HazBeen

Black ferrules for the neck screws, not done them yet.... one of the things up next.

Tung Oil, so nothing thick Appreciate the input, thanks!

Did a few things over the weekend, it is always surprising how many hours you lose “fiddling” about. - Input jack hole - Pickup routed - Neck routed The neck cavity is a perfect fit, although annoyingly I messed up somewhere and I need to route another 3mm deeper (not an issue, just annoying). Slowly getting there.... Question for @Jabba_the_gut and @Andyjr1515, do you reckon the fact the neck has square corners at the heel there could be a risk of the body cracking when the neck is installed/strings tuned to pitch? The solution would be to add a 2nd pickup so the heel pushes against the pickup, not wood. What do you think?

Magnets sourced 5mm x 2mm should do the trick.

Yep

Well, I had bought screws, but I was just thinking magnets is the way forward. Now to source some

Bit more progress today. - Cavity routed - Cavity cover - Arm contour (just needs final sanding) - Belly contour (just needs final sanding)

So, spent a few hours in my new “workshop”..... Body trimmed and rounded, and mocked up the cavity/neck/pickup etc. I am quite pleased with the result so far. If I am super-critical I wish the join between top and body was a bit more consistent, but I am really nitpicking. All the really scary stuff done, so neck pocket, pickup cavity, control cavity, arm and belly contour next.....

An envied man you will be

I may still cater to you ...... I have built 5 or 6 basses over the years and trust me, I have had more than a few FUs, resulting in having to redo bodies, necks etc. etc. So, until all is said and done I expect anything.

In case anyone wonders what the line is on the topwood, it is pencil (centreline) not a gap.

What did the wood say to the glue? It feels clamped in here.....

Haven’t had much time. But just going to glue the spalted maple top....

Well done, they look nice! Enjoy them.

Oh, spalted maple cap almost certain

I plane routed the body today. Such a versatile machine a router. First took 5mm off, which took it to just under 2100 grams (with a few 100 grams still coming off). I then just went “full on” now having 32mm left, and I will stick a 7mm topwood on so will end up at 39mm. Expect to end up at around 1700 grams without hardware. Perfection Will post pics at some point.

Have to admit, that is impressive (of sorts)

Still not entirely sure what I will be doing, but I have decided I will be keeping the zebrano for another project. This body needs to stay “light”, because the Status neck is black and I like the contrast. Still toying with just thinning or might put on a maple cap, or even just an ash or poplar cap.