Bullets, bums and bass guitars

Ray

You heard me right. Bullets!
It was a little gig and there we were doing the thing. And I was singing. In my mauve ski-pants, a red tank top and an orange boa – was quite the thing hey. But the East is a bit different and things happen. So there was a bit of consternation outside because the Hell’s Angels arrived. See, someone organized for them to just keep an eye that things keep orderly and tidy.
Anyway, it got very heavy and the action moved inside and all the time I was shaking my stuff like crazy because the show must go on. And as much as I said “hey everybody, just be cool man” and “what’s going on here” the things just got rougher. And then I turned my back on the audience so they could get a good view of what was shaking and it was then the bass player saw that someone was aiming a .45 at my ass. So he lunged forward and got the P-Bass headstock in the way. It still went right through the headstock and made a hole in my bum. Just top right of the other one. But broke the speed of the bullet but here’s the damage to the bass guitar.

So, I’ve been reading here about B&S Guitars or BvanS Guitars (I don’t know) and the work done on headstocks and beautiful body finishes and so forth and I set up a time to get the bass guitar to him. And he looked at the guitar but wanted nothing to do with any of the other holes that the bullet made. So just hang on I want to see if my picture made it in here and then I'll show what he's done so far.

Ray

So it made it and here is a pic of the back of the headstock

And then he whips off the machinery and starts sanding.

And he starts making a plug from some maple. Now he can tell you more than I but this is a part of the process:

And he plugged the hole. And we were all quite amazed and we all cried a bit we were so happy becasue just look how he got the grain to match up so nice:

Now look at the pic here and you will see that the plug is a bit proud of the headstock:

so when he sanded it level, the grain matching was gone for the most part. So we all cried a bit again but not becasue we were happy.

But ol' Wayne is a resourceful man and a true artist and he got out some stain and other stuff I dont know about and did some work. He had spent so much time on getting a matching plug in there and I dont think any mortal would have the guts to go through that again so showing the true grit that us okes from the East are so well known for he got some of the artistic out:
the front :

the back:

So, what do you okes think? I am very pleased with what is going on here. And if I can help it, the Angel's arent going to do any work at any gigs that I am in or at again.

Four4

Try pulling the other one ?

Did you convert the bass to a five string or was that from a previous owner?

Jack-Flash-Jr

:roflmao:

Gearhead

Funny how the shrapnel of that bullet managed to make four screw holes in the back of the headstock... ?

fjcdt

8)
Fellas we all know its not the scars we care about, its the stories made up about them.

Great job though, no one will ever know it was a 5 string, your secret's safe with us bru. :roflmao:

Bob-Dubery

Ray wrote You heard me right. Bullets!
It was a little gig and there we were doing the thing. And I was singing. In my mauve ski-pants, a red tank top and an orange boa – was quite the thing hey. But the East is a bit different and things happen. So there was a bit of consternation outside because the Hell’s Angels arrived. See, someone organized for them to just keep an eye that things keep orderly and tidy.

No need for me to read any further. I've been to Riebeeck Hotel.

Johnny-B

Gearhead wrote Funny how the shrapnel of that bullet managed to make four screw holes in the back of the headstock... ?

Last time I saw bullet damage like this, a piece of shrapnel also put a deep nick in the nut equally spaced with the grooves for the four strings. I suppose it's too much of a coincidence that this happened to yours too, Ray. ?

Ray

Johnny B wrote
Gearhead wrote Funny how the shrapnel of that bullet managed to make four screw holes in the back of the headstock... ?
Last time I saw bullet damage like this, a piece of shrapnel also put a deep nick in the nut equally spaced with the grooves for the four strings. I suppose it's too much of a coincidence that this happened to yours too, Ray. ?

Gee I dont know but I'll check. I bought a new nut just in case. Those arent screwholes. They happened because the studs on the back of my ski pants came of when I was hit and caused the damage. Anyway, back to the work that Wayne is doing. So these are two pics, one of the front and one of rear (not mine) after second coat of sealer. Wayne is planning some tinting next week. And we are waiting for the decals.

domhatch

i think he's plugging the wrong hole... ? seriously though, it's most excellent work. question from the completely doff - does a hole in the headstock, with all the tension being now transferred to the one side, not weaken the headstock even though the hole has been most excellently plugged?

tks
dh

Fish-Eagle

I'm going to say it again!! Wayne you do Magic!! :applause:

Neon-Gecko

domhatch wrote i think he's plugging the wrong hole... ? seriously though, it's most excellent work. question from the completely doff - does a hole in the headstock, with all the tension being now transferred to the one side, not weaken the headstock even though the hole has been most excellently plugged?

tks
dh

I shouldn't think so, as long as the plug is a tight fit making a strong bond and the material is the same.

I would imagine that any forces exerted would be distributed evenly, well that's my take on it anyway, for what it's worth...

domhatch

Neon Gecko wrote
domhatch wrote i think he's plugging the wrong hole... ? seriously though, it's most excellent work. question from the completely doff - does a hole in the headstock, with all the tension being now transferred to the one side, not weaken the headstock even though the hole has been most excellently plugged?

tks
dh
I shouldn't think so, as long as the plug is a tight fit making a strong bond and the material is the same.

I would imagine that any forces exerted would be distributed evenly, well that's my take on it anyway, for what it's worth...

having thought about it for a millisecond, i have come to the conclusion that with the installation of a new 4-string nut, tension is now evenly distributed along the appropriate side. makes sense to me. but then again, so do douglas adams' novels.

?
dh

flatfourfan

cool thread..........I was about to drop a smart comment regarding the grain doesn't match.....lol.

Norman86

this is looking damn good!! well done ?

Wizard

You could have just covered the hole with an owl sticker.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Wizard wrote You could have just covered the hole with an owl sticker.

Those are pretty popular around these parts.

What happened with the bridge?

Ray

Niffin. But the string nut took some hits so gonna replace that.

Jack-Flash-Jr

If the nut has been respaced but the saddles not ain't it going to be wonky? i.e. non-parallel?

Ray

saddle and bridge are fine. 4 string and not 5 like has been suggested after I gave account of a very grave circumstance.