Andyjr1515

As my wife would say, "NOW look at what you've done!" Sounds a great project - give a shout if you want any hints or tips (or look at the various threads and if you do it the opposite way to me, it will probably work out much better ) Or as my boss once said, "We've achieved a lot, in spite of your help, Andy."

[quote name='Bastav' timestamp='1485610444' post='3225291'] Looking good! [/quote] Thanks, Bastav & Harry Couldn't resist a quick photo while I work out where the string tree is best placed....

I spent most of my career in Planning and Logistics, which inevitably means I'm usually rubbish at planning However, I've obviously had a passing flash of 'in-cycle activities' inspiration because, mechanically, this should be complete today. It then needs a few more days before I can polish it, ready to hand back over to Harry probably next weekend. That then ties in nicely with gelfin's Mouradian-style, whose varnish should be hard enough to handle normally by tomorrow, which means I can spend time over the next few days sorting ITS mechanical finishing tasks before the final polish stage in a week or so . This morning I cut Harry's original scratch plate in line with the planned design: Although I have got a replacement scratchplate, the fit on this was just a tad better round the neck end - and I wasn't sure I could replicate Harry's scratched initials well enough!! What it does mean, is that if at anytime Harry wants to revert to original scratch plate for own use or sale, there's a full and bright sparkling new one there to use. The central fixing screw on the original HB is odd, because it was unnecessary, but with the black fixing screw in place it will look fine The other thing that I've had to 'fit' are the replacement tuners. Even though I would be surprised if the originals aren't Wilkinsons, the base plates on the Wilkinson replacements are bigger, requiring grinding away of the preceding ones to avoid overlap! From that I can only assume that the peg spacings on the HB are subtly different to Fender and Squier. Worth noting if any of you are thinking of upgrading a HB yourselves! Still, they look OK - almost like they were designed to do this :

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1485559793' post='3225014'] Oooooooh loud! [/quote] Certainly strong magnets...need to keep my credit cards away from these! (subtle reference for the pre chip 'n pin generation )

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1485556343' post='3224992'] is that a JBXN I see in there? [/quote] Yes - it has two JBXN's and a KiOgon loom

I'll be cutting the pickguard in the morning so I've mocked it up with a paper template. I might tweak it just a touch but I think this is OK: It's going to show enough of the figuring while still retaining the look of a pick-guarded bass:

Well, I think that deserves another picture....sure looks pretty good from that sneak view!

Looks a beautiful job

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1485431140' post='3223883'] It's looking fanatstic and I love the way the varnish has coloured the maple. [/quote] The rest of the neck should go a similar shade, albeit satin and silky

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1485375920' post='3223539'] Im guessing the bridge will be black too? Babicz perhaps? Love that pickguard design. Goona look killer. [/quote] Just a standard wilkinson one, but black with brass saddles. All the black hardware is on order Last night finished the headstock, including Harry's sunflower:

The finishing is always a bit fiddly and iterative, but this one brought a few challenges I don't usually encounter. The bit that was much easier than my normal method was using an artists fan brush for applying the laquer. With Ronseal's formulation change, the new brew doesn't thin well - essential for my normal wipe-on approach. So this used an artists fan brush (this is an old one - NEVER put a brush on a carpet unless you like dust in your paint ): I left the varnish un-thinned and it went on quite nicely (I think the new formulation is thinner than the old, just a tad), and it flattened well with very few drips to sort out. BUT the natural tint in the varnish, against the light cream, was the devil incarnate! The slightest variation in thickness (such as when you merge the next strip into the one you've just applied) resulted in a colour change In the end, I applied more, but thinner, coats and the colour variation is pretty much sorted. This is pre-polishing - that will be done after a couple of weeks to ensure the varnish is fully cured - but in the greatest test of full daylight: If it was a car body-shop, I'm sure I'd be given my P45, but for a pre-polish hand-paint job I think it is probably 'fit for purpose'? And I'm pretty sure it is the colour Nic was looking for

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1485290976' post='3222885'] Aha so now we know what our artisan looks like. [/quote] This is the police mug shot just after the swat squad raided for crimes against Harley Bentons....

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1485283823' post='3222807'] Great achievement! When are you starting a saxophone build thread? [/quote] I would be absolutly fine taking one to pieces...but after that, hmmmm...tricky!

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1485276471' post='3222731'] Shame the original photo didn't work Andy, and that was such a fancy-looking camera too! By the way, I don't think you were wearing that jumper either. [/quote] Good job it wan't a cardigan! We got some decent shots from Josh, but just not the 'all the guitars and basses' one. This is an array: The 'in ear monitors' in our case are all hearing aids! Here Chris is singing from the heart... Pete looking all black and white on the EB3-ish.... Paul probably wondering how he can get the dial up to 15 and yours truly is wondering if he's picked up the right sax...

[quote name='roman_sub' timestamp='1485276753' post='3222735'] cool idea - remind me a little of the Steve Morse musicman signature guitar [/quote] Thanks! Before I order the black tuners, I needed to know if we were going to need lightweight ones because of the amount of weight I'd taken out. But no, with the total assembled bass now at just under 9lbs (8lb 14 oz without the pickguard), this is how it sits with a slippy narrow strap: That'll do me. I'll be ordering some black Y tuners tomorrow

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1478564685' post='3170005'] Got the opportunity to play this at tonight's band practice . It sounds great in full band context. The Model One is a cracking pickup....I noticed Pete only used one of the six settings on the rotary (no surprise, it was the 'neck only') and when I got to play, I never got past that setting either. At the gig on 10th Dec, it will be a bit special because I will have built every guitar and bass used in the band . The fully tally will be the lead guitarists tele and spare, the vocalist's dreadnought acoustic, Pete's EB3 bass and SG six string, my own own design six string. Must remember to get someone to take a photo [/quote] Well typically, the gig photo didn't come out properly so, by the stunning innovation of camera technology, we were able to recreate the event at practice last night . Here are the old gits (otherwise known as the Grey White Band, which is, as you may have noticed, based on hair colour....well those who have any hair (The Grey White and Baldy Band doesn't roll off the tongue in quite the same way even if it is, technically, more accurate ): The guitars and basses (all built or abused by yours truly), from the left:[list] [*]Bitsa telecaster based around a genuine Fender neck [*]Squier strat with fancy veneer and more pickup options than were wise to let loose on Paul, the lead guitarist [*]Me holding a fun-competition build from TheFretboard forum - "take a £90 kit and do something interesting with it". This has now been my main gigging guitar for the past 2 years! [*]Pete's EB-3ish scratchbuilt bass [*]Pete holding his scratch built SG-ish 6 string (when he plays this, I get to play the bass ) [*]Chris's scratchbuilt dreadnought acoustic [/list] Well, something for the grandkids to take the piss out of. Well, OK, no grandkids yet - so you lot will have to do it in the meantime

I've mocked up a few pickguard / no pickguard options in Photoshop to see what they look like. To be honest, the pickup ring and separate control plate option, although exposing more of the figuring, didn't look right so I looked at a major trimming option of the existing pickguard and bounced a few designs off Harry. We've opted for something like this. I like the contrast and it makes everything look like it's supposed to be there: I'm going to mock-up the whole thing later today to check the balance, weight, etc, and then decide on tuner and bridge options (probably going for black) and then cut the guard over the next couple of days...

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1485118268' post='3221334'] Bloody hell...amazing! [/quote] To be honest doing it this way will never match a professional spray job (and I always pre-warn owners that that is the case) but particularly once polished it comes up pretty good considering you could do it in a spare bedroom...

Thanks folks The flattening went well and I did the first attempt at the 'final coat' on the back this morning. I reckon that will do, ready for polishing in a couple of weeks time: The top and sides are also flattened and, with luck, they will go as well in the morning for the 'final' thin coat...

I like that VERY much

Thanks, everybody. Well chuffed with it so far

We actually have a bit of daylight so before the final flattening and wipe coat, this is how it's looking in the daylight: In real life it's a bit creamier than these shots look. Also the playing area of the neck is presently completely unfinished. Once it's been 'slurry and buffed' it will darken to a tone very similar to the varnished section albeit satin rather than gloss.

This is coming on nicely. I do like that contrast with the maple neck: The little sunflower emblem (a personal request from Harry) will press into an exact fit cutaway - just resting here so it doesn't get stuck! I've got to think through that neck pickup rout - it's oversize under the pickguard. I used to be able to get Jazz pickup rings but they seen to no longer exist - anyone know? I suppose I can always make one... The back is just stained Ash but's come up fine:

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1485015083' post='3220433'] This will be fabulous - translucent red is my favourite finish. Just got this but I do prefer the gloss top-coat. [/quote] Oooo... now that looks nice

The headstock will have a couple of swifts and an emblem important to Harry. Normal stuff that many of you will have seen on previous threads: Jeweller's saw to cut out the Mother of Pearl: A trace round the inlays in pencil and then rout with the dremel and precision router base: And tested for fit before epoxying in. The edges will be tidied up with the final sand and stain: In the meantime, I've sanding-sealed the back of the body and given it the first coat of varnish: It's all starting to come together...