BassTool

Well apparently all is not lost, bearing in mind there's still a battery compartment to put in around the back, my four kids surprised me by chipping in and buying me this for my birthday, I knew they'd come in useful eventually 😄😄

It seems to be the way most of the experienced folks do this just for the screw lugs before then going in with a router over a template, I'm not at that level of skill yet though. A smaller drill bit in the corners is a better idea, and files, sandpaper etc have come to my rescue this far 😊

Beautiful lump of maple that 😍

Followed by more freehand routing. Erm hang on.... WTF? ......thought this was a no smoking area! 🤯 Oh well, that's the end of that router - suppose that's what you get with an amateur at the controls 😖

More drilling first

Got the plate into position then did some marking in pencil. One of the things I'll need to do at some point is add some structure to allow the screws somewhere to screw into to hold the plate in place.

So this was the original hole, and it's going to have go bigger to get this in..

And then onto that control cavity. Going from a vol and tone pot to the four knob East pre was going to require some more bodgery to get it all under there..😄 The plate needs to follow the lower contour of the body to look Rayish, so not only is there wood to come out, there's also going to have to be wood to go in.

Then clear out the thick with a Forstener bit.... Before a sharp chisel went in, then I freehanded the router with a small straight bit in to level the base as best I could. Yup, I could do with lots of practise, opportunity to try stuff, and preferably a carpenter standing over my shoulder to keep me right, but this attempt was getting hidden under a scratchplate, and it didn't really matter that it had plenty of wiggle room, as long as that pup sits in that scratchplate directly under those strings that'll do 😝Following some fettling with a small chisel, files, and sandpaper to make sure all was ok including pup height etc (I'd measured the gap between the strings and body before dismantling everything) I decided to neaten the cavity with a thin layer of Titebond, not sure why, but it gave a nice clean finish once it had dried overnight.

While the neck is progressing, time to see what's required to get the pickup in place. I had to put the neck, tuners, bridge and strings back on to get the position of the scratchplate and pickup marked out.Then time to get busy with the drill, chisel and if necessary the router. Now I've got to hold my hands up and say my routing experience is seriously lacking - I bought one to make a radiator cabinet which involved shaping of mainly straight edges, and again used it to do some straight stuff on the shed. I have never used a template before, so purists of the router, skilled luthiers and first class DIYers may want to look away at the following section.Started with some tape around the bit using the P pup hole as a depth guide, then used the drill in the corners and screwhole lugs.

Of course 😄

And the first coat, with 800 grit paper, is on..

Forgot to show this pic of the block built body from the bottom view.

😲 Oh dear Mick! That's a scary looking split...

Rubbed down, the neck feels amazing already, but I'm hoping to make it even better with the little bottle of magic and the prescribed wet and dry papers. I've never done anything like this before, but it seems straightforward enough. and I suppose if it gets messed up you just go back through the stages again. I got some nitrile gloves as it probably gets everywhere, and after watching some vids on YouTube set about the oiling process.

Nice piece of maple complete with skunk stripe on this neck, back to the wood through the grits starting at 150 then start the Truoil technique above.

While I plucked up the courage to get my router out, I decided to refurbish the back of the neck with a Truoil finish after studying @honza992 's @Andyjr1515 's inspired technique here. The fingerboard I think I am going to leave as it seems it'll be a bit of a challenge to strip the lacquer off, but if anyone has any suggestions how to do it please chip in

And the scratchplate arrived the following day..

Ahhh, I wondered about that, wasn't sure how to do it, any suggestions welcome It's not too much bother tuning, but it would be nice to have it the right way round 👍

Then onto the Bay to get a chrome control plate. I'm now thinking that control chamber is looking on the small side 😎

A Seymour Duncan MM pup and a John East MMSR preamp.

It was time to spend some money on the bass that so far had only cost me very little money, and this little box of trickery came courtesy of @Sharkfinger Really well packaged, it was just what I was after to take this project up a level.

I did a bit more work on the headstock shaping, and these are the tuners close up, amazing condition for 39 years old.

That bass is one of the best looking basses I have ever clapped eyes on. I hadn't seen those pictures before. Absolutely stunning. 😍

Good suggestions those Mick thanks for the ideas 👍