Andyjr1515

...and yet the very lightest of my 'why do electric guitars and basses have to be soooo heavy' series of builds, a 6 string double humbucker 25" scale electric coming in a 5.25lbs...has an oak back 👍 Watching with interest, @Dom in Dorset

Yes - good, thanks. Hope all good with you and yours too And yes - looks that way!

I use this double-sided tape from Axminster Tools. They sell it as what to use to hold wood being hand routed onto the work bench - it's very thin and very strong... https://www.axminstertools.com/ujk-technology-double-sided-tape-102795?queryID=e4b200edde4afd5cf964884eacec8f0a

Only just caught up with the thread. Yes - the final sealer coat can be a real b****r. Best way of checking if you are down to clean wood is to wipe it with a damp cloth - the clean wood darkens with the moisture and anything with sealer residue in the grain shows up as light patches...and that will show pretty much whatever finish you choose.

Interesting - to my surprise, I think you are right. Can't find any. There are 3-hole solid black, there are 1-hole B/W/B three-ply...but even those mostly look a little short at c.4.5mm...but no solid black 1-holes as far as I can see.

Lovely job, lovely bass!

Yes - I use a similar method. I actually solder the wire to the copper tape, then cut an 'arrow head' in the copper to allow me to pull the earth wire and solder joint back into the hole so the bridge only has the copper tape between it and the bass/guitar body.

Nice work and lovely result I notice that you had filled the bridge earth hole in one of the shots. Is the bridge earthed?

Splendid, @Dom in Dorset Looks super good!

For my personal guitars and basses, there aren't many that I haven't done this to, @Owen. And where practicable, I have always favoured doing it for custom builds too. It usually isn't the actual depth that is the issue to the player (and there be dragons in the spine zone), but instead it is the 'haunches' either side of the neck spine that generally makes the biggest difference. That can make a MASSIVE difference to the feel of the bass or guitar. I have been able to show more than one player that the 'slimmest of the necks that they have ever played' is actually deeper than the rest of their collection. So when I have ever built a bass or guitar for myself, I carve the neck close to what 'feels right' but then, when it is fully finished, strung up and in tune, I play it, then twist it round like a back to front cello and shave material off the haunches from the heel to the nut, either side of the central spine. Then I play it, then turn it round and shave some more off until it 'feels right'. Finally I re-do the slurry and buff and by the next day of it hardening off, I have a fully playable bass or guitar. It's clearly a little more involved if it's a varnished neck, but you can do the same with those. Tone-wise, I've never been aware of any major difference unless the spine itself is reduced - and never do that unless you know exactly how deep the trussrod slot is...

Flattery will, of course, generally get you everywhere with @Andyjr1515 , @AndyTravis Many thanks for the endorsement Sadly, @Beedster, I will have to side-step this one. The old hand-arthritis (the hands are old as well as the arthritis ) is causing issues at the moment and I've had to drop fret and neck work, which tends to need all the bits that hurt the most. It's worth looking through the 'Basschatters willing/able to help other basschatters' list on the forum - there are some super-talented folksaround here who might be able to help and some might be in your area.

Here are a few shots of @SpondonBassed's Squier Jag soon after it was finished. Whoever thought that natural, unstained wood could be so stunning! : This is a thread that covers the basic method I use, whereas - while the above is natural veneer just with clear varnish - this one below features a stained finish to the veneer. Applying the veneer is identical, though:

I didn't do a thread of actually doing the Squier Jag and actually didn't take progress photos (as I confessed, apparently, in a post in 2011. 2011!!!! That's a mid-teenager's life span ago!!) but I think I can find a thread of the method used if the photo links are still sound. I'll have a look.

Hmmm...not sure. I think so. I'll have a look in the morning.

I'm so out of touch, @Dom in Dorset, I'd missed the progress on your thread. I just LOVE that denim finish - everything splendid, the instrument itself, the finish. Oh and that travel guitar from a post ages back...absolutely stunning!