what the outcome will be. Maybe it will turn out fairly dark as well. :? It's also a very expensive instrument to do your first makeover with...........I wouldn't do it, but I'm not advising you not to. Cheers Patrik.

 

[FunkyMan]

I think it would be a good idea, but have to do with the back of the neck too. You mean applying a lacquer?

 

[Casey]

If it were me, I was remove all of the finish and do a linseed oil finish on it... Although I do love that vintage/aged look of maple.

 

[Patrik]

I'd say it's really labour intensive.........And you're not sure what the outcome will be. Maybe it will turn out fairly dark as well. :? It's also a very expensive instrument to do your first makeover with...........I wouldn't do it, but I'm not advising you not to. Cheers Patrik.

Thanks for your trust in my abilities to work with wood Thirdy! :lol: :lol:

I do work with wood, sand paper and steel wool. Restoring old/antique furniture is part of my hobby.

It's true that it's my first time on an expensive instrument though but I have confidence enough I could manage.

 

[Patrik]

I think it would be a good idea, but have to do with the back of the neck too. You mean applying a lacquer?

All natural maple, waxed. No laquer. Just as the stock SS1 comes.

 

[Patrik]

If it were me, I was remove all of the finish and do a linseed oil finish on it... Although I do love that vintage/aged look of maple.

I was counting the seconds before you answered. :lol: :lol:
Linseed oil will darken the bass significantly.... and it's not part of the plan.

 

[kgm]

Seems to me that you are more than capable and seen as you are not doing any routing or structual work what is the worst that can happen?

 

[ThirdthumB]

I'd say it's really labour intensive.........And you're not sure what the outcome will be. Maybe it will turn out fairly dark as well. :? It's also a very expensive instrument to do your first makeover with...........I wouldn't do it, but I'm not advising you not to. Cheers Patrik.

Thanks for your trust in my abilities to work with wood Thirdy! :lol: :lol:

I do work with wood, sand paper and steel wool. Restoring old/antique furniture is part of my hobby.

It's true that it's my first time on an expensive instrument though but I have confidence enough I could manage.

Hehe,

sorrrrrrrrrryyyyy !!! :lol: hey I didn't know your background. :wink: Well in that case................it would be a nice challenge right ?? You will be putting a lot of love into your bass then........... 8) I have faith in you Pat !!!

 

[Patrik]

I'd say it's really labour intensive.........And you're not sure what the outcome will be. Maybe it will turn out fairly dark as well. :? It's also a very expensive instrument to do your first makeover with...........I wouldn't do it, but I'm not advising you not to. Cheers Patrik.

Thanks for your trust in my abilities to work with wood Thirdy! :lol: :lol:

I do work with wood, sand paper and steel wool. Restoring old/antique furniture is part of my hobby.

It's true that it's my first time on an expensive instrument though but I have confidence enough I could manage.

Hehe,

sorrrrrrrrrryyyyy !!! :lol: hey I didn't know your background. :wink: Well in that case................it would be a nice challenge right ?? You will be putting a lot of love into your bass then........... 8) I have faith in you Pat !!!

Hehe... thanks! I feel much better now...... :lol:

What can actually go wrong? I'm confident I can get the finish off and to get a great surface. Also to remove all electronics and hardware. No prob.

Do I need to act fast as the neck will be without tension for a while? Should I mess around with the trussrod during the work? Here's where I'm lacking experience.

Thanks for the answers!

 

[ThirdthumB]

What can actually go wrong? I'm confident I can get the finish off and to get a great surface. Also to remove all electronics and hardware. No prob.

Do I need to act fast as the neck will be without tension for a while?

I cannot imagine this being a problem. The neck will have a different configuration and that's it.

Should I mess around with the trussrod during the work?

Why would you want to do that ?? I think it's no problem changing the truss rod setting without the strings, but why would you ??

I'm not a pro, and you should maybe PM Gregory or e-mail Warwick about this. I'm just giving you my honest opinion to boast your confidence.

 

[Patrik]

Should I mess around with the trussrod during the work?

Why would you want to do that ?? I think it's no problem changing the truss rod setting without the strings, but why would you ??

I'm not a pro, and you should maybe PM Gregory or e-mail Warwick about this. I'm just giving you my honest opinion to boast your confidence.

As the neck will be under zero string tension for a couple of days I thought it might be necessary to compensate that with a rod adjustment.

 

[Casey]

*digs around in his box of oils for the magical oil that will not darken wood...*

BINGO! Teak oil! They use teak oil on boats to treat the wood but keep it looking like new. I tryed it on a a maple neck and it didn't darken it at all, Which is the reason I put it away and havn't used it since

 

[Patrik]

*digs around in his box of oils for the magical oil that will not darken wood...*

BINGO! Teak oil! They use teak oil on boats to treat the wood but keep it looking like new. I tryed it on a a maple neck and it didn't darken it at all, Which is the reason I put it away and havn't used it since

You know your oils Casey!!! Thanks!

But doesn't the bass still require treatment regularly with teak oil (just like waxing). What's the advantage with teak oil over wax?

 

[ThirdthumB]

As the neck will be under zero string tension for a couple of days I thought it might be necessary to compensate that with a rod adjustment.

When I remove my strings to wax my bass, it doesn't appear to me that the neck is extremely curved that makes me think that something's not cool. I'd say if the neck looks ok after removing the strings, the bass should be ok. After a couple of days, there should only be minor changes to the neck shape I think...........

 

[Callum]

For a few days i'm surethe neck will be fine but checking with the experts is always a good idea.

 

[Casey]

*digs around in his box of oils for the magical oil that will not darken wood...*

BINGO! Teak oil! They use teak oil on boats to treat the wood but keep it looking like new. I tryed it on a a maple neck and it didn't darken it at all, Which is the reason I put it away and havn't used it since

You know your oils Casey!!! Thanks!

But doesn't the bass still require treatment regularly with teak oil (just like waxing). What's the advantage with teak oil over wax?

When I'm first oiling a bass I thin it down (mineral spirits) and add quite a few coats sanding between each coat with some super fine 600 usually (doing wet/oil sanding) I usually spend about a week or so doing this just to make sure the wood has soaked up all the oil... I let it dry for a couple of days and then wipe it down really good with a clean cloth. put it all back togethor and start playing it. Just problaby oiling it very lightly once a month or so.

Wax sits on the top of the bass and protects it, The oil will soak in and protect it from the inside out. Although others will have a different view on this, I've always oiled my basses and they have always been in top condition and sounded awesome (with the exception of scratches and dents)

I also find that an oiled finish instead of a clear coat such as the HP finish or the clear on the Streamer right now has a more natural open "timbre" tone to it, I can hear the mids and the highs alot better on a bass with an oil finish than I can on a bass with a clear coat or HP finish. Although this just may be me, seeing how there was numerous threads about this and some people say they can't tell a difference. I must just have super sensitive ears

 

[Patrik]

*digs around in his box of oils for the magical oil that will not darken wood...*

BINGO! Teak oil! They use teak oil on boats to treat the wood but keep it looking like new. I tryed it on a a maple neck and it didn't darken it at all, Which is the reason I put it away and havn't used it since

You know your oils Casey!!! Thanks!

But doesn't the bass still require treatment regularly with teak oil (just like waxing). What's the advantage with teak oil over wax?

When I'm first oiling a bass I thin it down (mineral spirits) and add quite a few coats sanding between each coat with some super fine 600 usually (doing wet/oil sanding) I usually spend about a week or so doing this just to make sure the wood has soaked up all the oil... I let it dry for a couple of days and then wipe it down really good with a clean cloth. put it all back togethor and start playing it. Just problaby oiling it very lightly once a month or so.

Wax sits on the top of the bass and protects it, The oil will soak in and protect it from the inside out. Although others will have a different view on this, I've always oiled my basses and they have always been in top condition and sounded awesome (with the exception of scratches and dents)

I also find that an oiled finish instead of a clear coat such as the HP finish or the clear on the Streamer right now has a more natural open "timbre" tone to it, I can hear the mids and the highs alot better on a bass with an oil finish than I can on a bass with a clear coat or HP finish. Although this just may be me, seeing how there was numerous threads about this and some people say they can't tell a difference. I must just have super sensitive ears

Interesting info and thoughts about the oil stuff. I appreciate it a lot Casey. THANKS!

I know there's different views on whether the finish really impact the tone. Thoughts really go apart here. I respect your experiences here but I stay comfortably neutral in this case....

 

[ThirdthumB]

I know there's different views on whether the finish really impact the tone. Thoughts really go apart here. I respect your experiences here but I stay comfortably neutral in this case....

Only one way to find out...........GO GO GO !!! Wax on........wax off Patrik-san. 8) :lol:

 

[Patrik]

I know there's different views on whether the finish really impact the tone. Thoughts really go apart here. I respect your experiences here but I stay comfortably neutral in this case....

Only one way to find out...........GO GO GO !!! Wax on........wax off Patrik-san. 8) :lol:

I'm rubbing and rubbing and rubbing..... LOOK what I got! A 5 string chopstick. :lol:

Jokes aside, thanks for all your thoughts.

Still considering. :roll: