I modded it....

[toomanyslurpees]

Ok, probably a dangerous thread title.... I have a 2000 fretless stingray that I love, but for some reason I just wasn't loving the natural finish on this one like I have on some, and I for some reason I've always loved trans black. I bought this bass pretty much totally unplayed so there was no mojo to erase (probably strange reasoning, the finish is mint so it's ok to refinish it) So I caved last year and sent it to Marty Bell, it came back darker than I had pictured in my mind but it totally grew on me, just really subtle. I liked it but I think the matte black pickguard just wasn't working for it. The tort guard just came in the mail today and now I think it's perfect. I'm a little OCD when it comes to tort and I wanted a more brown tort but not anything with massive yellow blotches...

It began here...

And as of today...

Before I got the tort guard I had a chance to take some pics outside 'cause it really is hard to photograph the finish

And last but not least..... This and my 2001 stingray, which is my first that I bought new, both have 2band preamps with Nordstrand pickups since I love the two band sound but wouldn't give up either of these basses. I decided to use a rotory knob to do the series, parallel, one coil and the other thing, it gives me tone options and utilizes the extra knob hole! I only went with the nordstrand because I didn't want to have to modify my stock pickups, obviously this bass won't go back to stock but my other one can be.

 

[bovinehost]

Beautiful finish!

 

[bradfordws]

That looks great! I've been using Marty Bell for several years now - he does very nice work for not too much bread - and pretty quickly too. He even does ding repair for very reasonable rates.

 

[Bass Control]

That finish looks amazing!

 

[T-bone]

Sort of a black version of Heinz?



tbone

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Black and Tort work well

 

[keko]

Is that kind of stain with high gloss over?

 

[nurnay]

Looks cool.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I love black and tort!

 

[toomanyslurpees]

I'm not sure how the finish was done exactly, whether it's stained and then cleared or if the black is in the clear. I sent of to Marty with the description of transblack with no burst, and more of a black than a 'transgrey' like some finishes I see. He does really nice work and even being in Canada it came back quite quick. I love black and tort... had to have a black and tort for myself... I was tempted to send the neck too for a matching headstock but stuck with just the body, this neck is just too nice to mess with, crazy nice bird's eye maple.

 

[jlepre]

I have been looking for an old SUB 5 to send to Marty to refinish. They are harder to find than a needle in a haystack.