TarkBass

[MarkE]

I was just playing around in photoshop for a few minutes working on some concepts for the TarkBass.

Here is a rough idea for the headstock graphic. I want to make the tarkus about 15% larger, find the right font etc etc.

Tark Ass LOL. I need a B :)

http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images/tarktest.jpg



Here is the logo I think Im gonna use for the back of the bass, or perhaps the lower right corner of the body.

http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images/elplogo.jpg

Yeah...perhaps the ELP logo in the lower right corner, and a huge manticore on the back side hehehe


I was toying with the idea of writing the guy who did the cover art on Tarkus, tell him what Im doing to see if he can help any. I was on his web site last night.

If not, I'll bet that TracyE could whip up some recreations for me. I'll write to her.

[MarkE]

Okay...I did it.

I just ordered Carvins BK4A bass kit for the TarkBass project. It has active/passive electronics and I selected black chrome hardware option.

The plan is to sand, seal, prime and shoot bright white (neck and body) using probably acrylic lacquer. The a coat or two of clear followed by all the the Tarkus decals, then more and more clear until done. I think the white against the black hawdware should look good.


here is the kit. Mine will be routed differently as it has active electronics.


http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/BK41.jpg


Here is the effect that Im looking for. This, of course, is a Carvin Icon bass....

http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/b2.jpg



Tracy / Larry..... I might need some help with the graphics if you are willing. Thats a long time off though.



YIPPIE!!!

[Tracy]

Make me blow the dust off my graphics tablet! I'd be happy to help!

[MarkE]

Im kinda rethinking this project a little. Living in a large apartment with wall to wall white carpet everywhere makes spraying paint difficult. I remember when I used to spray model helicopter bodies in my garage and it created a real mess.

Im searching around for water based lacquers that can be brushed on. I managed to find a good clear cote but no opaque colors yet. The search continues......:banghead:

[SilverHamer]

You are a better man than I am to do the paint job. But I think it would be a fun undertaking with the proper work area and tools to use.

I will be happy to assist with graphics. :)

[MarkE]

I have made the decision that I simply cant spray paint here. its unfortunate but I have no choice. After some intense research I found a water based lacquer called KTM9. Its water based, no fumes, no toxicity and believe it or not, if done carefully can be applied with a foam brush.

Now, anyone will tell you that you can not brush on a guitar finish. After research and examining the MSDS I disagree. If I practice on scrap, and do the proper sanding I believe that I can do it. KTM9 is clear, and dries clear. You can use pigment in it to make it any color you like, or use tint to tint it.

I ordered a quart today along with some finishing supplies. What worries me is that you have to allow lacquer to cure for a considerable amount of time before sanding and polishing. Here is the problem....

If you were to put on a headstock decal, and painted a coat of clear over it, when it dries you can still see and feel the decal (raised). The way to do this is to keep applying coats until the finish is the thickness of the decal (and then some) and then sand over the decal to level things out. Eventually it'll feel flat.

Now thats okay for a small headstock decal, but I will have decals all over the guitar. This could be a nightmare and probably more work than its worth. I think Im gonna pass on this idea, or leave it for a later project.

My choices now are, sand out the body, then...

Wet the body to raise the grain, sand again and go with a clear cote over bare alder. i've seen guitars like this and they are nice.

Another would be to pigment the KTM9 white or other color for the body and clear coat the neck.

Third, to use a wood oil like tung oil to stain the body and neck. This appeals to me because it is simple to apply, dries fast and I could have it done in a weeks time.

Anyway, I have the KTM9 coming but am still not sure what to do.

Anyway...that where I am with this.

[SilverHamer]

This Warmoth J-bass body makes my mouth water, MarkE.

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/bodies/large/BP241A.jpghttp://www.warmoth.com/showcase/bodies/large/BP241B.jpg

[MarkE]

Sweet....dontchya just love the rear routing on these babies? Covering up wood like that with a pick guard and/or metal plate is a sin.

I think if I eventually do a warmoth it'll be a dinky P bass routed for an extra humbucker near the bridge.

Here are two dinky p bodies routed that way

http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/dinky1.jpg
http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/dinky2.jpg

I really like this one

http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/dinky3.jpg

http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/dinky4.jpg

Check out the contours..



http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/dinky5.jpg

[babayaga]

Can't wait to see the finished product.... it'll be superb, no doubt about it!

[SilverHamer]

http://www.thehawkstudio.com/forum/../carvin/dinky5.jpg

THIS is almost like SEX~ LOL. Look at her, just laying there in all of her splendor! THIS is a beautiful piece of wood! Almost looks like a huge caramel or something.

[MarkE]

agreed. Im half tempted to buy it but wife wife'll kill me after the $$$ I just spent :)

[MarkE]

I'm still going on and on about deciding on a finish for this thing. I've decided not to do white.

I think that Im just going to sand the hell out of it, raise the grain and then go with either a clear coat or tinted blue. I'll have black hardware so these pictures would be pretty close


http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/b4clear.jpg



http://www.thehawkstudio.com/images-articles/b4blue.jpg

I'm leaning towards just doing clear. I would do a tung oil finish but I see so many of them as it is the easiest finish to apply.

I could tint the clear any way I like but I think clear would just suit me better.

Shit...I dunno :duh:

[Tracy]

Ohhhh....I LOVE the blue!

Yellow may look killer with the black hardware also. Kinda like a bumble bee.

A deep red would look good too with the black.

Wow, I don't envy you...it's gotta be hard to choose.

I like natural wood colors too, particularly deep red woods like mahogany. But I know that's a personal preference though.

[SilverHamer]

If you get a piece of wood with a lot of flaming woodgrain a trans black would look cool too, or even a trans charcoal gray. This blue DOES look nice though.

[MarkE]

Thanks for the input guys. One nice thing about KTM9 is that it is clear, and you can tint/pigment it to any color you like and to any degree. I can go from a barely detectable bluish tint to opaque.

I was never really a fan of blue unless its done right. The black is a pretty good idea.

I should have the ktm9 tomorrow or friday. I want to do a few tests with it on bare well sanded plywood. Unce I select a color Ill order the tint from Stew-Mac

I cant help but wonder how this body would look with a quilted top. I should be able to integrate one without too much trouble. My worry is making the body too thick. I wonder how thick these tops are?? 1/4" ? 3/16"?? Damn...there is so much to learn about this stuff. With a top I would certainly go with a tinted color of some sort.

This is fun!!!