Andyjr1515

[quote name='Bastav' timestamp='1452290777' post='2948680'] Looking good! Will follow the fretting closely as that job is coming up for me later on in my build... Im a bit nervous about it tbh [/quote] Given a few hints and tips, the thought of it is a lot more scary than the doing of it More than happy to post the techniques I've picked up along the way if they are of any interest... Here it is, trimmed and ready for the fret ends to be filed nice and smooth:

[quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1452254491' post='2948064'] Does anyone have any experience of buying a bass from Thomann? Juat want to know what they're like for shipping and make sure they don't send a guitar that's bashed up from bad packing and postage. [/quote] My experience has been very good indeed...

With the body now able to take a bit of handling, after the first coats of poly varnish but before the final coats, it is time for the fretting. I re-did the sanding of the fretboard down to very fine grit, checked the slots, opened the tops of the slots slightly with a triangular needle file and started the process: This is pretty much my kit (plus some fairly meaty fret-wire cutters out of picture) I add a fine thread of titebond to the tangs, then hammer one side, then the other side, then the middle, then pop the radius block over and whack that a few times. Lastly, I wipe off the squidged titebond with a damp cloth and use the torch to double check full seating. Here it is done, ready for trimming: I'll leave this overnight for the titebond to fully harden, then trim the ends. Kert has opted for the slightly larger luminlay in blue for the side dots (none going on the top of the fretboard), which I will fit after I've trimmed and angled the fret-ends. Thanks for looking and for your encouraging comments Andy

...also, given a few upgrades, the Harley Bentons seem to be pretty well made at a ridiculous price point. There are a lot of threads that prob give a clue to the better ones amongst their model types...

The Squier VM models are all, in my opinion, great basses for their price point. Some of the Ibanez basses are also worth a look...

[quote name='wwcringe' timestamp='1452179673' post='2947321'] very classy, very nice headstock very AJR...!! Nice one Andy, another fantastic bass in the works. I'd love to hear/play it when finished [/quote] Hi Tom !!! Happy New Year! When are you going to let me re-tweak your neck profile? Yes - really pleased with this one. Some of the finishing coats are going on prior to final sand of the fretboard and then fretting. It's looking better and better: You will have seen the cut out in the headstock....now WHERE would I have got that idea from?

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1452172828' post='2947235'] Thanks chaps, you have saved me some money. Regarding straight edges, is a 600mm steel rule straight enough or do I need an ultra accurate straight edge? [/quote] That's what I use...

Looking nice. Can't remember - what finish will you be going for?

Looking good from here...

That looks nice

I agree with Manton Customs that you don't really need a notched straight edge, but ref G&W, yes, ive used them a few times for different stuff and personally found them reliable and selling decent stuff. The acrylic templates they recently sent me are top notch...

Yup - I'll be there too

[quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1451853083' post='2944098'] What makes those neck feel huge is the shape, not the front-to-back thickness. Work on sides and you'll be happy. Besides, there's not much material left before you dig into the truss rod routing so don't remove material from the center, if you decide to do it. [/quote] ^^^^ pretty much what Matte_black says. Taking material off the haunches makes a significant difference to the feel of a neck. Nowadays, particularly on my own 6-string guitars, I often use a cabinet scraper to move away from a C profile towards a soft V profile. Makes the neck feel a lot slimmer, but you still have the depth for barre chords and, of course, to stop the truss rod poking out of the bottom. I wouldn't take anything off directly under the truss rod if it was mine. Also, ref your original issue of the neck protruding beyond the fretboard - has it always been like that, or is something moving??

[quote name='alittlebitrobot' timestamp='1452030387' post='2945785'] well, it's VERY effective! I can't see any screws, though. Do these just sit on top with friction after you've set the pickup height? [/quote] Thanks! And no - there will be small screws when it's finished. It would be possible to use magnets, but those might well interfere with the pickups, so small black crossheads is what I'll go for.

[quote name='roman_sub' timestamp='1451985652' post='2945152'] Looking really special :-) [/quote] Thanks, roman Andy

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1451984008' post='2945142'] Once again I'll throw this in, only to be told it doesn't count for some obscure reason [/quote] Absolutely counts as far as I'm concerned

[quote name='alittlebitrobot' timestamp='1451940287' post='2944895'] Wow, this is really coming together. Mind if I ask about your process for pickup covers? [/quote] Thanks, alittlebitrobot To be honest, my process is pretty much 'make it up as I go along'. Basically, I took some offcut of the camphor top, routed out the chambers to within a couple of mm of breakthrough, then cut out the external shape - 3 to 4mm bigger all-round than the chambers - with a fine razor saw. To inset the ebony, I used a dremel with precision router base and a 2.5mm router bit to VERY carefully take off just over a mm of the 2mm top for the thin ebony piece to slot into. This last step was pretty scary! Damn accurate those Dremels can be!!!!

Here's the single cut I'm building for Kert (our very own FuNkShUi ) I always thought of single cuts as interesting but a bit f'ugly, but I'm getting really excited by how I think this one is going to turn out For anyone interested, [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/271204-single-cut-camphor-and-alder-pj/"]the ongoing build thread is here[/url].

OK, maybe it's from sobering up after too much booze over Christmas, but I am soooooooooooooo excited about this build. Kert and I decided to go a bit modern with the pickup covers - they are large and in plain camphor actually DETRACTED from the camphor top rather than enhanced it. We discussed dyeing the camphor, or just using ebony covers but thought it would be worth trying something a little more avant garde...insetting some ebony into the camphor covers. With that, and the finishing process starting to be done, this is what it is beginning to look like: Ref the total shape, I knew the camphor would make it look pretty special, but there is an elegance that I was not expecting with a single cut... Can't wait for this to be finished... head and shoulders the most satisfying build to date... Andy

[quote name='Jabba_the_gut' timestamp='1451728821' post='2942747'] Hi Rubis. Thanks for the comments. I'm not familiar with Luminlay so just looked at their website and they have something that would be perfect!! Many thanks for that. Jez [/quote] Hi Jabba I'm a fan of Luminlay and fit it pretty much as standard nowadays on my basses and guitars. However, be aware they don't stay very bright for very long. They retain a residual glow for a long time that I personally find perfectly adequate for gigging in dark venues, but the bright glow you see in the ads only lasts for 30 mins or so. They are, on the other hand, quite good doubling as daytime dots as the luminescent material is quite light in colour and looks like standard white clay dots. They are also very easy to fit (there's a thread of mine somewhere going through it). Andy

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1451555188' post='2941411'] Have you ever used the ready to iron veneers Andy? [/quote] I haven't - no. I would suspect it's also PVA sprayed on. But, if I did, I would still prefer to coat the body also, then there is no possibility you are going to end up with a 'dry' spot. I have used a veneer with a ready glued on tissue backing - that worked well. Almost identical in technique and in terms of use but seemed quite a lot more resilient to expansion cracking. Anyone else used ready to use iron on?

It looks great, Mel I have been very tempted by the short scale Squier Jaguars....it's now full blown GAS!!!

That's a nice looking bass

Love threads like this . They are looking great! As for wenge used as a floorboard...new one on me!!

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1451491087' post='2940927'] I love the shape of that headstock and the bevelled recess, if that's the right term. I'd imagine coming up with a shape that isn't like anyone else's and looks good with such a small area can't be easy. [/quote] Hi - thanks Maude I always find that the biggest challenge is that - assuming you go for the preferred straight string runs - the geometry and therefore external shape boundaries are pretty much fixed. Usually there is relatively little scope for anything major. I stole the cut-out idea from Tom's African Fretless (thanks, Tom ) and embellished it a bit so I could reflect the horn styles into the resulting ebony shapes. I'll be pleased to get back to this full time...there isn't a huge amount still to do but it needs time free from visitors!