Rexel Matador Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 Routed the truss rod cavity today. Not much to see there though so let's talk headstocks... The open style headstock from my last build got such a good response that I think I pretty much have to make that my signature now. I was worried it wouldn't be strong enough but as the tuners are mounted on the side, it's much thicker than a normal headstock and seems rock solid so far. I didn't want to just copy the last one so I've been having a good old doodle: But then I thought: Rather by accident, it echoes both the split-into-three design of the F-holes and the "softly triangular" design of the volume knob - I am a sucker for design aspects that tie things together. This version adds a bit more stock so will add strength, but also adds a challenge as the bits between the holes will have to be carved down to a lower level to allow the longer strings to pass. I particularly enjoy the bits of a build where I can just carve away and see what happens, rather than having to be super accurate to the nanometre, so I'll probably give it a bash. Potentially, if version B doesn't work, I can just cut those bits out, leaving version A in its place. This build is getting a bit baroque. I swear, my next one is going to be the simplest bass imaginable. Except that it'll probably have fanned frets 😆 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 I love that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durhamboy Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Yes, give version two a shot, as you said, if it isn't a success it can be converted to version one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Very stylish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted February 8, 2020 Author Share Posted February 8, 2020 (edited) Work in progress on the headstock: When this is done I'm going to find a decent camera to take pictures of it with. I can only apologise for the photo-butcher that is my phone. I mean really, since when was walnut grey?! Edited February 8, 2020 by Rexel Matador 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 I'm a bit scared of inlaying, but I've kept it super simple and it's come out ok. The dots are just 6mm walnut plugs and the big one is a 6mm maple plug in a 10mm walnut one. The maple one was a bit undersized, it seems, and I managed to misalign the grain. I haven't decided if it's going to drive me mad yet. I can always drill it out and redo it if necessary. The problem is that I don't have a drill press. The walnut ones I just ended up buying from someone who happened to be selling some on ebay, but the maple one I made myself, using a plug cutter in a hand drill with a little jig to hold it in place - not ideal - and I'm probably not going to do it any better than this using that technique. Am I going into too much detail here? Short version: dots! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted February 14, 2020 Author Share Posted February 14, 2020 Home made fret bender seems to do the job 😀 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 Real updates coming soon I promise, but I just need to offload my pickup winding woes for a second 😔 After a couple of failed attempts, I sat down to finally wind the second pickup. 2,000 turns in and the spool of wire suddenly developed a tangle of sorts. It somehow has three ends, and a considerable amount of unwinding hasn't unearthed the one which must, surely lead to nowhere. I now have to buy another spool despite the fact that I can absolutely guarantee I will never wind another pickup again as long as I live! 😂😤 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 (edited) The build is plodding along, life permitting - here is a mock up of sorts - the woodwork is basically done except the neck pocket and lots and lots of sanding. The pickup covers and knob have finish on them already, so hopefully the fretboard will pretty much match them in the end. The neck is only very roughly carved, but I'll probably get it done this weekend Same goes for the headstock I only had white side dot sticks. I could have bought black ones, but I still had a bunch of walnut plugs so... I'd hoped they'd match the neck a bit better, but it remains to be seen how it looks once it's sanded and finished. I'm sure it'll look cool, colour match or otherwise. All in all, it's coming together. I just have to wind the second pickup and wait for payday so I can buy all the remaining hardware (tuners, strap locks, neck ferrules and of course, strings) Edited February 21, 2020 by Rexel Matador 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I especially like that headstock. It's got an organic look to it as if it grew there. The whole bass is impressive even at this stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Fascinating build, and I can see the Geiger connection! On magnets for pickups, I'd be tempted to try a plain mild steel bar with a 5mm neodymium magnet on top. Why? I've fitted magnets like that to three Squier jazz pickups and it makes them ridiculously hot, you even have to move them away from the strings as otherwise they make them intermodulate (one string drives the others and they beat!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) Neck is sanded and fretted. The first attempt at fretting was a bit of a disaster and led to me having to plane down the fretboard (necessitating a redo of the inlays as well) and start again. It all seems ok now and has left me with a slightly shallower neck profile which is a bonus. I usually do the logo with a branding iron but as this wood will finish up quite dark it's not ideal, so instead, I forced the branding iron into the wood with a vice, making an indent, and put silver leaf in it. It's not perfect but I'm pretty happy with it for an experiment. I'm now using epoxy putty to try and make an accurate neck pocket template. I've attempted this once before and it worked pretty well, so it should be fine. I still need to wind that second pickup, but it's getting there! Edited February 29, 2020 by Rexel Matador 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 That is superb @Rexel Matador. So ridiculously stylish. Off the scale - really. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 16 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: That is superb @Rexel Matador. So ridiculously stylish. Off the scale - really. +1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Starting to oil the body and neck. The walnut is coming alive! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durhamboy Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Very pretty. I especially like the sound holes mirroring the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 1 hour ago, durhamboy said: Very pretty. I especially like the sound holes mirroring the headstock. Thank you! Yeah, I really wish I'd thought that through and made them match a bit better - ie made the sound holes a bit more rounded (or the headstock holes a bit sharper, for that matter). Next time perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durhamboy Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 That's how it gets ya. During, or after each build, some idea dawns and then becomes "something to do on the next build". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 10 hours ago, Rexel Matador said: Thank you! Yeah, I really wish I'd thought that through and made them match a bit better - ie made the sound holes a bit more rounded (or the headstock holes a bit sharper, for that matter). Next time perhaps Have no regrets. Your design style is evolving into something more coherent, that's all. With a couple more under your belt you will have a well refined instrument. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 9, 2020 Author Share Posted March 9, 2020 7 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: Have no regrets. Your design style is evolving into something more coherent, that's all. With a couple more under your belt you will have a well refined instrument. Perhaps, although the next one I have planned is completely different 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 9, 2020 Author Share Posted March 9, 2020 Although I now realise that's immaterial because were talking about coherence within a given instrument Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Rexel Matador said: Although I now realise that's immaterial because were talking about coherence within a given instrument It might be that you will go for a different design. It will still be a reflection of your own style. It is that which is evolving and very nicely too if I may say. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 10, 2020 Author Share Posted March 10, 2020 Finally got that second pickup wound and couldn't resist a test fitting. We're getting there! A bit more finish on the neck, fret job (yawn), nut, wiring, strap buttons, set up, play! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 11, 2020 Author Share Posted March 11, 2020 (edited) The loud end is all hooked up. One volume and a series/parallel switch for the pickups. I was originally just going to wire them in series like one big humbucker, but I decided this was a neater way to do it and also gives me another tone to play with - which can't be bad as I have no idea what it's going to sound like as yet. I plugged it in just to make sure it actually makes noise and it does, so that's something! Edit: I've only just noticed that the grain on the back follows the curve of the lower bout. I'd love to say that was deliberate, but it's a happy accident! Edited March 11, 2020 by Rexel Matador 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 I'll be glad when the neck replaces that wonky stick 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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