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Rookie rebuild- need some advice

Rookie rebuild- need some advice
« on: November 18, 2013, 01:22:45 AM »
Hi all,
I'm in the process of tackling a refinish of an old bass I picked up on the cheap. It's an old Samick PMB-41 S/BK. I can't find any build info so I'm not sure if it qualifies as vintage or not.
 A previous owner apparently made a wallhanger out of it, the jack and pots were gone, and the original black finish had been ripped off except for under the bridge and pickguard. They had put a thin stain all over it including over the remains of the black inside the horns and on the body tapers. I'm currently sanding back down with a 1/4 sheet sander, and coming along ok. My question is, the back of the body looks like they stripped it with a 6" grinding disc. It's gouged horribly. This is a solid body, should I just run it through a planer and smooth the back, or keep sanding, or give up on a natural finish and smooth it with filler and paint it?
BTW, I have pics of the body I can post, I just didn't know the etiquette on pics.
Thanks in advance!

jules

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Rookie rebuild- need some advice
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2013, 01:54:57 AM »
Hi and welcome - Yes, posting pics is completely fine - let's have a look at it

Rookie rebuild- need some advice
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2013, 03:22:09 AM »
Thanks! I took these last night, I got all the black off the front of the body tonight with the sander, but the back is...not pretty =) the gouges also extend around the edge of the body but I'm pretty sure I can sand those out.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2722[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]2723[/ATTACH]

Rookie rebuild- need some advice
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2013, 05:15:50 AM »
Hi Kincainn

I'm not trying to be negative but this guitar will never be worth the time and effort required to restore it. That said, you are now free to do whatever you find most satisfying with the restoration process. If you want to hone skills for future restorations, experiment with this project. Just work on skills that you find challenging and will derive satisfaction from completing. Be sure to post pics of the finished project.

sb

jules

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Rookie rebuild- need some advice
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2013, 01:54:29 PM »
Well, maybe not financially 'worth' it, but like you say a project like this is great for honing your skills, but best of all, you can make it into whatever guitar suits you - play with different pickups, in different positions etc - projects like these a be a lot of fun!

Rookie rebuild- need some advice
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2014, 11:36:23 PM »
Quote from: jules;18066
Well, maybe not financially 'worth' it, but like you say a project like this is great for honing your skills, but best of all, you can make it into whatever guitar suits you - play with different pickups, in different positions etc - projects like these a be a lot of fun!

I completely agree!   Make it what you want in an instrument.

Rookie rebuild- need some advice
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2014, 01:37:18 AM »
It sounds like it was originally a painted body because you discovered the original finish under the pick guard.  Based on this, the wood grain may not be worthy of staining, or a natural finish.  If it's gouged really bad, I'd fill it and paint it.  Otherwise, you may have to take a lot of thickness out of the body, which may have a negative effect on the sound.  

However, if you have your heart set on a natural or stained finish, give it a whirl.  Good luck.

 

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