The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

We all seem to agree that the color sucks...

The fillings were on my mind all night and I did some more research and found this on the net:



These babies have a pick guard.... I found enough pictures that I think I might be able to reproduce it fairlyclose to the original... Even with keeping the Ibanez pick ups, nothing will show... (hopefully) Again, this is if no surprise damage is waitin for me...

I m stripping her down.... This baby needs sheer seethru finish to be all that she can be...

Wish me luck!....
P.

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MAA Member since June 29th 2009, taking one baby step at a time..... and failing miserably!

Sure, that should do the trick!
Funny, after I posted that last comment I was thinking that a pick guard up the centre would be a good idea.

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"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." -Chuckles the Clown
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

I ve hit my first snag... 2 layers of paint.... either a undercoat or the bass was painted brown before it was painted silver.... Is primer dark brown....

P.

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MAA Member since June 29th 2009, taking one baby step at a time..... and failing miserably!

That's exactly what I found under my Urchin when I started stripping the silver paint off. I found the original colour under the brown so I guess that's the correct undercoat for silver???

_________________
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." -Chuckles the Clown
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

OK, here is a little update... After spending some time with her, here are the results of the first attemp to undress her...







Still have to go over the areas since the Brown paint-primer is not all gone but very encouraged... The front shows damage and nicks at several places due to the work that was done... The back looks brand spanking new!...

Seems this bass was in prestine condition prior to the mods and repaint!..... Why would one canabalize such a beauty!

Will go over what was done and will be tackling the neck (hate doing necks...) on my second go at it...

P.



P.S. I m surprised no one commented on the fact that the replaced tuners were of Vantage brand....

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MAA Member since June 29th 2009, taking one baby step at a time..... and failing miserably!

I know, it's a crime.
I did notice that but I just assumed that you had put them on!
She looks wa-a-a-y better already!

_________________
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." -Chuckles the Clown
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

I spent a little more time on the bass and gave it a full second pass with striper on the body and went over the neck once. So far so good, the front is a little banged up and will need some cosmetic touch ups but real happy about the fact that the back is amazing... The neck is also in perfect condition but some minor touch ups to be done on the headstock. Here are some pictures of the results:











I will be giving her a quick wet sanding next and try and touch up all the small damages on her before attempting to give her a full polish to see if I will be able to bring a shine out of her... she is really mat looking (dull ) at this point and the stripper might have taken some of the original finish a bit off, I am not certain....

Let me know what you think or if someone has tips at this point on finishing her...

P.

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MAA Member since June 29th 2009, taking one baby step at a time..... and failing miserably!

Ahhh, much better Pierre!
If it has a typical Mats "hard" finish I'd continue to sand lightly with progressively finer papers, then finish her with the usual polishing compounds and liquid wax. If she's got an open grain finish I'd maybe consider the old standby, Tung Oil or something similar depending on the amount of shine you want.

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"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." -Chuckles the Clown
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

Finished the wet sanding. I went over quickly with 400, then a quick pass of 800, same with 1500 and buffed briefly with 2000. I am now able to see all the little repairs that need to be addressed. I will tackling those next and will try some of the product Barry recommended on his Urchin post... So far so good, i m quite pleased with the results. Trying to bring her back to her original state (minus the original pups).

P.

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MAA Member since June 29th 2009, taking one baby step at a time..... and failing miserably!

Hey Pierre. I got the Meguiar's Ultimate Compound at Canadian Tire for about $14.95. Meguiar's may also be available at Walmart, but I kind of doubt if they would carry this "premium" version.

I used it on a surface that was mostly swirled and a bit scuffed, I can't say how effective it'll be on your particular project, but if you have enough original hard finish left it may surprise you. Good luck!

_________________
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." -Chuckles the Clown
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com