Overhauling an RCE PJ Bass - Part 4

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Part 4 - The Overhaul Begins

Let the overhaul commence, then. That pickguard? Well, it's been scrubbed clean, for starters. Topside, stubborn remnants of the clear protective plastic layer trapped beneath the pot and output jack nuts have been removed. Meanwhile, I've also scraped the burnt section on the underside clean, and with the help of sticker remover spray, detached the existing aluminum foil shielding.

Cleaned Pickguard - Top

Cleaned Pickguard - Underside

That grimy sunburst body has not been forgotten, folks. A firm rubdown with a piece of cloth and naphtha has removed most of the crud and rust, paving the way for, you guessed it, a few rounds of polishing with GetSun Carnauba Car Wax. No, this is not a promo for GetSun. It's just that this particular product gets the job done without harming polyester finishes.

Polishing in Progress

Remember that grimy hardwood fretboard and tarnished frets? Well, they're a thing of the past. At this stage of the overhaul, I'm stopping at scraping, as conditioning with lemon oil will have to wait until just before new strings are installed.

Scraping the Fretboard

After straightening the neck, I discovered five high frets (2, 4, 6, 10 and 12). Oh yes, we're in for some spot leveling. Nothing out of the ordinary, folks. It's basically marking the tops of the frets in question followed by leveling, recrowning, and polishing. You know the drill. 

High Frets Marked

Leveling the High Frets

Recrowning in Progress

Polishing the Frets

Spot Leveling Completed