Bass rescue complete

[matthew tucker]

I bought this bass some time ago and have been restoring it for my daughter who plays in a jazz ensemble.

Before:

Bottom block loose and cracked, linings unglued, over-length, bent and crooked neck, sunken top, bassbar unglued, bad varnish repairs.

After:

This bass sounds surprisingly good for a laminated bass. The finish has come up nice and transparent, bar a few little chips that I have to touch up. The only thing that's a bit odd is that the neck is a "C#" neck now after I shortened it. But that doesn't take too long to get used to. Client is very happy.

[Darren Molnar]

Thanks a lot, now I can't seem to get that song out of my

head

 

 "it's not easy being green"

 

[Steve_W]

Hmm, I think the color balance in your second photo is WAY off...

[COB3]

Looks like a Granny Smith apple! Some people really like them...

[matthew tucker]

Colour balance way off?? I don't know what you're talking about

[GMM22]

Is it green? My color blindness would appear to be getting worse.

[matthew tucker]

Yep. It took a lot of courage.

[COB3]

Bass envy--pay no attention, Matt.

[Darren Molnar]

Green with envy, maybe.

[kittykatjaz]

Hey Matthew its very catchy!

How did you do it as I have someone bugging me for a pink left handed violin?

[matthew tucker]

I used a coat of yellow artists oils rubbed in over a shellac sealer to create a reflective ground. When this was dry I wiped on a body of "Ubeaut" hard shellac tinted with green feast-watson prooftint, sanding lightly between coats. Hard shellac seems to be an interesting product - applies like shellac/french polish, but over a three week period crosslinks to form a much more resistant and hard finish.

[COB3]

Is that an older photo? or my color-balance off, now? I don't see any green...

Looks as though the kids are having a good time, though.

Chet Bishop

[matthew tucker]

under red lights, green doesn't show as green! No, that photo was the big concert, the bass's first outing.