Jabba_the_gut Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1348526021' post='1814926'] nice. What do you use to cut the frets? that's the one bit I know I would struggle to do with accuracy. [/quote] I bought the fretboard pre-slotted for this one. Can't remember exactly where I got it from - think it was from a seller on eBay who cut it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyf Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1348526021' post='1814926'] nice. What do you use to cut the frets? that's the one bit I know I would struggle to do with accuracy. [/quote] +1 Mine would be all fretlesses ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyf Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 [quote name='Jabba_the_gut' timestamp='1348085179' post='1809167'] That's where these template cutter bits come in. Make a template out of ply about 6mm+ thickness then try routing it on a scrap of wood. You can then try fitting a pickup or whatever into the cutout to see if you have it right. It's a bit of trial and error and needs some patience to get a decent result. I often use bits of wood veneer stuck to the edges of my template to correct where I've got it a little wrong!! The thing with routing is not to try to cut too much in one go - if you do the router might snatch at the wood and chip a chunk out (found that out being impatient once...). The other good thing about using a local joiner is that if you are making a body out of 2 pieces of wood, the joiners will have the machine tools to get a nice, square edge on each piece to join together. They guys I've used round here have been really friendly and helpful - there is also a cabinet maker I have spoken to about different woods and finishes, who gave me some good advice; I hadn't heard of a cabinet scraper until then and that has also been a useful tool. Cheers Jez [/quote] It's really interesting seeing some of the videos on the Warwick site and how they use CNC to route the cavities etc in one pass. One of the videos shows the shaping of a Thumb bolt on body. It's astonishing how quickly the signature shape appears as the tools pass over the block of wood. Re the bass, I guess I need to just make a start and go and grab me some kit. I've got a defret and epoxy to do first on a neck I've just brought which will give me a bit of practice to get my hand in. Thanks for the help so far and more importantly, the inspiration :-) T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 (edited) It's been a little while since I last had chance to do anything on this but I have now fitted the frets and put it together to make sure everything lines up. It's not too bad but the neck will need a shim to give a little angle to get the strings to sit low enough. I've got some water based satin laquer I'm going to try on this bass. I tried it on a sample of the wood and it should look nice. Couldn't resist sticking the electrics in and stuck on three odd strings I had. First time I've the combination of Nordstrand pickups and the Audere pre-amp. Even needing to dress the frets, set the relief and fit another two strings I'm really chuffed with how it sounds. I [i]really[/i] must get on and finish this now!!!! Not the best photos attached but gives you an idea of how it is looking. Cheers Edited July 30, 2013 by Jabba_the_gut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Looks really really good m8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyf Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Wow. Top job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengreen49 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Very nice work. I love the shape, where did you get the inspiration from? I'm soon going to make a body for an old bass I have lying around and you have inspired me to try something a bit different... Where did you get the pots from? I will have to re-wire too. keep at it, you have some skills there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 [quote name='bengreen49' timestamp='1354719345' post='1889542'] Very nice work. I love the shape, where did you get the inspiration from? I'm soon going to make a body for an old bass I have lying around and you have inspired me to try something a bit different... Where did you get the pots from? I will have to re-wire too. keep at it, you have some skills there. [/quote] Cheers for the comments! Definitely have a go at making something - I kind of like having a bass that I built, there's something quite satisfying about it. This forum is really useful for advice too for anything from different woods to different finishes. With regards to the shape, that's just from looking at basses that come up for sale on here or just browsing different websites for some ideas then haveing a bit of a scribble. There's just too many websites with nice basses on for ideas - I particularly like the [url="http://www.lefay.de/english/details.html#!prettyPhoto"]Le Fay[/url] and [url="http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/"]Jerzy Drozd[/url] sites to see some superb craftmanship (though nothing I could ever afford or justify having!!) but some of the basses that have build diaries on here are superb - have a look at [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/128181-4-string-burr-elm-diary/page__hl__scojack%20eub"]Scojacks[/url] or [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/191339-firecreek-maplerosewood-pj/"]Nuggets[/url] for example. The pots on this one are those that came with the pre-amp (Audere z-mode) but places like [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Knobs.html"]BassDirect [/url]have a reasonable selection of knobs etc. If you do build something, post the build diary on here - be interested in seeing what you decide. Cheers Jez. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengreen49 Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Will do. I've started messing with some ideas in Corel (I have a plotter so can do full size working drawings). Might have to wait for the temperature to rise in the old shed though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) [quote name='bengreen49' timestamp='1355145006' post='1894538'] Will do. I've started messing with some ideas in Corel (I have a plotter so can do full size working drawings). Might have to wait for the temperature to rise in the old shed though. [/quote] Yep - know that feeling!! I'm desperate to get out there and start spraying the sanding sealer and laquer on this but it's just too damn cold!!! Edited December 28, 2012 by Jabba_the_gut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Hooray! It's finally warm and dry enough to get back to the garage and start spraying this thing. I'm having a go with some water based sanding sealer and laquer with a satin finish. I'm applying it using a cheap (£10) airbrush. Seems to go on okay but can see this needing a fair few coats and plenty of sanding to get a nice finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Take your time mate. Light goats and light flatting back between coats is the way to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Looking forward to seeing this finished. Keen to see how you get on with the water based lacquer too,...... Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1357258365' post='1920146'] Take your time mate. Light goats and light flatting back between coats is the way to go [/quote] Cheers for the details. I'll try it that way and see how I get on. I'll post details as to how I get on with the water based laquer in case it is of interest to anyone else. Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 (edited) Spraying not gone so well - oops!! Not sure what went wrong, could have a number of things:[list] [*]bit over eager and tried doing this when it was too cold [*]hadn't cleaned all of the dust from the surrounding area down enough [*]slightly clogged airbrush [/list] What ever it was, I ended up with a bit of a rough finish that I a going to have to take back down and try again. I'm going to have a look at cheapish, fine spray gun and try that on a few samples fiirst to see if I get a better finish before I try this again. Think I'll also wait for it to properly warm up before I try this again, in the mean time I've started preparing some wood and started trying to source some parts for the next project. Edited January 27, 2013 by Jabba_the_gut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 (edited) Finally! Had warm enough weather and the time to finish this. I'm pleased with how it has turned out. Even the tarty LEDs look nice...though not everyone's taste! Edited August 3, 2013 by Jabba_the_gut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myke Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Looks really good Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nugget Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 really nice - looks superb in the flesh!!!! Looking forward to scratch build 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBobTTD Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 The LEDs look rather cool, I think. Nicely done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 a couple of better pictures.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloc Riff Nut Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 [quote name='Jabba_the_gut' timestamp='1344028313' post='1759051'] Well I've finally started this! Not done too much but decided to change the head shape a bit. Made a rough template from plywood to see how everything lines up. I've made a couple of templates for the body but these aren't quite finished yet. Also thinking about fingerboard radius. This will be a 5 string bass with 19mm string spacing at the bridge so I'm considering a flat fretboard - though I've never tried one!! Anyone had a flat fretboard with a symmetrical neck or have any guidance on this? [/quote] Hi Jabba, That spalted beech looks fantastic by the way, great job. I was wondering which fretboard radius you chose, if any. My ACG 5'er zero radius fretboard with asymetric neck is easier to play and more natural-feeling than my YamahaTRB 5'er. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 [quote name='Bloc Riff Nut' timestamp='1375519859' post='2162413'] Hi Jabba, That spalted beech looks fantastic by the way, great job. I was wondering which fretboard radius you chose, if any. My ACG 5'er zero radius fretboard with asymetric neck is easier to play and more natural-feeling than my YamahaTRB 5'er. [/quote] Cheers for the comments. I chose a 12" radius for this fretboard. I posted something on here at the time about flat boards and quite a few folk hadn't heard of them either - I'd only just heard of them after looking at an ACG the Manchester bass show and was curious to what people thought. The ACG I looked at had an asymmetrical neck too and I have to say it did feel really comfortable for the couple of minutes I was playing it. But not wanting to deviate from the norm, I ended up doing a radius and symmetrical neck!! I've got another build (or two...) planned for the near future and I'm quite tempted to try this. The next build will be a 4 string - do you think both the flat board and asymmetrical neck would work for that? Cheers again Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 Just looked at the ACG site and the four strings are zero radius and asymmetrical.....mmmm... got me thinking now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBobTTD Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 [quote name='JimBobTTD' timestamp='1375305854' post='2159649'] The LEDs look rather cool, I think. Nicely done. [/quote] I agree with this guy. The whole bass looks corker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloc Riff Nut Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 [quote name='Jabba_the_gut' timestamp='1375523136' post='2162449'] Just looked at the ACG site and the four strings are zero radius and asymmetrical.....mmmm... got me thinking now!! [/quote] That's something I didn't know. So now you know it'll work-but how will it feel? I've only really spent quality time on my ACG and Yammmy TRB II 5'er and the asymetric zero radius felt easier/more natural to play. Thanks for sharing the build. Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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