de afwerking mk4-7 - blablas next build project

[sblueplanet]

Lovely job

[blablas]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/7avCaAl.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/q9niVd9.jpg[/IMG]
Sawed of the last big chunk of wood, after that I milled the heel to the desired thickness.
The fun part can almost begin, the shaping of the neck and volute, but first I need to make the neck pocket in the body.

Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[HowieBass]

What thicknesses are you going for? That looks super thin at the nut!

[blablas]

I'm aiming for 19.5 millimeters at the first fret and 21 at the twelfth.

[blablas]

Milled the neck pocket.


The neck already stays in place by a tight fit in the pocket.
Also started doubting to make it a set neck instead of a bolt-on, need some time to think this through, but meanwhile I can start shaping the volute and the neck profile. Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

Made a decision where I'm going with the neck, it will be bolt-on, the main reasoning behind this decision is that the two previous builds were also set-in necks and the next one that's roaring through my head is probably going to be a set-in neck as well.

[sblueplanet]

What pickups and electronics have you chosen for this one?

[blablas]

Pickups will be Delano dual coils, switchable between series, parallel and single coil mode (the 2 coils furthest apart).
Preamp will be a two band Glockenklang.

[blablas]

Finally done my favorite thing... Volute shaping.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/5uz8v7x.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/aTeT90t.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/U3hQqnV.jpg[/IMG]
I've been working for weeks to get to this point, now it's time to rush trough the rest of the build.

Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[discreet]

Mmm... volute. That looks like it must be very satisfying to do.

[blablas]

For me it's the cherry on the cake of the entire build, I just love shaping these things.

[Grassie]

What happens to your basses once you've finished them? Are you making them for clients or do you keep them for yourself? You've said before that you're not a luthier by profession so I'm assuming you have a stash of these beautiful instruments at home....

[blablas]

Yes, I only build for my personal pleasure, just for the fun of building and playing them.
What I can't buy, either price wise or by availability (remember, I'm a lefty!), I'll build myself.

[blablas]

Neck shaping, halfway there.

Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

And completely done.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1d0Pzm6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/NOAl4OL.jpg[/IMG]

Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

Sanded up to 600 grain and applied two layers of Danish oil. Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[BassBus]

Love the profile on the back. A flat back feels just right to me. What made you choose Danish oil over something else like Tru Oil?

[blablas]

I just like the simplicity of how it applies and finishes, Tru Oil takes more time and work to get the same result as Danish oil.

[blablas]

Finished oiling the back of the neck (four coats).

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/uqBrsDY.jpg[/IMG]
The top of the headstock after two coats of Danish oil.

Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

The final looks of the back of the neck after oiling.

Overview.


The heel.


Volute.

Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[sblueplanet]

Volute porn

[blablas]

Drilled some holes and countersunk them for the neck attachment sockets. Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[discreet]

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1401056545' post='2459700']
Volute porn
[/quote]

Just about to post those exact two words!

[blablas]

The neck is done (except for a few holes that still need to be drilled).
All the frets are crowned and polished, fret ends are finished and I put the last coat of Danish oil on the fingerboard. Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas

[blablas]

[b][size=5]And finally.......... The first major screw-up!!! [/size][/b]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/GMrAuTv.jpg[/IMG]
The screw I used was to long (I've only got one in this size, guess which one I picked), this is already a step further along in the repair, the crack is filled and glued up with cyanoacrylate.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/m5qSI5S.jpg[/IMG]
And after some careful filing and sanding the surface is at the same roughness as it was before oiling.
Now I need to reproduce the same shininess as the surrounding area again.

The end result will follow later on.

Edited August 11, 2017 by blablas