de afwerking mk5-4f - blablas does another build diary

[blablas]

Neck pocket is done.


The milling machine on which I do most of the milling. Edited August 16, 2017 by blablas

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1383439664' post='2264583']
Superb. Built the right way round, but that headstock...
[/quote]

First, I salute your wood working skills; I barely have the capacity to make shelves.

I don't know whether Steve's comment echoes my feeling when I saw the headstock design for the first time, that it was just a bit, umm, [i]understated[/i]? I don't know...you have a really quite beautiful body built there in a kind of offset EB/SG style, but as I was reading the thread (literally ten minutes ago) in my minds eye, I just got this vision of the headstock being something squarer and offset, like a Reverend/ESP.
P

[blablas]

This headstock shape is my personal thing, I have used this shape (with some small variation) on most of my builds, the ones I didn't use it on were my 'Leo Tribute' and my headless basses.

Edited November 3, 2013 by blablas

[sprocketflup]

Cant see anything wrong with the headstock meself .

Must be lovely to have a chuffing great milling machine in your garage Blablas

[blablas]

Frets are in place. Edited August 16, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

Finished the sides of the frets (pictures follow as soon as the right lighting conditions are available).


The first picture of the complete bass.

Edited August 16, 2017 by blablas

[rk7]

[quote name='sprocketflup' timestamp='1383502185' post='2265148']
Cant see anything wrong with the headstock meself .

Must be lovely to have a chuffing great milling machine in your garage Blablas
[/quote]

Yeah, it must take a fair bit of effort to put that back in the toolbox though!

great work, as ever.

RK

[BassBus]

Headstock looks great to my eye.

[blablas]

Sawed of the last big chunk of wood, now comes the real fun part: Shaping the volute, the neck profile and the heel. Edited August 16, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

[IMG]http://s20.postimg.org/sa0i2hd25/DSC_7097.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://s20.postimg.org/rvz62vsyl/DSC_7100.jpg[/IMG]
Roughly shaped the volute.

[sblueplanet]

Completely in awe of the craftmanship. Would love to hear what your basses sound like. Especially the steel fingerboard fretless.

[blablas]

Neck profile shaping is halfway there, I've done enough for today, will be continued tomorrow. Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

The neck profile shaping is done.


The volute is also done.


The heel of the neck still needs to be fine-tuned to the body shape. Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

And the heel is fine-tuned. Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

I've been busy for a couple of hours today with sanding the neck and the body, everything is at grain 600 now.


After sanding I glued the neck to the body, tomorrow I need to do some final sanding in a few of places and drill all the necessary holes, then I can start putting on the Danish oil.

Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/LdVmL8j.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/j93dpK5.jpg[/IMG]
I couldn't resist the urge tonight, the first two layers of Danish oil are on the back.

Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[BassBus]

OOOH! The oil is really bringing the figuring to life. How are you applying the oil?

Edited November 9, 2013 by BassBus

[blablas]

Just rub it on with a paper towel, wait for roughly five minutes and rub it out with a clean paper towel.
Danish oil is really easy to work with and gives a great result, that's why I prefer it over any other product.

[blablas]

All the holes that needed to be drilled beforehand are done.


Might as well show you the front view after two layers of Danish oil, still at least three layers to go on both sides.

Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[kevin_lindsay]

Looking good matey!

[blablas]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/UHZANm9.jpg[/IMG]
The oiling is finished.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/dSbZshD.jpg[/IMG]
Leveled the frets.

Next task: fret crowning and polishing.

Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

Frets are crowned and polished, put some furniture oil on the fingerboard. Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/deRFKBY.jpg[/IMG]
Shielded the pickup cavities and mounted the single bridge parts.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/yCwYEfE.jpg[/IMG]
Mounted the tuners and temporarily placed the pickups for this picture.

Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

Just able to make some pictures with the last bit of daylight.


Still to do: finish the nut, wiring everything up and do the shielding on the lid of the control cavity.

Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

And the beast has strings.

Or... The nut is done.

Edited August 17, 2017 by blablas