Forum
I have owned my ABZ 5 Natural Ash for over 5 years, it is undoubtedly one of my favorite bass, simple passive, organic no thrills, plug and play perfection. I loved the look of the ash body grains but for a year or so, I had this vision that a lot more could be done to enhance its looks and really bring out the texture of those ash grains forward with a few stages of transformation.
One day I saw a picture of a faded ash body seafoam green telecaster and I was hooked. I took my bass and that pic to a local luthier guru friend of mine, here in UK at Guitar Works https://www.facebook.com/awesomeguitarrepairs/ and asked him if he could materialize this project I had in mind, he said yes and explained to me that to obtain the result I wanted the bass would have to be sprayed, first black, then sea foam green, then white, and then the hand sanding will take place to remove the bulk of the white, and then gently rub the sea foam green to reveal the black underneath which would have by then sunken through the grains and then finally once the right effect was obtained he would have to seal the lot with a thin coat of polyurethane just like the original Dingwall product.
Here is what he did...
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1070_zpskmjuba36.jpg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1070_zpskmjuba36.jpg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1071_zpsgv99ivep.jpg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1071_zpsgv99ivep.jpg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1072_zpsnytjj6qx.jpg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1072_zpsnytjj6qx.jpg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1073_zpseregkmvb.jpg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1073_zpseregkmvb.jpg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1074_zpsmippl0ui.jpg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1074_zpsmippl0ui.jpg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1075_zpsq9nr6cxk.jpg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1075_zpsq9nr6cxk.jpg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1082_zpslddba3eg.jpeg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1082_zpslddba3eg.jpeg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1083_zpskdnpjhom.jpeg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1083_zpskdnpjhom.jpeg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1086_zps65k3cejf.jpeg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1086_zps65k3cejf.jpeg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1080_zpsejjqxvew.jpeg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1080_zpsejjqxvew.jpeg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1085_zpsq3hzzuvj.jpeg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1085_zpsq3hzzuvj.jpeg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1084_zpsisk45vyu.jpeg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1084_zpsisk45vyu.jpeg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1081_zpsyhyvsrzm.jpeg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/ABZ%205%20Transformation/IMG_1081_zpsyhyvsrzm.jpeg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
All he needs to do is to apply the lacquer and it's done.
Oh yes I might as well show you where I got the idea from
[url=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/seafoam_zpshadtxl85.jpg.html:2qvofuac][img:2qvofuac]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/seafoam_zpshadtxl85.jpg[/img:2qvofuac][/url:2qvofuac]
0
Undo
Votes
Now that's a lot of paint....looks neat though...I wonder if it will change the sound having 4 or 5 coats of paint/lacquer....definitely unique.
0
Undo
Votes
Mint and licorice...
Think the same flavour with a wenge (chocolate) neck...!
A noble taste! Show us the result when ready!
0
Undo
Votes
Home safe and sound, however please note that the 3 coats of paint where actually thin coats and most of it has been rubbed off to the bare minimum to reveal the grain of the swamp ash body.
Before the first coat went on, Ian rubbed the thin coat of polyurethane that Sheldon & Co. applied just t ogo back to the open wood so to speak, I can confirm the bass does not weight an ounce more than it did before the job start and also there are no changes in the sound.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/AQffZU:2b47uijo][img:2b47uijo]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5691/22862103942_e80cd52ba6_o.jpg[/img:2b47uijo][/url:2b47uijo]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ARrk8t:2b47uijo][img:2b47uijo]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/735/22875580565_1568358fea_o.jpg[/img:2b47uijo][/url:2b47uijo]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/AdtgRE:2b47uijo][img:2b47uijo]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5806/22457249428_630e1cef7a_o.jpg[/img:2b47uijo][/url:2b47uijo]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/AQfgt9:2b47uijo][img:2b47uijo]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/691/22862105522_20ebb59afa_o.jpg[/img:2b47uijo][/url:2b47uijo]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/AyPKLQ:2b47uijo][img:2b47uijo]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5827/22687575500_d09e5aeae4_o.jpg[/img:2b47uijo][/url:2b47uijo]
0
Undo
Votes
As long as the sound didn't change. A sound guy at my church complained that one of the leaders used that 3M film for cars to cover autographs on his acoustic and this film apparently ruined the sound.
I'm not sure I'm personally a fan of the colour, but it's definitely wild, do doubt about that! It looks better after it's clear coated and all put back together. Are you happy with it? That's the important part!
0
Undo
Votes
[quote="TheGrandEnigma":36t7an34]As long as the sound didn't change. A sound guy at my church complained that one of the leaders used that 3M film for cars to cover autographs on his acoustic and this film apparently ruined the sound.
I'm not sure I'm personally a fan of the colour, but it's definitely wild, do doubt about that! It looks better after it's clear coated and all put back together. Are you happy with it? That's the important part![/quote:36t7an34]
I am more than happy, for once I've manage to materialize something that I had previously only visioned in my mind, and then I went on google image search, typed swamp ash guitar faded sea foam green found that telecaster that matched perfectly what I had in mind, took it to my good friend Ian Allerton of Guitar Works, I asked him can you do this? He said yes and did a great job.
I am happy.
0
Undo
Votes
That is a really cool finish. I reminds me a bit of some of the stained grain F Basses, although I have never seen that colour before.
0
Undo
Votes
[quote="Smallmouth_Bass":2n2kxt0v]That is a really cool finish. I reminds me a bit of some of the stained grain F Basses, although I have never seen that colour before.[/quote:2n2kxt0v]
Toothpaste meets licorice... 
0
Undo
Votes
I just had a thought...
That body with a wenge neck... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!
0
Undo
Votes
That's a fantastic paint job, I'd considered getting similar done. Are you able to give an indication on how much it cost from Ian?
0
Undo
Votes
[quote="Grand Wazoo":3ij1f0i1][quote="therealting":3ij1f0i1]That's a fantastic paint job, I'd considered getting similar done. Are you able to give an indication on how much it cost from Ian?[/quote:3ij1f0i1]
As we have been friends over 30 years, and once partners in crime both working in the same guitar shop £250 
I'm not sure what he will charge you better give him a ring for a quote at this link https://www.facebook.com/awesomeguitarrepairs/?fref=ts[/quote:3ij1f0i1]
I'm not sure what he will charge you better give him a ring for a quote at this link https://www.facebook.com/awesomeguitarrepairs/?fref=ts[/quote:3ij1f0i1]
0
Undo
Votes
[quote="Grand Wazoo":34wiqig1]
As we have been friends over 30 years, and once partners in crime both working in the same guitar shop £250 I'm not sure what he will charge you better give him a ring for a quote at this link https://www.facebook.com/awesomeguitarrepairs/?fref=ts[/quote:34wiqig1]
Haha, fair enough. That's a fantastic price 
Is the finish glossy? It looks almost like bare wood from the photos.
I'm not sure what he will charge you better give him a ring for a quote at this link https://www.facebook.com/awesomeguitarrepairs/?fref=ts[/quote:34wiqig1]
Haha, fair enough. That's a fantastic price
Is the finish glossy? It looks almost like bare wood from the photos.
0
Undo
Votes
[quote="therealting":1nsc9xtq][quote="Grand Wazoo":1nsc9xtq]
As we have been friends over 30 years, and once partners in crime both working in the same guitar shop £250 I'm not sure what he will charge you better give him a ring for a quote at this link https://www.facebook.com/awesomeguitarrepairs/?fref=ts[/quote:1nsc9xtq]
Haha, fair enough. That's a fantastic price
Is the finish glossy? It looks almost like bare wood from the photos.[/quote:1nsc9xtq]
Actually it's of a kind worn or rubbed matt texture, certainly not glossy or shiny, as you pass your hand over it you still feel the wood grains as with all the ABZ or PZ basses, in swamp ash.
I'm not sure what he will charge you better give him a ring for a quote at this link https://www.facebook.com/awesomeguitarrepairs/?fref=ts[/quote:1nsc9xtq]
Haha, fair enough. That's a fantastic price
Is the finish glossy? It looks almost like bare wood from the photos.[/quote:1nsc9xtq]
Actually it's of a kind worn or rubbed matt texture, certainly not glossy or shiny, as you pass your hand over it you still feel the wood grains as with all the ABZ or PZ basses, in swamp ash. - Page :
- 1
There are no replies made for this post yet.
Be one of the first to reply to this post!
Be one of the first to reply to this post!
