Help Big Project

GizmoDaOriginal · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:46 am Post subject: Help Big Project

Ok I own a Silvertone Revolver Bass bought it about a year ago when I started playing I now want to customize it. By saying this I mean a complete over haul new paint, pick-ups, & strings. The paint I know what Color but as for pick-ups & strings I have no clue. I play mostly Alternative if that helps any towards helping me with pick-ups & strings but I also want to build an Amp for the Bass seeing as I have a couple of subs sitting around not being used I don't need an Amp that while playing blows windows out but something I can feel as the amp that came with the silvertone has a bad buzz when playing and it gets on my nerves and plus it all out sucks. if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
Matt

gibson_thunder · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:13 am Post subject:

Ive done this a few times, it takes some mechanical ability and common sense. Theres nothing too hard about what your talking about - at least with the bass. If you can solder, the pickups arent hard to replace. Check out seymour duncans quarter pounders to drop in it. Theyre hot as hell and will beef it up nicely.

To paint a bass, I remove all hardware from the body (including pickguard & bridge) and remove the neck. When you have a bare body, sand it down just enough to rough it up. you dont want any hard,shiny surfaces left. You dont want to sand it enough to affect the shape of the bass, or get into the grain of the wood, but you want to try to get through at least the clearcoat. Then go over the sanded bass with some very fine grit wet and dry sandpaper to smooth all the sanding marks. Hang the bass body up by either a hole in the control cavity or a hole for the neck mount. a wire cloths hanger will work good, you dont want it touching a surface that you want painted. Shoot your base color in a few light coats, dont spray it too heavy at one time or the paint will run or appear uneven. If that happens, let it dry and lightly sand out the imperfection. wait for the coats to dry before applying another.

Once youve got a solid, smooth color youll likely want to apply a clear coat. Use a clear laquer, apply 3 light coats at first and let it dry for 3 hours or so between coats. let it sit overnight. repeat the next day, and the next. 9 coats total. Before the first coat of the day, you will want to lightly go over the body with a tackcloth to get rid of any dust. The clear coat is going to be kinda soft for quite awile, so youll want to take great care not to bump it in to anything. You can polish the bass if you want to after the clear coat, but that gets kinda tricky. YOull want to use an 800 grit wet sandpaper at first, very lighty, until you get a dull look. then use 1200 grit wet sandpaper and make it smoother. then use a 2000 grit wet sandpaper and it should look pretty shiney. Then use a polishing or buffing compound on a rag to make it shine like a mirror.

Not as easy as a quick rattle can job, but if you dont get in a hurry and do it right Itll look awesome. You might consider a beefier bridge as well. Good Luck!
_________________
--==Warum tut es weh, wenn ich pinkele?==--

GizmoDaOriginal · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject:

thanks a bunch this will be in the works very soon as you are not the only person to recommend the quarter pounders and a new bridge. but as for the paint it'll have to wait until i get time to do it or find someone who can do it for me I'm going with a metallic blue with metallic black and red graphics. Don't know what graphics yet but most likely a tribal graphic. but here is another question how can I get rid of the silvertone logo on the neck?

Ankhanu · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: