G&L Black Finish

[Billw97]

This past month I picked up an early 90's G&L SB1 bass. The bass was in need of a good cleaning and set up. The hardware was a little rough, the bridge being a lot rough. The chrome plating was bubbled and raised. Being a zinc material, it also had some pitting and white chalky stuff around the pitted areas. I did buy a replacement from the G&L online store to replace it with. That said, I have worked on old G&L basses with the black finish hardware and I have always thought that the wrinkle finish was really Cool.


I did some looking online and found that there are products out there that offer a wrinkled finish, so I thought the old bridge would make a good test piece. Below are the pictures to show a before and after picture of the bass with the two bridge. Just to let you know, the before picture of the bass is with the new chrome bridge. I did not paint that one.


The finish came out very nice! It is a little more coarse than the G&L finish, but very close. The picture looks much more coarse only because it's tough trying to take a picture to show some detail. The finish appears to be very tough and durable! I bought this can of paint at the local Autozone store for under $11.00.

The prep work on the bridge was, I removed the chrome with Muriatic acid and rinsed thuroughly in water. I lightly sanded the bridge to relieve the high spots and then de-greased and dried. From there I followed the instructions on the can. The finished was cured in an oven at 200 degrees for 1 hour and done.


I might suggest that if you want to try this, use an old POS bridge as a test piece first. Careful with the temp setting on your oven and I would recommend not going any hotter than the recommended temp of 200 degrees. Zinc does not fare well with higher temps. I know, been there, done that!


If someone is looking for this type of finish, I hope this will give you some ideas! Enjoy!

[Billw97]

This is the picture of the bridge.

[ezstep]

Looks good!

[NoXX]

Very cool! Nice one Bill!

[donahue]

Wow! What a fabulous looking bass! That is awesome!!! I was just enquiring on TB about black hardware and was told I had to do my own (not available through G&L) so this thread is very inspirational!

[Billw97]

Thank you and I am glad that it may help!

[Jeroen]

Very nice! It looks as good as a true powder coat!

[tim]

That came out perfectly! Love my blank wrinkle G&L bridge.

You should post this in the TB G&L club thread. They've been talking black hardware a lot lately:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/g-l-cl ... 2/page-549

[Billw97]

Thanks Tim! If you want to share this link, please do. I haven’t posted on Talkbass since I joined this forum.

[AzWhoFan]

Great job Bill. Totally transforms the look of that bass.

[bobjones2260]

Gives it more of the "Tuxedo" Look!

[Billw97]

Thank you! I have really come to enjoy this a lot!
Going back to my thread on the Electra X-610, this bass came from Harvey Dalton Arnold. When I emailed Harvey about the Electra,
He said that he was looking for a neck for this bass as the truss rod nut ran out of room for adjustment. He said that if one could not be found, that
he would sell it crazy cheap.I said that the repair would be straight forward and arranged to have the bass sent up to me.
I did the repair and sent it back to him, saying that it would be a great bass to pass down, but if he decided to sell I would love to own it.
He talked it over with his son and said that he would like for me to own it, so after we worked out a price, the bass is now mine!
I have to say that the guy is a real Prince! One of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to talk to!
Enjoy the pictures!

[paulo]

Thanks once again for posting this, Bill!
Just did another bridge for a tribby tookay.

[fivebass52]

Very nice!

[Billw97]

You are very welcome!
Very nice indeed!