HazBeen Posted May 23, 2020 Author Posted May 23, 2020 On 23/05/2020 at 15:34, owen said: I have often fancied a thinner bass body. Are Ken Smiths thin or is that just an optical illusion? Expand I am not sure, never had a Smith. But there certainly are many basses that are slimmer than the 4.4cm (1.75”) Leo came up with, so would not be surprised at all. The main thing is to ensure you have enough meat for the neck to bolt on to (or set in). Which to me suggests 3.75cm is close to the slimmest you can go. Although an actually skilled builder like @Andyjr1515 of @Jabba_the_gut would know better. I am just pretending Quote
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 23, 2020 Posted May 23, 2020 On 23/05/2020 at 16:09, HazBeen said: I am not sure, never had a Smith. But there certainly are many basses that are slimmer than the 4.4cm (1.75”) Leo came up with, so would not be surprised at all. The main thing is to ensure you have enough meat for the neck to bolt on to (or set in). Which to me suggests 3.75cm is close to the slimmest you can go. Expand Just for reference, the basses I've built so far have been between about 37 and 42mm. As you say, main reason is to ensure there is enough to bolt the neck on. I am building something at the moment that is 45mm thick but that is the thickest body I have ever done - generally 40mm is my aim as it seems to suit my builds. It's also worth considering the thickness from a playing and aesthetic point of view depending how thick the neck is or how high you want the fretboard over the body. Weight of a bass hasn't really bothered me but I don't gig two hour sets!! I seem to remember @Andyjr1515 making one bass that was really thin bodied - around 25mm if I remember right!! The body you are making is looking really nice - I'm looking forward to seeing this one completed. That is lovely grain on that timber you have chosen for this and I think it will look superb when finished. What's your plan - to make it thinner then check the weight and if it is still above your target then to do the chambering or will you chamber it anyway? Cheers Quote
HazBeen Posted May 23, 2020 Author Posted May 23, 2020 On 23/05/2020 at 17:13, Jabba_the_gut said: What's your plan - to make it thinner then check the weight and if it is still above your target then to do the chambering or will you chamber it anyway? Expand Not fully decided, but I am leaning towards chambering and making it thinner. Lighter is better for me. And I happen to have 6.5mm thick book-matched Zebrano in bass dimensions I was intending to use on the next build.... ash and zebrano always looks good together. Quote
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 23, 2020 Posted May 23, 2020 On 23/05/2020 at 18:01, HazBeen said: .... ash and zebrano always looks good together. Expand Absolutely! Quote
HazBeen Posted May 30, 2020 Author Posted May 30, 2020 Still not entirely sure what I will be doing, but I have decided I will be keeping the zebrano for another project. This body needs to stay “light”, because the Status neck is black and I like the contrast. Still toying with just thinning or might put on a maple cap, or even just an ash or poplar cap. Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted May 31, 2020 Posted May 31, 2020 Looking good! My ultra slim builds were all neck-thru but yes, 25mm (in fact, Tom's African bass was sub 25mm). But with a bolt on, it starts getting challenging at much below 35mm. 40mm certainly should be fine, though. On a more general note, the thinner you go, the more you need to double check the hardware, pots &switches you are intending to fit - push-pull pots and some toggle and lever switches can be very deep! Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted May 31, 2020 Posted May 31, 2020 Just checked Rog's Status body ref the ongoing veneer thread - it's solid walnut and the total body thickness is 35mm. There's 13mm of wood under the neck pocket if that info helps 1 Quote
HazBeen Posted May 31, 2020 Author Posted May 31, 2020 On 31/05/2020 at 16:29, Andyjr1515 said: Just checked Rog's Status body ref the ongoing veneer thread - it's solid walnut and the total body thickness is 35mm. There's 13mm of wood under the neck pocket if that info helps Expand I plane routed the body today. Such a versatile machine a router. First took 5mm off, which took it to just under 2100 grams (with a few 100 grams still coming off). I then just went “full on” now having 32mm left, and I will stick a 7mm topwood on so will end up at 39mm. Expect to end up at around 1700 grams without hardware. Perfection Will post pics at some point. 2 Quote
HazBeen Posted June 4, 2020 Author Posted June 4, 2020 Haven’t had much time. But just going to glue the spalted maple top.... 1 Quote
HazBeen Posted June 7, 2020 Author Posted June 7, 2020 What did the wood say to the glue? It feels clamped in here..... 2 Quote
HazBeen Posted June 7, 2020 Author Posted June 7, 2020 In case anyone wonders what the line is on the topwood, it is pencil (centreline) not a gap. Quote
Geek99 Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 I’m so utterly sick of all this competency crap... where are the mess-ups and the “so wish I hadn’t Started this” rants. Can’t you people do something really stupid or badly once in a while ? 🙄 4 Quote
Owen Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 Check my thread for abject failure. I am here for you. 1 1 Quote
HazBeen Posted June 7, 2020 Author Posted June 7, 2020 On 07/06/2020 at 09:39, Geek99 said: I’m so utterly sick of all this competency crap... where are the mess-ups and the “so wish I hadn’t Started this” rants. Can’t you people do something really stupid or badly once in a while ? 🙄 Expand I may still cater to you ...... I have built 5 or 6 basses over the years and trust me, I have had more than a few FUs, resulting in having to redo bodies, necks etc. etc. So, until all is said and done I expect anything. 1 Quote
Si600 Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 On 07/06/2020 at 09:39, Geek99 said: I’m so utterly sick of all this competency crap... where are the mess-ups and the “so wish I hadn’t Started this” rants. Can’t you people do something really stupid or badly once in a while ? 🙄 Expand Have you read my bench diary, warts and all? It's more wart than anything else. 1 Quote
Bill Wy,Aye,Man Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 Heres one I made from scratch, done as an exercise to identify the pitfalls, also done with basic hand tools, barring a router and an English pull saw for the fret slots 3 Quote
Si600 Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 @Bill Wy,Aye,Man Is there a bit of a wobble at 8th/9th fret on the treble side? 1 Quote
Bill Wy,Aye,Man Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 On 07/06/2020 at 10:44, Si600 said: @Bill Wy,Aye,Man Is there a bit of a wobble at 8th/9th fret on the treble side? Expand Sure is, like I said it was an exercise to identify the pitfalls involved, the timber was free and the truss rod, rosewood fingerboard and fret wire came to about 30 quid 1 Quote
Bill Wy,Aye,Man Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 On 31/05/2020 at 18:49, HazBeen said: I plane routed the body today. Such a versatile machine a router. First took 5mm off, which took it to just under 2100 grams (with a few 100 grams still coming off). I then just went “full on” now having 32mm left, and I will stick a 7mm topwood on so will end up at 39mm. Expect to end up at around 1700 grams without hardware. Perfection Will post pics at some point. Expand A Joiner I know has a 13" planer/thicknesser, I keep hinting at him to leave me it in his will, although he does lend me it when required 1 Quote
HazBeen Posted June 7, 2020 Author Posted June 7, 2020 On 07/06/2020 at 11:08, Bill Wy,Aye,Man said: A Joiner I know has a 13" planer/thicknesser, I keep hinting at him to leave me it in his will, although he does lend me it when required Expand An envied man you will be Quote
Geek99 Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 On 07/06/2020 at 10:25, Si600 said: Have you read my bench diary, warts and all? It's more wart than anything else. Expand Yes, I feel more worthy now 2 Quote
HazBeen Posted June 7, 2020 Author Posted June 7, 2020 So, spent a few hours in my new “workshop”..... Body trimmed and rounded, and mocked up the cavity/neck/pickup etc. I am quite pleased with the result so far. If I am super-critical I wish the join between top and body was a bit more consistent, but I am really nitpicking. All the really scary stuff done, so neck pocket, pickup cavity, control cavity, arm and belly contour next..... 5 Quote
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