Odd pickguard with 1965 Ventures Bass. Is it authentic ?

[Louie7]

that's right. I wasn't saying it was sprayed with nitrocellulose lacquer. It's a Nitrate pickguard, as the man explained. Commonly refered to as a nitro pickguard.

Maybe there's some confusion here. Do not assume that the orange color is just some bleed or overspray that can be sanded off. It's swirled into the material. That's what I called catalyzed. Like Catalin radio cases.

If that orange could be sanded off, I'd have done that years ago. Remember, I've had this bass since the 1990's. I only came HERE recently.

Anyway, as I've mentioned, this pickguard is also WARPED, like my cranial matter, and resembles a Lays potato chip. Even if I filled the oversized screw-holes, sanded it and repainted it, it's too thick and rigid for even the screws to pull it flat.

I checked the thickness again, and it's like .143...which is massively thick for any pickguard. No flattening in it's future, I'm thinkin'.

TTYL...gotta go.

L7

[bakeoboy]

easier to get a new one...

[Louie7]

easier to get a new one...

easy for you to say...

[Louie7]

Since this is an original Mosrite pickguard, and since nobody here (so far) knows where to get W/b/w Nitro pickguard blanks, I've decided that crafting an exact replacement is a dead-end.

That leaves me with the original. Since the original can't be used as is, I decided that there's really no big risk in trying to resuscitate it.

The main issues with the guard are:

a. The swirly orange color
b. The screw holes not lining up due to shrinkage
c. The fact that it's warped like a potato-chip
d. The oversized screw hole that somebody drilled out

My plan is to sand out the orange color; drill new holes in the body of the bass; to press the warp out of the guard by clamping it; and back fill the oversized screw hole and re-drill.

I figured no time like the present. So I began with 180 grit emory cloth. The results were gratifying, since I was able to remove the orange swirls. Whereas I originally thought that the pickguard had been made from catalyzed orange/white nitro, I now believe that the orange swirls are stains from some exposure in the past. This was not surface staining....the color, whatever it was, had soaked firmly into the guard, and I had to sand and sand and sand to remove it. Several thousands were taken off, I'm sure, and I have no intention of trying to remove the orange from the back side.

Here's some pix. Any suggestions will be appreciated. There must be someone here who's done something similar. Nitro's funny stuff....it resists super-glue.

[dubtrub]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1644

[Louie7]

http://www.mosriteforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1644

Thanks... I read all that last week. It's what convinced me I could flatten this warped guard of mine.

btw... I just spent the evening buffing the scratches out of the guard after I dispatched the swirly orange.

Not to worry, the time was well spent. I got a chance to listen to all my Dave Clark Five albums while I rubbed.

Only issue now is....the guard looks brand new and is not going to match the rest of the bass, which is worn and shabby.

[Louie7]

DISCLAIMER

YES, I really did believe that the swirly orange could not be sanded out.

NO, I didn't overlook the previous members suggestion that it could be sanded out.

It just took me a while to realize that in it's condition, there was really no reason not to try.

I figured, it'll either sand out or it won't; and it did.

THANKS

Now, on to the rest of the bass project. The biggest issue ahead of me now, is plugging the drilled out screw hole at the rear of the guard and stabilizing the CAR lacquer on the body -

The weather checking has advanced, in a couple places, to the point where the finish flakes off when it's disturbed.
I'm considering touch up. ..I really don't want to refinish this body as 90% of the original finish is intact.

Not sure which touch up method to use. I hate changing horses in mid-stream, so I want to choose the right one first, I think.

Don't everyone jump in at once!

[dubtrub]

Don't everyone jump in at once!

My guess is everyone is gun shy. Good luck!

[Louie7]

Don't everyone jump in at once!

My guess is everyone is gun shy. Good luck!

gun shy.

I don't get it.

Why such terse remarks?

I came here to share as well as gleen.

Is there really an issue, or are ya just funnin' with me ? If so, I'm good with that. Every club as an initiation I guess.

[rcblair]

Louie,

If you are used to forums like Talkbass where threads get immediate replies you will find that this forum is very different. There is no better place to find information about Mosrites, but a lot of members only visit occasionally and threads may go days, weeks or months without any activity. Nothing personal, it's just the way it is.

Rick B.