Absolutely Necessary Tools

#23
Originally posted by Bassmanbob


The one thing that makes me think I would stick with this is that I really like to work with my hands. I've always wanted to build something too. I love wood and the smell of sawdust, and I love the bass guitar. It seems the perfect match for me. Only time will tell.
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You love wood, love music, and have a way to combine the two. Sounds perfect! I think once you've done the rough shaping and begin to work up-close with the wood, you'll really start to enjoy it. It's immensely rewarding to convert a blank into a nicely flowing shape. When I finish a project, I actually look back at those up-close times and miss them (I think we all go through a little post-project depression.) The challenging part is finding the time!
 
#24
Originally posted by FBB Custom
6 string necks are generally too wide to fit under the blade guides. It is wise to give yourself some leeway and even a narrow 16mm spacing will require a full 3-3.125" finished width @ the 24th fret.

I like to make my neck blanks at least 4" wide for 6 string basses.
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Referring to table top band saws:

I don't understand something here. A six string bass may have a 3.5- 4.0" neck, but that's side to side. I think the light's going on in my head now. So the problem occurs with a 6 string when you go to cut the neck from front to back, right? Hell, if I have to make one cut without it, I'll find someone who has one and use theirs for 5 minutes.
 
#25
Originally posted by Bassmanbob


Referring to table top band saws:

I don't understand something here. A six string bass may have a 3.5- 4.0" neck, but that's side to side. I think the light's going on in my head now. So the problem occurs with a 6 string when you go to cut the neck from front to back, right? Hell, if I have to make one cut without it, I'll find someone who has one and use theirs for 5 minutes.
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there is a place in san antonio that is about to open up that has routers, band saws, planers, etc. at a shop. i guess you pay to get in and get to use the dudes stuff.

this makes sense to me. i am the type that would prefer to have top of the line stuff or now have anything at all (since i don't have that kind of money, i'll just pay to use this guy's stuff)
 
#26
godoze said:
i would like to add one thing. if it was mentioned i missed it.

in my very limited experience building basses i have found a good straight edge to be most important.

I learned this when I first got some lumber for a neck and it was rought cut on 4 sides.

SOoo...i ran the wood thru the table saw to clean up the waney edge but didn't have a straight edge to begin with so i had to start over.

patience is also a good tool.
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Seconding the patience.:D
 
#28
I have seen mentioned in the forums, particularly by some other established luthiers is that with a little creativity with MDF boards you can build a jig for planing surfaces flat with your router and a Planing Bit. This may be attractive if you don't want to hand-plane and don't have room/$$$ for a machine.
 
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#33
Thank you all for this informative thread! A comment on the soldering, don't forget good quality resin cored solder, side cutters, and appropriate sized heat shrink to insulate any joints you make. Depending upon the sensitivity of the electronics (unlikely on a guitar) some form of anti static work area might be advisable too.
 
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#34
Leigh Semmens said:
Thank you all for this informative thread! A comment on the soldering, don't forget good quality resin cored solder, side cutters, and appropriate sized heat shrink to insulate any joints you make. Depending upon the sensitivity of the electronics (unlikely on a guitar) some form of anti static work area might be advisable too.
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It's interesting that you dug out this particular thread. In the 21 years since it was written, there have to be at least 100 threads on this same general subject. You must have had the search results set to Oldest First. Try your search again. I know there have been several very good threads in the last few years all about "What tools do I need to build basses?", with much more detail.

Also, just read through the threads in Luthier's Corner. This section is all about small shop Luthiers, hobbyist to pro, the techniques and tools that we use. There are hardly any threads on here that don't talk about tools. And you'll see a wide range of "needs" and uses, from folks who build completely with hand tools, to wackos like me who acquire machines by the ton.
 
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#35
Bruce Johnson said:
It's interesting that you dug out this particular thread. In the 21 years since it was written, there have to be at least 100 threads on this same general subject. You must have had the search results set to Oldest First. Try your search again. I know there have been several very good threads in the last few years all about "What tools do I need to build basses?", with much more detail.

Also, just read through the threads in Luthier's Corner. This section is all about small shop Luthiers, hobbyist to pro, the techniques and tools that we use. There are hardly any threads on here that don't talk about tools. And you'll see a wide range of "needs" and uses, from folks who build completely with hand tools, to wackos like me who acquire machines by the ton.
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It also speaks to the fact that in 20 years, there have been few earthshattering developments on the topic, mostly just refinements.
 
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#36
Actually Bruce, when I clicked on Luthiers corner, I just looked at the stickies, this thread was one of them! And, Yes, I was aware of the age of this thread, and the fact that it has not been "visited" in recent history. As MovinTarget has observed, there is really nothing new under the sun!
 
#37
Leigh Semmens said:
Actually Bruce, when I clicked on Luthiers corner, I just looked at the stickies, this thread was one of them! And, Yes, I was aware of the age of this thread, and the fact that it has not been "visited" in recent history. As MovinTarget has observed, there is really nothing new under the sun!
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Okay....But I think some new things have been happening with tools over the last 20 years.......Which may affect your decisions on what you "need" for your shop. For example, I've been leading the charge to show how much can be done with hand routers, using simple homemade fixtures. Operations that small shop Luthiers used to do with hand tools or expensive machines. Such as doing Router Planing, rather than buying a Jointer and a Planer. I've also been promoting the use of Pin Routers in a small shop, and shown how you can even build your own.

My current opinion is that the "mandatory" power tools for a small Luthier shop are a Drill Press, a Bandsaw, and a Router (or two..). An Edge Sander is a very handy extra. Jointer, Planer and Tablesaw are farther down on the list. They can save some time, if you can afford the cost and shop space. But you don't need them to build fine basses efficiently.

And of course, CNC Routers, 3D Printers and Laser Cutters are now down in the price range that small shops may be able to afford.
 
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#38
Bruce Johnson said:
Okay....But I think some new things have been happening with tools over the last 20 years.......Which may affect your decisions on what you "need" for your shop. For example, I've been leading the charge to show how much can be done with hand routers, using simple homemade fixtures. Operations that small shop Luthiers used to do with hand tools or expensive machines. Such as doing Router Planing, rather than buying a Jointer and a Planer. I've also been promoting the use of Pin Routers in a small shop, and shown how you can even build your own.

My current opinion is that the "mandatory" power tools for a small Luthier shop are a Drill Press, a Bandsaw, and a Router (or two..). An Edge Sander is a very handy extra. Jointer, Planer and Tablesaw are farther down on the list. They can save some time, if you can afford the cost and shop space. But you don't need them to build fine basses efficiently.

And of course, CNC Routers, 3D Printers and Laser Cutters are now down in the price range that small shops may be able to afford.
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Of the "must needs", I've lived w/o a drill press or band saw, though I've been eyeing the latter... Something in the small table-sized category. I have one of those "manual" drill presses that are just vertical guides so one can get their bits and screws nice and perpendicular to the wood... Is the drill press more for making your metal parts?

I will absolutely agree on the router and a decent repertoire of bits for templates (flush trim with bearings at top or bottom) and for thickness planing (1/2" shaft and different diameters). You definitely need to respect it though! I'm surprised it doesn't make an appearance in more Mafia interrogation scenes!
 
#40
Hmmmm... I can see it now... "Jason Statham is, 'The Wood Worker'"

Scene: First Person perspective; a man's eyes open and slowly come into focus. "Wh-where am I???" Camera shifts to a close up of his face and slowly pulls away to show him strapped to a CNC table.

Statham: G'morning mate! Either you're going to tell me where me money is, or I'm gonna 3d print you a new bum!
 
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