SpondonBassed

Is that two strings per clamp Jez?

A volute! Respect.

It might be worth taking a look at a kit build or even making one from scratch. I'm sure you will find the Build Diaries of interest even if you still intend to buy one off the shelf.

No shortage of ideas to tease out then. Good man. I'd say you're right about necks being the challenge. If you think, the neck is what it all comes down to in the end and like the Chapman Stick, all you need is a beam with anchorage for strings and pick-ups in between. The body is dressing to a degree.

It looks grand. I think you've done well for a first build. If you think about it, it's two builds. The bass and the workshop itself. I'm wondering what's on the shortlist for the next build.

Superb detail. Even at this stage you can see depth and texture to the dragon.

Minder, the nephew years? I remember it. If all the years that Dennis Waterman was in could be likened to cheese, the follow on nephew years were merely yoghurt. I like the bass popping in the theme tune.

Welcome Zal.

Welcome NoTrebleNoMid.

That's interesting. Will you be routing the J cavity yourself?

I was a miserable young git and suffered a bit with dysthymia. Now that I'm past 55, I feel I am in my element and I'm loving it.

Hardly surprising given that you've... oh wait, "twiddle". As you were, nothing to see here.

Hahahahaha! Good one. Two way product placement! I'm chuffed to be among the first to hear it played Si. Congratulations.

OI! Malicious Moggies was going to be the name of my next band... Hahahahaha. The term made me smile. I like how it's come out. I've seen factory products that have passed QC that don't look as good. You needn't worry. Nice touch with the Lotus badge.

Aw shucks. 'T were nowt.

Lovely. I want to get myself inlaid when I'm old enough. Tattoos are old hat.

Quo?

In this context it makes no difference. I agree however that three wheeled cars fall over more often than four wheeled ones.

The milking parlour stool is a very good example of what you're trying to say. Three legs good, four legs bad. This is a sound engineering principle but it does not apply to this situation. An accurately cut neck pocket made for a the neck root giving you a push fit is what makes the joint strong. The screws are only there to keep the mating surfaces in close contact. If there are lumps in the woodwork, there is something very wrong. If a shim job is badly executed it can compromise the contact surface area too. In those cases, no number of screws or bolts (even using thread inserts) will help. You can't polish a turd. You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Again, three legs good, four legs bad. It works for objects that need stability on uneven surfaces but it does not carry across to the neck joint. What makes the neck joint work is the large surface area where the two pieces meet. The screws (bolts if you like) simply hold the two pieces in contact.

Hahahaha! Three boltless necks.

I can only think you are associating "Spondon" with Spondon motorcycle frames. I live in Spondon and I was an all weather motorcyclist for twenty five years but I have never owned a Suzuki. My last was a '95 Triumph Tiger. Spondon Engineering used to put all makes of engine in their frames. Welcome to you both.

Welcome Jonny.

Fair enough. Another way of increasing the longevity of the female thread is to apply wax to the male thread before each assembly. This is the method I have witnessed most and the one I'd have a personal preference for. This works for any number of bolts. To address the OP, if a vintage instrument has survived 'til now with a three bolt neck, I'd say the job's a good 'un.

Welcome ctate. Are you here as his agent then?