Jabba_the_gut

Hi, I added a post to a build diaries thread with a picture using the BBcode from Imgur but the picture doesn't show. All the previous pictures in the thread posted the same way still display. Cheers

I've made both the new neck templates for this from MDF using the old template as a starting point. It's great when you have a bunch of templates from previous builds that you can use as a starting point. The router cutter for the graphite rods has also arrived so I'll be doing a bit of experimenting to see how best to do this. I made a simple neck jig recently for slotting truss rods so I should be able to use this for the graphite rods too.

Best thing today was putting a fan in the workshop - made it nice and comfortable to get on with a few things. First up was cutting the truss rod slot - took a little longer than I planned as I made a new jig for holding the neck. After that, cut the neck to size and trimmed the edges with the router. All went well, no issues so that puts me back to where I was a couple of weeks ago but this time I have a neck without a hole in it!!

So a bit backward compared to normal build threads but here's a couple of pictures of the finished bass that I'm going to dismantle!! And the neck removed I've measured everything up and will need to make a new neck template as the new one will have a zero fret and a scarf joint on the headstock so the dimensions from my previous template are slightly different. I will also need to make a second neck template for the fretboard as this will extended to include the thumb rest. I've also ordered a router bit for cutting the slots for the graphite neck rods (not something I've used before but we'll give them a go on these builds) as that is one of the next jobs.

Joking apart though, the great thing with making mistakes is learning. With the 5 string neck I made a hole in, I had an opportunity to try a couple of different techniques to rectify the fault which is something I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do. So I learnt something useful from it. The neck might be okay with the fix but I decided to make a new one anyway. What I will probably do is make two necks (fretted and fretless) for the bass- I haven’t tried a 27” fretless so another opportunity!!

Ok, just for you... I stuck the router bit through the neck of my 5 string short scale build so I've got to build a new neck. On this one, I took a little bit too much off the body thickness so had to buy a new body blank (it was about 1.5mm thinner than the body I have already made but I want it to be the same). And I manage to remove a couple of mm of finger nail and a little bit of skin with a scalpel when I was cutting veneers. Surely that's enough!!!

Lots and lots of sanding , a few blisters and an understanding of why they call it 'hardwood', I have sanded the veneers to about 0.9mm. I then glued these to the front and rear of the headstock and clamped in place. Once set, a quick sand of the lip and marked up the centre line ready to cut the truss rod channel.

I have a small pile of veneers that my dad gave me a while ago and in it was a couple of pieces of walnut that look a very similar colour to the walnut tops. A right stroke of luck I say!! After a little bit of carving on the back of the neck, the veneers could be glued on. The curve just makes a nice little volute when the neck is carved. I glued the front veneers first as they are flat, then once the glue was set enough so they wouldn't slide at all, I glued on the rear ones and clamped it all together. And as said before in this forum, you can't have enough clamps. I forgot to take a picture but I probably used 10 G clamps to hold on a headstock veneer. Overkill? Maybe, but it'll be flat and it won't move!!! To get the veneer to sit tightly onto the curve at the back of the neck I use a flat block with a curve at one end to match. On this I have some foam rubber about 4mm thick so when clamped to the neck it pushes the veneer nicely onto the curve. Sanded the front lip flat and marked the centre lines ready for routing the truss rod channel and carbon rod channels. Right, off to sand some coving to earn some brownie points. Cheers

I think it was 23”. Mini basses are great! Ive built a few - details are in the Build Diaries. Really enjoy playing them!

Scarf joints cut, sanded and glued: The small holes at the edge of the necks are where they were pinned during gluing to stop them slipping when clamped.

Lots of pieces for this ready to go! These were originally going to use the birdseye veneer for facing the headstock but I'm going to try to source some walnut veneer to match the body instead.

This project is to make two semi hollow basses, on fretted and one fretless. One of the basses will use the body of a semi hollow bass I made a while back with a new neck. The second bass will be a copy of the first. When I built the first bass I had bought two pieces of walnut at the same time so I should be able to make these look very similar. The reason for making a new neck for the first bass is to change the scale length from 30" to 32". Both necks will also be made with angled headstocks to do away with string trees. Both basses will be maple bodies with an American walnut top, have birdseye maple necks, ebony fretboard (with an extended thumb rest), Luminlay side dots, Shadow piezo pickup, East preamp and a satin finish.

That tempted fate didn't it?!!! Not entirely sure how, but the chuck must have not been tight enough and router bit moved out putting a hole in the back of the neck. Time to build another neck...... I actually needed to build another two necks for another project so I've started making them all at the same time. After thicknessing all the neck blanks I used a bandsaw to cut the angle for the scarf joint. After lots of very tedious sanding (I really must build a jig to make this easier and quicker) I ended up with these: It pays to take time and get this right as it makes for a nice, tight joint. These are the three necks prior to gluing: The worst thing about wrecking the original neck is that I need to make new veneers for the headstock. I bought some ash veneer from different places but it just didn't match to my satisfaction so I made some by cutting thin slices from the offcuts from the body then sanding to thickness. That took ages the first time and now I've got to repeat it!! Oh well, it will be worth it in the end. Cheers

I fitted this Delano pickup in a mini bass for @owen recently and I like that the two halve are the same size (they're the same size as a standard P if I remember right). Satisfies my OCD for things being balanced/in line, etc.!!!

I'll definitely have one complete and hopefully the second one too. I will be bringing along some mini basses as well. Really looking forward to this bash and catching up with everyone again. Cheers

Really liking this build - it is looking superb. Crikey - had forgotten about that book from my uni days too!

I'll have a look where I got mine from (on the burgundy SUB5). It would have been off eBay - just need to make sure you get ones with the right hole locations. I made a template to trim the pickup with a router and used this for both mine and Owens scratchplate. Cheers

I like the white one - looks really nice. If you're thinking of other options I think a white pearloid or a dark blue pearloid might work quite well. Love the blue finish on this.

Oooh!!! That is very sparkly nice...

Excellent. I’ll have a look at that later - much appreciated.

Marvellous!!

Very nice!

Yep, fitted the pickup but haven't had time to try it out properly yet. One thing I have determined though is the 4 way switch idea didn't work, I wasn't sure what it would do but the two single coils settings are just too quiet and thin sounding. I think I'll replace the switch with a 2 way version for series / parallel only but I'm also considering just wiring it permanently one way or the other. I'll have some time at the weekend to try it out further and then decide. I bought a blank Tele control plate anticipating that I might want to change the controls for this or if I decide the pickup is too dull / too bassy that it would allow an additional control for a second pickup. Cheers

I looked on the web too but couldn't find anything either. I was looking for something like this that you get for EMG pickups - I guess the Fishman ones won't be too far different. Look forward to seeing this bass complete. Cheers

Yaay! Looking forward to this