New Bass VI refin day!
- smjenkins
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New Bass VI refin day!
About two years ago I picked up my first ever vintage guitar, a refin'd Bass VI. It had a body only, one-color brown burst refin that only a mother could love. It looked like this:
While the refinish was subpar, It sounded great, played well (it was setup with flats) and had just the best vintage tort ever.
I sent the body it to Charlie at Copacetic Customs after hearing about his finishing work here. Three months later, here we are. Since the body was ash with really nice grain, I went for a mary kaye transparent white color. I'm loving how this looks now and I shimmed the neck a bit more than it was before (now sporting a 1 degree Stew Mac shim) so it's playing great. The photos don't do the grain justice, but it really pops when you see it in person.
While the refinish was subpar, It sounded great, played well (it was setup with flats) and had just the best vintage tort ever.
I sent the body it to Charlie at Copacetic Customs after hearing about his finishing work here. Three months later, here we are. Since the body was ash with really nice grain, I went for a mary kaye transparent white color. I'm loving how this looks now and I shimmed the neck a bit more than it was before (now sporting a 1 degree Stew Mac shim) so it's playing great. The photos don't do the grain justice, but it really pops when you see it in person.
- schoolie
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
Beautiful!
- Mechanical Birds
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
Holy fuckin crap
I’m not usually a fan of that finish but oh boy it’s pretty on that guy! I saw that burst pic and thought that’s what you were coming to post (criminal by the way oh my god I can’t imagine what it looked like originally) but was relieved when yr good taste was quickly displayed for us to appreciate. Looks awesome!
I’m not usually a fan of that finish but oh boy it’s pretty on that guy! I saw that burst pic and thought that’s what you were coming to post (criminal by the way oh my god I can’t imagine what it looked like originally) but was relieved when yr good taste was quickly displayed for us to appreciate. Looks awesome!
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
Nice, I like that a lot. One little thing..it looks like it has the wrong screws on the volume/tone control plate…they should be pan head not countersunk on a vintage VI.
- windmill
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
That looks good !
Congratulations
Congratulations
- smjenkins
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
Thanks for that tip. The countersunk screws didn't look right when I was putting it back together. I'll have to find a source for the pan head screws.
I'm not surprised to hear that though. You should see the garage sale of screws that this guitar came to me with. I found five different types of screws between the trem and the pickup mounts. I just bought new trem screws and pickups mount screws and replaced those. I also replaced the non-original tuners with single line Klusons which is what I beleive Bass VI's originally came with.
FWIW, the pickups and electronics all look original although there's been a lot of solder shenanigans from the first refin. There wasn't a sheilding plate under the lower horn switch plate. Does anyone know where to find one of those?
- N0_Camping4U
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
That looks incredible. I love olympic white. my favorite non metallic. I just looked up your refinishing spot, that's only a couple hours from me. Had no clue anyone in the great state of Texas was offering refins! How did you find him? May send him something to refin.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master."
- smjenkins
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
I heard about him from sciuri here in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=119106&p=1669160&hi ... c#p1669160N0_Camping4U wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 9:17 amI just looked up your refinishing spot, that's only a couple hours from me. Had no clue anyone in the great state of Texas was offering refins! How did you find him?
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
smjenkins wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 5:52 pmThanks for that tip. The countersunk screws didn't look right when I was putting it back together. I'll have to find a source for the pan head screws.
I'm not surprised to hear that though. You should see the garage sale of screws that this guitar came to me with. I found five different types of screws between the trem and the pickup mounts. I just bought new trem screws and pickups mount screws and replaced those. I also replaced the non-original tuners with single line Klusons which is what I beleive Bass VI's originally came with.
FWIW, the pickups and electronics all look original although there's been a lot of solder shenanigans from the first refin. There wasn't a sheilding plate under the lower horn switch plate. Does anyone know where to find one of those?
They did come with klusons but they are VI specific as the slot in them is cut wider and because of that the post has no ‘waist’ like a guitar kluson.
Check this: http://bassguitartuner.us/1963-fender-v ... an-usa.php
- Strango
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
That looks amazing! Some weird part of me liked the brown burst too though, ha!
- 46346
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
wow - what an invaluable move! reminds me of my favorite Jag (Oly '65 w/similar tort) but it shows ash grain!
way to go!
way to go!
Cat Museum, ACME, Malcolm Mooney, Dream Apes, The Cooling Time, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Quarks
- sookwinder
- Mods
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
Do you know what year it is?
Also the pickups are around the wrong way, the two “cut” teeth are meant to be under the high E and B strings
Also the pickups are around the wrong way, the two “cut” teeth are meant to be under the high E and B strings
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
Claws can be found either way on a VI.sookwinder wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:04 amDo you know what year it is?
Also the pickups are around the wrong way, the two “cut” teeth are meant to be under the high E and B strings
As a general guide with regard to vintage..'62-'65 same way as a Jaguar..'65-'75 opposite way, as are the Squire copies, as are the Japanese copies.
- JAGJazz
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Re: New Bass VI refin day!
I never knew this. Thanks.eggwheat wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 3:57 pmClaws can be found either way on a VI.sookwinder wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:04 amDo you know what year it is?
Also the pickups are around the wrong way, the two “cut” teeth are meant to be under the high E and B strings
As a general guide with regard to vintage..'62-'65 same way as a Jaguar..'65-'75 opposite way, as are the Squire copies, as are the Japanese copies.
- Surfysonic
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