mickhardup Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Hi all, I thought I should share my first attempt at making a body from scratch, I had some offcuts lying around after a loft conversion that I thought I could practise on so I planed the edges and glued them together that was the easy bit like all good quality roof timber it was bent in all sorts of directions, but I planed it as best I could and it didn't turn out to bad. So I copied the shape of a p bass on to it and cut it out, I already have 3 p bass copies I wanted something a little different something without a pickguard, I had a pair pickups and a few other bits, I thought I would like a white body black hardware, I bought a cheap neck of ebay and a set of cheap tuners and set about building it. The neck arrived from china last week good quality for 28 quid. Decided I am gonna do it translucent white if it don't look alright ill do it flat white. All comments and advice gratefully received. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 (edited) Looking really good! what finish you doing on the body? Scrap that I should have read better 🙄 That should look good trans white! Edited July 17, 2018 by Jimothey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Nice lump of wood considering it was roofing timber. Doing well ... Keep going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 had the day to myself so had a go at binding, things was going quite well until I got to the final bend on the last horn and the bloody binding broke, I had warmed it up and moulded it round the horn but when it came to sticking it on it broke, didn't have any more so I had to splice it together, it came out alright in the end. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 That's looking really good with binding and no belly/arm relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 6 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: That's looking really good with binding and no belly/arm relief. Thanks, I don't know how comfortable it will be to play, that don't really matter because I cant play anyway LOL. I was going down the aerodyne shape to start with but when I cut it out it looked ok so I done it this way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 1 minute ago, mickhardup said: I don't know how comfortable it will be to play I'd think it could work slung low on the strap Hooky style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Looking nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 I tried and failed with trans white spray laquer, interested to see how you do it. Loooking at tinted danish oil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 5 hours ago, Geek99 said: I tried and failed with trans white spray laquer, interested to see how you do it. Loooking at tinted danish oil I have given it 3 or 4 coats of white ash wood dye, it looks better than the pics but I am undecided whether I like it or not. If I clear coat it I don't know whether to do it matt or gloss, I suppose if I do it gloss and don't like it I could flatten it and make it matt. I await your inspiration. Thanks for the encouraging comments. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 I say satin finish, but clear over the binding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 I agree. The binding should stand out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 1 hour ago, mickhardup said: I have given it 3 or 4 coats of white ash wood dye, it looks better than the pics but I am undecided whether I like it or not. If I clear coat it I don't know whether to do it matt or gloss, I suppose if I do it gloss and don't like it I could flatten it and make it matt. I await your inspiration. Thanks for the encouraging comments. Only just seen your build and was thinking that would look great with a translucent white finish and bingo there it was. I'd use a satin finish, it's a little more forgiving on softwoods which with the best will in the world are difficult to get completely flat. Mind you when I saw the first pic I thought nothing meaningful would be made from those and I was instantly proven wrong so no doubt you'll prove me wrong 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 7 minutes ago, Christine said: Only just seen your build and was thinking that would look great with a translucent white finish and bingo there it was. I'd use a satin finish, it's a little more forgiving on softwoods which with the best will in the world are difficult to get completely flat. Mind you when I saw the first pic I thought nothing meaningful would be made from those and I was instantly proven wrong so no doubt you'll prove me wrong Hi Christine thanks for the encouraging comments, I only started this to see if I could build a body and it hasn't turned out to bad, lets hope I don't muck it up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Where did you get the white wood dye? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 4 minutes ago, Geek99 said: Where did you get the white wood dye? B+Q. coloron white ash 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 (edited) Looks fantastic, the blinding really sets it off. What timber is it by the way, pine? I like the knots. Edited July 20, 2018 by BrunoBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 10 hours ago, BrunoBass said: Looks fantastic, the blinding really sets it off. What timber is it by the way, pine? I like the knots. morning, don't know what wood it is probably pine or spruce maybe who knows its got a ce mark so its ethically sourced LOL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 I hope you can help me don't laugh I don't know anything about strings I have seen basses with black strings on, I am thinking they are tapewound ? do you use the same gauge as normal strings ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 The black ones are usually tapewounds - similar gauge and tension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 I’ve done the whole string thing over the years and I now play with black tapewounds all the time. you can get nice lows and the highs ,they are not as bright as roundwounds but they have a really nice feel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 59 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: The black ones are usually tapewounds - similar gauge and tension. luvly thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Reggaebass said: I’ve done the whole string thing over the years and I now play with black tapewounds all the time. you can get nice lows and the highs ,they are not as bright as roundwounds but they have a really nice feel I'm looking to change to some black tapewounds but I can only find the La Bella ones for about £45 a set which I can't stretch to as I'm only a bedroom player at the mo do you know of any cheaper but good sets?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickhardup Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 4 minutes ago, Jimothey said: I'm looking to change to some black tapewounds but I can only find the La Bella ones for about £45 a set which I can't stretch to as I'm only a bedroom player at the mo do you know of any cheaper but good sets?? and me that's too much for me just to hang on the wall, not called mickhardup for nothing. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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