naked bongo neck

[robobass13]

well I did it, and man is it sweet. not that the factory finish wasn't awesome, but I never really liked the finished neck feel of the bongo. I have owned three bongos now and the most recent one (carbon blue 5 w/tort guard) is the "one". this is my go to bass, my other balls are gathering dust. After seeing bassmonkee's post with his naked bongo neck, I just had to do it and now it feels like an old friend, like my SR5's always have. I finished the bare neck with birchwood casey tru-oil and then wax just like the factory. heres some pics

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[bovinehost]

I think there is an unwritten law that goes something like this.

"I am a man, and until I have well and truly f*cked with a belonging, it does not actually belong to me."

I salute you and bassmonkeee for having the 'nads to do such a thing, but I swear, I do not NOTICE the back of the neck of any bass unless it is weird and sticky or something. I mean, ideally, only the tip of my thumb is on it, right?

Nonetheless, you're brave!

Jack

 

[robobass13]

thanks jack, I agree with the f**ked with it thing. I have been working on and refinishing guitars and basses for about 20 years now, and this is the first EBMM I've had the balls(LOL) to mess with to this degree. like I said the factory finish was great, and your observation about the thumb being the only part that touches the back of the neck is correct, I JUST HAD TO DO IT!!!! I feel better now. I love this place and of course the basses!! thanks BP.

 

[midopa]

That's really cool. So it feels just like the SRs, eh? Hmmmm

 

[DTG]

now why did you go and do that!!!!!
its class,its amazing,its dead sexy
you have no idea what its doing to my head,now i really do want a bongo

 

[Psychicpet]

looks familiar... I'm just sayin'

 

[bassmonkeee]

I think there is an unwritten law that goes something like this.

"I am a man, and until I have well and truly f*cked with a belonging, it does not actually belong to me."

I salute you and bassmonkeee for having the 'nads to do such a thing, but I swear, I do not NOTICE the back of the neck of any bass unless it is weird and sticky or something. I mean, ideally, only the tip of my thumb is on it, right?

Nonetheless, you're brave!

Jack

Well, for the record, my Bongo neck is only naked because I went through to the wood when I was using steel wool to remove some shine from the back of the neck. If I hadn't created a spot about 1/2" x 2" I doubt I would have performed the strip surgery.

Looks like a very clean job. Are you really a robot, robobass13?

 

[MingusBASS]

To each his own...as long as you dig it that's all that matters!

 

[robobass13]

Looks like a very clean job. Are you really a robot, robobass13?[/QUOTE]

I AM A MAN, NOT A MACHINE!!! (lol)

 

[Colin]

I like it!

 

[WesC]

Nice job! I would love to play a Bongo like that, I really love the naked neck of my SR5.

 

[Leftybassist]

Not that I would ever attempt to do that but, how DID you do that? With the clean edge at the headstock? Some kind of chemical paint remover?

 

[Baird]

I think there is an unwritten law that goes something like this.

"I am a man, and until I have well and truly f*cked with a belonging, it does not actually belong to me."

Jack

At least it looks good and likely plays great as well.

When I do something like this it is usually when I am half loaded and the results are always on the opposite end of the "looks nice" or "is functional" spectrum!

 

[robobass13]

Not that I would ever attempt to do that but, how DID you do that? With the clean edge at the headstock? Some kind of chemical paint remover?

really simple, first I removed the neck from the bass, then I used an ,aluminum ducting tape to mask off the area at the headstock. I use this kind of tape because it holds up to being sanded on, I then use a small electric palm sander with 320 grit sandpaper and go in circular motions side to side and up and down the neck lightly. I did not sand the paint off the end of the neck or off the area where the screws go into the neck, the part that makes contact with the body. once I got the clear off and started going through the color to the wood I stopped with the sander and started sanding by hand with the 320 grit. once the finish is off and the wood is bare I sand down to 400 grit and finish the sanding with a 0000 scotch-brite pad, then I use birchwood casey tru-oil gunstock oil, two coats, let that dry for about two hours and smooth that out with the scotch-brite pad and finish birchwood casey gunstock wax, simple, the big key to success here is TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!!!

 

[SLUGGO]

Very nicely done! Enjoy!