Magnatone Hurricane project

[gweimer]

Well, it's getting to be about that time.  I need to start my next project.  I picked up this Magnatone Hurricane a few months back.  I have all the parts - it's just in need of restoration.



Whoever had this appears to have stripped it, and painted it black.  And they didn't do a very good job of it.  I've begun sanding off the back of the neck, and part of the face of the headstock.  I can't see any indication that the brand decal is still there.  I'm trying to decide what to do, since it's going to take a little work and money to get this back together.  Here's what I'm thinking right now.  I'll take the neck back to natural wood, and possibly do a tung oil finish or something like that.  As far as the body goes (and my luthier is going to do all the real work), I'm thinking of just sanding it down (finding out what is on there now, of course), putting another coat of good black on it, and then putting some white pinstriping (kinda like fake binding) on it.  Cover it with clearcoat, and it'll be done.  Seems to be the least amount of work. 

Any thoughts?

[Dave W]

Black is always good. But is this worth what you're thinking of putting into it? I don't recall these selling for very much even in original condition.

[gweimer]

They're going for up to $800 in original condition.  I've already talked with my luthier on this, and we're not going to do a true restoration.  It's going to be a project that gets it back into playing condition.  It's a labor of love, to be sure.  I've got $350 invested in it so far (and another one came up on Ebay less than a month later that was intact at the same price...), so I'm trying to keep things in line  When I first discovered these a couple years ago, I was surprised at how cool they were.  Play great and sound great.  For a mid '60s bass, it has some interesting features - zero fret, micro-tilt adjustment, and this funky little mute adjuster.

[gweimer]

Here's an update.  My luthier is going to start on it soon.  We're going with the game plan I detailed above, since it will be minimal work.  I also found a guy on Ebay that will be able to do the decals for me.  He's got a picture and the measurements, and will have a couple for me before too long.  He's very vague in his ebay listings - offers 2 custom guitar decals, and that's all it says.  I'm obviously against the bootleg/fraud angle of decals, but in this case, what I need can't be found anywhere, and it will help with the end result.  And if I ever sell it, all will be made public about the history of the bass

[Dave W]

I wouldn't feel bad or guilty about the origin of the decal. It's not like someone is violating a trademark, the product is long gone. It's just a reproduction decal.

[gweimer]

I'm not guilty about it.   It's probably the Fender market that makes decals a thin ice topic.  With all the fraud and deception around vintage Fenders, the opportunity and temptation are there.

[gweimer]

I just the email.  It's done!   My luthier says I got lucky again.  It turned out really nice, and plays clean.  He's charging me $225 for the whole restoration.  Pics to follow soon.  He says I need knobs for it, so I may use the chicken knobs I've got in the parts box.

[Dave W]

TTIUWP 

[gweimer]

I'll have the camera with me tomorrow when I pick it up.  Anxious to see how it turned out.

[Chris P.]

I like the body shape. I'm curious how it'll work out!

[gweimer]

My luthier does amazing work!

Here's what I gave him:


And here's what I got back a few hours ago:

[Chris P.]

Wow, man! That's really, really great!!!
Love it! I love the finish!!

[Dave W]

Looks nice! Is that a matte finish?

[gweimer]

Yep.  Flat black.  I'm missing a knob, but I put a couple chicken knobs on until I find a replacement.  I have a line on a source out of Dayton, OH.
What amazes me is how Mark cleaned up the neck.

[gweimer]

Last update.  I promise.  I took it out to a local jam tonight.  These were definitely sleeper basses.  This sucker cut through very strong.   I got a few comments on the sound, and the jam host commented that it sounded pretty Ric-ish.  When I told him that it was Paul Barth creation, and that Barth had designed the original Ric pickups, he said that it showed.  Figure the Magnatone Hurricane to be like having an old Precision with Ric overtones, and at far less than the price of a '60s model of either.  I think I'll be keeping this one for a while.