@Matt Liebenau, you get likes in before I can even finish editing the post lol. Thanks for the support!
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My First Build 2020
- Thread starter tobascovodka
- Start date
Right place at the right time! Besides, the picture of the neck blank with the truss rod in and fretboard off deserves a like just for the pretty colors.
Can we step back to these two photos? I'm in the same boat here, so if you could elaborate on exactly how you went about transferring your layout markings from the printed paper to the fretboard I would greatly appreciate it.
I'm not the OP, but when I started out, I would stick a paper template on and transfer the lines before sawing - I would use a straightedge and a sharp razor knife, just cut through the paper and you get a nice precise line scored on the fretboard. Then I realized that was just adding a step, and I switched to simply sticking the paper template to the board and sawing right through the paper with the fret saw. Then I upgraded to a purpose built fretsaw jig so now I don't even bother with paper templates or marking anything! Of course it can't to fanned frets, though. If I were to do a fanned fret design I'd just stick the paper to the fretboard (light coat of spray adhesive) and saw through it.
Yeah, and that's prolly what I'll do since I already have a can of spray adhesive. Just curious how @tobascovodka went about it, maybe a better way, dunno.
@TerribleTim68, I printed the template from fretfind2d as multipage PDF. Cut at margins, carefully matched up the sheets, taped together, then cut out and verified with a ruler all the fret intersects. Then put it over my fretboard and marked center, high and low string fret points on the board by pressing thru a carbide marking tool, I'm sure a sharp anything would work. Then peeled off the paper and connected all my fret intersect dots. You only need high and low string but I liked having center as well, it helps reduce chances of misalignment. Make sure you measure your printout, not all printers print to scale by default some can't, others need settings changes to do it.
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Started the body glue-up, also started shaping the neck, but don't have pics yet. used a spoke shave to get the bulk of material off after band saw and routing the neck taper, and I will need to get some more rasps since using a sander is very risky, the heat from friction tends to make the purple heart dark purple. I don't really want that, since its hard to get it to be consistent. I might take a heat gun and hit the purple heart at the end before wax, try to get the deep purple. Since I can't bake the whole neck blank to get a consistent purple all the way thru I think I will leave it natural. I tried baking the off cuts at 350 and they look amazing, but I don't want to compromise the glue in the neck just for that.
Now that its almost in one piece, I have to decide if I want to keep it as is, as far as body wood, or if I want to add redwood burl inlay into the wings, it would be outside the the first 2 inner walnut body strips. (those I did my best to book match) I know I will have to cover some of the book matching up for control knobs, a little unfortunate. Maybe, unless once the body is cut out I can find a way to get them in coming from the bottom of the upper wing. Or even run a shielded multi pin out straight from the pickups to an external box. Then I would feel comfortable doing a rechargeable lithium battery bank.
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Okay, I'm gonna admit, there was a point where I was scratching my head going "Where are we going with this?......" but now I get it. This is starting to look really cool.
@TerribleTim68 Thanks, I didn't do renderings like you have for your build, I don't have that kind of patience for design. I just get an idea, do a sketch, research... a lot, and just run with it. Same with all my other hobbies. I'm hopeful that this will all work out.
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Routing back cavities, and pickups comes next. Then some major body shaping. Do I get an oscillating drum sander?
That looks really nice
Are you carving the top? I can see some glue and wierdness in a body lamination under the knobs, I figured you have a plan to address it. Normally I don't really like the multi-laminate body look, but with this build the fact the neck laminations are tight like that, and then the body laminations are wider, looks very cool. I don't think I've seen that in this configuration before.
Exited to see it get finished
Are you carving the top? I can see some glue and wierdness in a body lamination under the knobs, I figured you have a plan to address it. Normally I don't really like the multi-laminate body look, but with this build the fact the neck laminations are tight like that, and then the body laminations are wider, looks very cool. I don't think I've seen that in this configuration before.
Exited to see it get finished
Yeah it just came out of the clamps, I haven't scraped the glue off. There is some top sanding I will need to do, or maybe setup a router jig and shave the top down like 1-2mm. I was going to cover up some of the laminations with veneer but I kinda wanna leave it and only veneer the back so the cavity covers match.
Not sure yet, gotta sleep on it. I might have enough off cut lamination from the neck to do the cavity covers. then there may not be any veneer on it at all.
Not sure yet, gotta sleep on it. I might have enough off cut lamination from the neck to do the cavity covers. then there may not be any veneer on it at all.
That looks really nice
Are you carving the top? I can see some glue and wierdness in a body lamination under the knobs, I figured you have a plan to address it. Normally I don't really like the multi-laminate body look, but with this build the fact the neck laminations are tight like that, and then the body laminations are wider, looks very cool. I don't think I've seen that in this configuration before.
Exited to see it get finished
Pickup routing, after removing the bulk on the drill press. Made a quick template from oak off cuts, just tacked it on with a drop of thick super glue to the body where the body will be carved anyway.
Those Fishman pups really look good on an angle. I'm keeping that in mind for a similar build I will not attempt.
Yes, that is certainly working out man! That body shape is cool, unique and interesting. It's really looking awesome.
Some of you guys......on your first build! I'm nervous as all get out. The bar is pretty dang high around here!!!
@TerribleTim68, I'm as surprised as you are with the progress and result. I'm also nervous, mostly cause one slip up with the router and it turns into a scrap pile for the fire pit. Before this all I really did with guitars is copper foil shielding and changing pots, on 2 guitars. I only started playing bass this year, before that I "played" guitar but never actually took the time to learn or practice, I couldn't even play a full song, fumbling thru House of the Rising Sun was the closest I got to a full song, and that's like 4 chords. COVID, and starting this build gave me some actual motivation to stick with it longer than I usually do, enough to expand my list to a few more pieces. I hope after I'm done with this build I actually keep playing. All this started cause the type of bass I wanted didn't exist on the retail market, I'm sure I could have had it custom built, but for the cost I'd rather spend half as much on materials, and tools. Almost like I like tools more than than the things they are used to create. I don't think I'll have the desire to do another build, at least not for a long time. Not that I'm not enjoying it, I just don't typically stick with anything very long, I tend to move on and do something completely different.