More piano recycling

[Dom in Dorset]

Hello again. 
For anyone who missed out on my last offering:
https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/340516-recycling-a-piano-short-scale-tele-bass/?tab=comments#comment-3737079
Since then I've moved to Dorset (clue in new user name) and set up a temporary workshop in my mother's shed. I have a few projects on the go , all involving recycled materials , notably pianos. I'll start with what I hope will be a fairly straight forward Precision Bass build. For now I'm calling it the P34 as it's a 34" scale P bass.
I cut a blank for the neck and started to remove the veneer from the surface that will take the fretboard. The veneer is stuck on with old animal glue and I don't want to run the risk of the fretboard coming off at a later date.

Then I noticed that there was a join in the wood just off centre that could weaken the neck and make the headstock look crap so...start again!

New neck blank, this one only has veneer on one side.

It has the number 31093 stamped on it, probably the pianos workshop number to ensure that parts of each instrument in production stay together. This will be lost when the fretboard goes on. Take a last look :

Slot routed for the truss rod:

The fretboard , made from some sort of mahogany, no idea exactly what.

The body so far. It's based on the previous Tele body but solid and with the upper horn added.
I didn't have my glasses on when I took that!
The fretboard has been glued , hopefully I'll get back in the workshop tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 29, 2020 by Dom in Dorset
It was a bit crap.

[Dom in Dorset]

Looking at the blurry picture of the body last night it occurred to me that I could only describe it as "dirty brown" . You may be surprised that I work at a piano shop and we often strip and refinish pianos. You'd be amazed at how many times a maker took the trouble to cover a piano in beautiful figured/flamed veneer only to hide the whole thing under a generous layer of brown gunk. See bellow:

I took a chance that I'd find something nice under the gunk...

Promising...

Bingo!
Onto the neck....the template (you'll never guess what I made it out of).

The trimmed neck:

[fleabag]

Recycling at its best.  Keep going  Dom

[itu]

I might use the word refining...

[Dom in Dorset]

Sooooo....
I felt very pleased with myself when I fretted the neck :

Then I remembered that it's far easier if you do the dot markers first. oops. Never mind, it will just be harder work. I think the fretboard is walnut.
Then I did some routing:

Shaped body with neck:

I may or may not do some contouring on the body , I'll see how it feels later before deciding.
Then I took it apart and covered it in oil:

 

[itu]

That neck looks fab without front dots.

[benh]

25 minutes ago, itu said:

That neck looks fab without front dots.

I agree!

[SpondonBassed]

I agree with ^both^.  You only need the side dots anyway.  It's a lovely piece of timber.

[Dom in Dorset]

It's my bass and if I want front dots I'm having front dots. 😜
One of the things I wanted to try in this build was a new material for dots made from hammer shanks (maple?)

Close up of the one dot I finished before the heat drove me out of the shed.

[SpondonBassed]

2 hours ago, Dom in Dorset said:

It's my bass and if I want front dots I'm having front dots.

Heeheehee.  Just as it should be.

The middle image is part of a piano hammer, I'm guessing.

[Dom in Dorset]

59 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said:

Heeheehee.  Just as it should be.

The middle image is part of a piano hammer, I'm guessing.

Yes.

 

[Dom in Dorset]

Not just front dots, side dots too made from bamboo skewers, (not recycled). I've put the first coat of oil on the neck and the wood will darken over the next few months, I'm hoping that the bamboo will stay the same and be more visible. Fret ends still need finishing.

Back of the neck:

The whole thing so far:

Edited August 13, 2020 by Dom in Dorset
I just love editing.

[Dom in Dorset]

Holes for machine heads. The slice that I took off the front of the headstock makes a handy template for future use.
Screening . I used to use graphite paint but it's filthy stuff and the copper tape looks sooo much more stylish. 

I like the look of the copper foil and  might try something else for the scratch plate but for now I've made this from part of a chest of drawers that used to house spiders in the shed. It's really nice all hardwood 3mm ply.

The story so far:

[Pea Turgh]

That looks great, Dom.  Are you going to contour the body, or leave it slab stylee?

[Dom in Dorset]

11 hours ago, Pea Turgh said:

That looks great, Dom.  Are you going to contour the body, or leave it slab stylee?

I haven't decided yet but leaning towards slab. I'll play it for a while and see how it feels.

[fleabag]

That looks like the dog's danglies

[Si600]

15 minutes ago, fleabag said:

That looks like the dog's danglies

Sort of hairy and a bit of an odd shape?

[Dom in Dorset]

1 minute ago, Si600 said:

Sort of hairy and a bit of an odd shape?

But which testicle is best for metal?

[SpondonBassed]

3 hours ago, Dom in Dorset said:

But which testicle is best for metal?

 

[Dom in Dorset]

23 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said:

 

...and that's why you are only allowed two.

[SpondonBassed]

30 minutes ago, Dom in Dorset said:

...and that's why you are only allowed two.

Miracle Clackers all 'round then.

 

Edited September 4, 2020 by SpondonBassed

[Richard R]

New, Original, Unbreakable and Shatterproof.  What's not to like?

[Maude]

3 hours ago, Richard R said:

New, Original, Unbreakable and Shatterproof.  What's not to like?

It doesn't state 'pain free', that's what's not to like! 

Have you tried vigorously clacking them together. 

😄

[Richard R]

9 hours ago, Maude said:

Have you tried vigorously clacking them together. 😄

Only the imported American ones. The homegrown variety are a bit delicate.

Back to the topic: @Dom in Dorset, do you sell these basses as part of the piano refurb business,  or make them just for your own enjoyment?

[Dom in Dorset]

1 hour ago, Richard R said:

Only the imported American ones. The homegrown variety are a bit delicate.

Back to the topic: @Dom in Dorset, do you sell these basses as part of the piano refurb business,  or make them just for your own enjoyment?

I am planning on selling these eventually but not just yet. There's a lot I have to do first , build a workshop, website, stock, refine my designs/technique and all on a shoe string. It should be months rather than years but not until I'm ready. I moved to Dorset earlier this year and I'm hoping that this plus repairs will make up the shortfall in my income after having to reduce my hours at work.
I have a part time job at a shop that sells pianos , that's where the materials are coming from, although I'm not directly involved in piano restoration. I won't just be limiting myself to pianos, any suitable materials will be involved.