Cleaning and Sticker Bombing a "Used" Bass Guitar

At a band jam, I ran into a guy who offered to sell me a "used" bass. He explained that he'd bought it for his son right before he joined the military and left. Since then it had just been sitting unused. He even threw in a really nice 25-watt Fender amp, all for only $100!

The bass was practically untouched, showing very little sign of use. It even had most of the protective plastic coverings still on it—the kind you usually only get to peel off a brand new instrument.

Even the tuning pegs still had their protective plastic on them! (I later discovered the little round string retainer was broken, but more on that later.)

This is a shot before I started working on it.

I set up a folding table and began a careful inspection. While the bass was clearly barely used, it had definitely been in storage for quite a while. Based on the serial number, I'd guess it was manufactured around 2018 (6 years old?). It was probably tucked away in a garage or closet all this time, because it was quite dusty, and a lot of the exposed metal had a dull, oxidized look.

With the strings off, I turned my attention to the fretboard. A good rub of lemon oil brought the dry, dusty wood back to life, restoring its rich color and sheen.

The device above, called the bridge, anchors the strings at one end. It's typically a complex assembly of screws, springs, and other hardware, which makes cleaning it a difficult challenge. This one was particularly grimy, with dust bunnies galore. Disassembling the bridge made cleaning and polishing it significantly easier.

The round, disk-like part (above) is a string retainer, designed to pull certain strings down closer to the headstock for better tone and mechanics. While there are different designs, this one was broken. I suspect it was damaged during factory installation – probably someone trying to screw it in while the strings were still under tension. The screw was bent, and it snapped off when I tried to adjust it. Plus, it was originally positioned too high on the headstock. I've ordered a new retainer, a different type that I'll install in a more optimal spot.

Here are couple parts of the bridge, the adjustable saddles. They were dull and oxidized.  A good clean and polish made them shine again.  Check out the difference (above).

The pick guard had a large plastic protective "sticker" still attached. 

When I peeled away the protective plastic covering, I found a pickguard that was completely untouched and pristine.  Removing the pickguard also gave me access to the electronics, including the potentiometers for the tone and volume controls.  To improve shielding, I applied copper tape to the underside of the pickguard.

I ordered some vinyl "neon" stickers to customize the bass. I've successfully sticker-bombed a bass before, and I'm aiming for a similar result. The first step, and the most time-consuming, is sorting the stickers into layers: a top layer, a secondary layer, and a foundational layer. Careful selection and planning are crucial for a good-looking final product.

These are my choices for the top "will be seen" layer.

Then working "backwards" I layout the secondary layer. I take pictures for reference so I can remember the order and placement as I work.

Painstakingly applying the stickers took hours of meticulous work.  The result, just before I begin the final trimming with an X-ACTO blade, is shown above.

Carefully and patiently carving the pickguard with an X-ACTO blade is a slow and meticulous process.  Here's the final result.

On the back, I chose a few cool stickers that had some personal connection.

This is the cleaned, polished bridge reassembled. Just like brand SPANKIN' new!

I had to drill holes in the headstock in order to install the new string retainer. The original held 2 strings, this holds 3. I think it's more secure with 2 screws and it looks great! 

Here's the final result after cleaning and polishing! The neck was straight, so the truss rod needed minimal adjustment. I set the saddle heights for low action and adjusted the intonation. I also lowered the pickups slightly to avoid finger contact. Volume wasn't a concern; this bass has a strong output. After tuning it up and plugging it in, it sounded fantastic! A nice, "growly" tone when both pickups are engaged, and the strings have a bright "new" sound. I couldn't find any signs of wear, which confirms my suspicion that it was barely played.

I'm thrilled with how it turned out. It has a cool, funky vibe, plays beautifully, and all for an amazing price!