Question How to sand down neck on my Sub1?

[DaPatrooch]

I've been playing my Sub1 for Eb tuning lately, as I've been getting more into stuff like Alice in Chains and Van Halen. It sounds really good with the Duncans, but it would be so much better if it had an unfinished neck like my Petrucci. For a summer project I was thinking of sanding down the neck and refinishing the body. So I have some questions:

What should I use to sand down the neck and body? Will the supplies be expensive? What kind of stuff will I need to give the neck the slight oily finish on EB guitars?

What kind of paint will I need for the body? I'm thinking white, but I might go with something else, not sure. Is there a kind of spray paint with slight sparkles in it like in some colors such as Graphite Pearl and Sapphire Black? What should I coat it with after I'm done, and how many coats of each thing will I need?

Is there any way to get the finish off the fretboard? Like a way where I won't have to remove the frets? haha

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jamminjim]

to my knowledge and experience - the fretboard of a Subbie is not finished with paint, lacquer or anything sprayed on it. It's oiled rosewood.

 

[Astrofreq]

Buy several different grains of sandpaper, starting with very coarse like 150, down to super fine, like 1500 or so.

Just grab the 150 and get after it. Gradually work your way to the finest sandpaper you have and really smooth it out. It won't take long with the coarse stuff to work through the paint. I've removed lacquer from 3 necks I've had and I don't regret doing it to any of them.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Just like Rad says - just be careful when you sand the neck near the fret board - ya don't want to "round off" the side of the fretboard.

just like the factory - use Birchwood Casey gunstock oil - put some on a paper towel and rub it quickly over the neck. Do not leave it on for any time thinking "oh it'll be better if I let it soak in" - rub it straight off - otherwise it just goes all gloopy and you will have to resand the neck. Next use the Birchwood Caset Wax and apply in the same way.

You will of course have to provide pictures of the project !!!

 

[DaPatrooch]

to my knowledge and experience - the fretboard of a Subbie is not finished with paint, lacquer or anything sprayed on it. It's oiled rosewood.

It feels like it's lacquered to me, it feels different than my JP's neck. It might be the same finish that's on the neck. Not completely sure though.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Look at my project sub thread
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/38006-project-sublhoette.html

The neck is not difficult to remove the paint. I used 220 then 400 then 600. The finish on the neck will be the same as other EBMM's.....Birchwood Casey Tru Oil and then Birchwood Casey Gunstock Wax.

The body is also relatively easy to remove the finish. I used a sanding "sponge" from my car painting days. It keeps the front and back surfaces flat as you sand. If you are going to paint, decide what paint you're using and follow the instructions for that manufacturer. I'm making it difficult on myself by doing water based stain followed by water based urathane and will next be fogging the edges with a paint that does not adversely react with the water based urathane under it or over it (I'm doing testing now). I think only the sides of the fingerboard is coated with anything. I don't know for sure but assume that it's clear urathane. Seeing some EBMM factory pictures of a rosewood fingerboard being sanded along with the neck, I'm planning to perhaps do a bit more sanding to remove the final portion of black paint. I used water based urathane at the headstock and top of the neck, copying how it looks on my Axis.

Oh.....do the body contours, if you're brave. I'm glad I did.

jack

 

[DaPatrooch]

Great job on that Sub, it looks awesome. How difficult was it to make the body contours? I'd be very interested in doing that. And thanks for the help!

 

[jamminjim]

you're right Jack, the sides of the fretboard do have a clearcoat.. the playing surface is natural..

 

[Smellybum]

Don't do it!

They're just nice as they are!!

 

[MusicManJP6]

I would sand the neck, but leave the body as is if it were me...

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I would sand the neck, but leave the body as is if it were me...

Depends on how much the work scares you. The easy way out is to paint the body. That way, it's relatively cheap and you can use any paint system you want. There are those who have to be stubborn and do it the hard way (uh uh hum) and stain poplar (which ain't easy) and go with all water based stain and urathane (still not easy) and then struggle finding paint that is compatible (still not sure).

The body contours are more a matter of overcoming fear and being slow and checking a lot, then finishing by hand. I would not attempt the horn contours with the tools I have (belt sander and hand tools).

I also wanted to be sure that both the serial number and the headstock logos remained untouched, so the headstock stripping was a bit more sensitive.

jack

 

[MusicManJP6]

Depends on how much the work scares you...

Precisely! I stripped my cheap first guitar down to raw wood and customized it, but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it to a EB! You have big gajunas!!! I wouldn't mind sanding the neck down though...

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Precisely! I stripped my cheap first guitar down to raw wood and customized it, but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it to a EB! You have big gajunas!!! I wouldn't mind sanding the neck down though...

What would you say if I said I'm putting the forearm contour on my ASS next??

(if you say you're hiring a hitman....don't worry....I have no intention of touching anything above a sub......although I'm already thinking about the next sub project and keeping an eye on craigslist)

jack

 

[DaPatrooch]

I think I'll probably just leave the body as it is, but get a new pickguard. I was looking at it last night, and I kinda like the finish, it's different and cool. All in all, how long did sanding down the neck take you, and is there a lot of room for error? I don't have any experience with this stuff, and I wouldn't want to destroy the neck.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

You can see in my thread, I covered everything with painters tape that I didn't want to sand. After that, it was really just a matter of taking it slowly and checking. I guess I'd say that if we ignored the headstock work (took nearly as long as the rest of the neck) maybe an hour. I have not yet finished the body end of the neck as I want to wait until I have the Birchwood Casey Wax (still have not found it) so it will get sanded and immediately sealed.

Use the curves in the neck to your advantage. That's how I did the back of the neck to headstock break. There's a relatively sharp transition.

jack

 

[paranoid70]

I think having two Axis gives Jack the extra encouragement to be more bold in customing the SUB1. I feel a bit the same way too, as I love the sound of the SUB1, but wish it had a contour. However, a large part of me wants to leave it alone and keep it for my son in case he decides to play. He has expressed an interest, but I need to get him lessons - I am a lousy teacher.

 

[tommyindelaware]

a scraper will give you an aggressive but very controlable result.
Scraper Blades at Stewart-MacDonald

the rectangle one is great for peeling off the neck finish.

I think I'll probably just leave the body as it is, but get a new pickguard. I was looking at it last night, and I kinda like the finish, it's different and cool. All in all, how long did sanding down the neck take you, and is there a lot of room for error? I don't have any experience with this stuff, and I wouldn't want to destroy the neck.

 

[beej]

FYI, Tommy scraped and re-shaped the neck on his old lacquered Morse. Did the same for mine, too ... plays like butter.