Winter Build Off 2018 -- The Magneto-Sonic Walnut Wonder

[Jon Clegg]

OK here's my official pile-o-wood picture to get my entry into the Winter Build Off 2018 started:

But this isn't where it starts. No, it started when I asked a co-worker who mills lumber if he had any walnut, he said yeah he had a couple of logs that were a couple of years old and just let me know what I wanted. I told him, and he delivered double what I needed, along with pictures of the journey from log to lumber:

I could easily see getting 2 bodies out of that book-match, and 2 necks out of that beam.

For now I'm planning on focusing on just one, a steam-punk themed bass.

The other bass I'm thinking of building from this walnut would be a medium-scaled EB-3, an EB-3M I guess.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Dang, that book match is your centerfold in “Wood Porn Quarterly”.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Maybe I should name a bass made from it "The Angel"...

 

[Jon Clegg]

Decisions, decisions...

I've got two slight variations on the Steam Punk design; the original:

and a slightly larger body that extends the upper bout closer to the 12th fret:

Opinions welcome

And how to best use the book-match. Keeping in mind the backside kind of bevels in from the curve of original log.

The backside doesn't line up as nicely, I'm wondering if a center stripe of Wenge down the back would make it look more intentional?

Various ideas for usage:

Larger body:

Small body:

Again, opinions welcome

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I like the larger body but, either one, I could see the points on the waist digging in to the stomach. Then again, I’m an old fat guy so...

I really do like the shape though.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That's a tough call, I REALLY like that body shape, I think the smaller one is a bit more graceful, but the bigger one will probably hang better. I never know how a bass will hang until it's assembled, including bridge. Maybe safest to cut big first, you can always cut back to smaller, but you can't make it bigger later! Once you get the neck and bridge on, even rough mockup, the decision will probably be obvious.

 

[ctmullins]

That “twelfth fret” rule shouldn’t be considered in isolation. Instrument balance is the sum of many factors, only one (well, technically two) of which are strap pin location(s). Other factors are body weight and weight distribution, neck weight and weight distribution, and the ergonomic relationship between player and instrument. The first can be affected by body wood density, chambering, etc. The second can be affected by neck wood density, scale length, tuner weight, bridge location, etc. The third is manifested in the qualitative observation that those of us who like longer straps seem to be less affected by the neck dive gremlin.

So don’t be a slave to the “twelfth fret” rule. If the shorter body better encapsulates your aesthetic, then you can use it, and employ the other variables to mitigate any balance issues.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I read an article about how to determine the center of gravity for a guitar. There was some unfortunate Math Content. They lost me at “centroids”. I built a full-size and thickness plywood mock-up for my first build, not a perfect analog, but it became a great consequence free testbed for Bad Luthiery.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Yeah it's a tough call. The smaller shape is more elegant. And it's not that much shorter. I'll post a picture when I get home. I may just cut it a bit large and see. I could compute the CG based on the centroids etc given that all the wood will be of similar density.

 

[RBS_Johnson]

I like the smaller body myself. And I think you already got my wife's vote at "steampunk bass", lol.

 

[Jon Clegg]

I like the smaller body myself. And I think you already got my wife's vote at "steampunk bass", lol.

Leaning that way myself. I'll take every vote I can get!

 

[Fender_Bender]

Gotta dry and season it first unless you want some walnut pringles.

 

[Jon Clegg]

The log was in excess of 10 years old when he milled it. It's been drying for a few months in addition.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I wouldn’t use air dried wood that hadn’t been stickered indoors for less than a year, but ymmv.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Comparison of the two shapes:

 

[Jon Clegg]

Comparison of the two shapes:

View attachment 2851246

 

[Beej]

Longer one for the win!

Seriously, I like it's feel better than the shorter one. The longer one looks more "violin family" and to my eye, feels a tad bit more steamy than the other...

 

[Jon Clegg]

Looking at them overlayed and where the outlines merge, I may well be able to meld the two taking the best bits of both.

 

[mikewalker]

SMALL body, it's more gamba-esque!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Please tell me this involves at least one F-hole, gotta have it on that shape.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Please tell me this involves at least one F-hole, gotta have it on that shape.

Actually hadn't planned it, may do the Ampeg Scroll Bass thing