DOUBLE BASE RESTORATION

A MUSICIAN FRIEND OF MINE ASKED IF I COULD RESTORE HIS DOUBLE-BASS. HE KNEW I LOVED A CHALLENGE AND RESEARCHING HOW TO DO THINGS AND THEN DIVING IN AND JUST GOING FOR IT. SO I TOOK HIM UP ON IT. AND WHAT A FUN PROJECT IT WAS!

150-GRIT AND 320-GRIT SANDPAPER, STAIN, LACQUER, SPRAY GUN (PREFERRED), SOME DYES TO MAKE A TONER FOR ACCENTS.

FIRST STEP WAS TO REMOVE THE OLD FINISH THAT WAS BEAT UP AND LOOKED UGLY. HE WANTED A LIGHTER COLORED INSTRUMENT IN THE END, SO I HAD TO SAND OFF ALL THE LACQUER AND THE ORIGINAL STAIN. I USED 15-GRIT SANDPAPER TO DO THIS. IF THE FINISH WAS TOUGH, YOU COULD USE SOME STRIPPER, BUT THIS FINISH CAME OFF QUITE EASILY.

I THEN STAINED THE FACE WITH A GOLDEN OAK STAIN AND THE SIDES WITH A MAHOGANY STAIN, GIVING IT A 2-TONE LOOK. WHEN THE STAIN WAS DRY, I SPRAY ON 2 SEAL COATS OF LACQUER. A NITROCELLULOSE LACQUER IS GOOD, OR A POST-CATALYZED LACQUER (WHERE YOU ADD CATALYST) WHICH IS A HARDER FINISH. THE NITROCELLULOSE LACQUER IS EASIER TO DO REPAIRS LATER ON IF IT GETS SCRATCHED. IT'S A PERSONAL PREFFERENCE, BUT BOTH WORK WELL. THE SHEEN WAS SATIN. SAND BETWEEN EACH COAT.

I THEN MIXED A LITTLE DARK BROWN DYE INTO THE LAQUER AND SPRAYED ON A SHADE AROUND THE EDGES. A NICE EFFECT. THEN A FINAL COAT OF CLEAR LACQUER OF IT ALL. SAND WITH 320-GRIT AND REPEAT IF NEEDED SO IT IS SMOOTH AND HAS THE DESIRED LOOK WANTED. MORE COATS WILL FILL THE GRAIN, LESS COATS LEAVE A GRAIN-EFFECT.

AFTER DRYING FOR A FEW HOURS, IT WAS GOOD TO GO AND BE REASSEMBLED.

PUTTING THE STRINGS ALL BACK ON WAS HIS JOB, NOT MINE. :)

HE LOVED IT AND HAS DONE TONS OF GIGS WITH IT!