Infinite Bass 1.5FL - COMPLETED (again)

[HazBeen]

BTW, I have ordered a Schaller Rollerbridge in Black after seeing one on @spacecowboy's recent build. I love the one of my old Streamer and think this may be a great fit for the fretless too. If I decide to use it I will keep the Hipshot Triplelocks single saddles for the next one.

[HazBeen]

Crawling forward.... as usual.

Took some material off the headstock, ready for scalloping the fretboard and neck.

I always take a slice off the headstock first, as then when I have glued on the fretboard I can mask off the headstock and use my spindle sander to create the scallop without fear of messing things up...... done plenty of that already

 

[Si600]

23 minutes ago, HazBeen said:

I always take a slice off the headstock first, as then when I have glued on the fretboard I can mask off the headstock and use my spindle sander to create the scallop

Pardon? 😶

[Hellzero]

Escalope à la viennoise, my dear !

[HazBeen]

1 hour ago, Hellzero said:

Escalope à la viennoise, my dear !

Something like that  

[HazBeen]

Wenge fretboard, stuck to a neck with Titebond and clamped. Now I hope I didn’t screw up.....

 

Edited October 1, 2020 by HazBeen

[Geek99]

Is gravity helping ? The work piece seems to be stuck to the ceiling 

[HazBeen]

6 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Is gravity helping ? The work piece seems to be stuck to the ceiling 

No, I was hanging from the ceiling when I took the picture. I am a vampire.

[SpondonBassed]

7 hours ago, HazBeen said:

No, I was hanging from the ceiling when I took the picture. I am a vampire.

 

[Geek99]

8 hours ago, HazBeen said:

No, I was hanging from the ceiling when I took the picture. I am a vampire.

Or a Norwegian blue ....

[HazBeen]

Neck is starting to look like it should..... still need to radius the fretboard, but the glue up was fine and trimming the sides didn’t cause issues.

Also did the headstock scallop.

Still loads to do, but we are moving forward at least...

 

[HazBeen]

I just weighed the neck and body, we’re at 3.3kg without routing the radius, neck pocket, control cavity, pickups and some final shaping here and there.

Certainly looks like I will be achieving the sub 4kg overall goal.

[HazBeen]

Question @Jabba_the_gut, @Chopthebass, @Andyjr1515 and anyone else who might know. My original plan was to do a CA glue coated fretboard (fretless). But since I use flats (Cobalt Flats or Infelds) on my fretless basses anyway could I choose to keep uncoated do you reckon? Or just a single coat of CA to fill the grain and then sanded. As far as I am aware Wenge is a little softer than Rosewood so am wondering if you would consider it or not if you were doing a wenge fretboard fretless.

[Andyjr1515]

8 hours ago, HazBeen said:

Question @Jabba_the_gut, @Chopthebass, @Andyjr1515 and anyone else who might know. My original plan was to do a CA glue coated fretboard (fretless). But since I use flats (Cobalt Flats or Infelds) on my fretless basses anyway could I choose to keep uncoated do you reckon? Or just a single coat of CA to fill the grain and then sanded. As far as I am aware Wenge is a little softer than Rosewood so am wondering if you would consider it or not if you were doing a wenge fretboard fretless.

Personally, I tend to use the Tru-oil slurry and buff method on most dark-wood fretboards other than ebony (which is just sanded down with finer and finer emery /microweb down to 12000 grit).  The slurry fills the grain and you end up with a relatively hard and sweat-resistant finish that feels silky smooth.  If after a few years it starts marking, I just scrape it with a single-bladed razor blade and re-apply.

[Chopthebass]

13 hours ago, HazBeen said:

Question @Jabba_the_gut, @Chopthebass, @Andyjr1515 and anyone else who might know. My original plan was to do a CA glue coated fretboard (fretless). But since I use flats (Cobalt Flats or Infelds) on my fretless basses anyway could I choose to keep uncoated do you reckon? Or just a single coat of CA to fill the grain and then sanded. As far as I am aware Wenge is a little softer than Rosewood so am wondering if you would consider it or not if you were doing a wenge fretboard fretless.

I’ve only ever done ebony and rosewood fretless, but wenge is still pretty hard so should work well. I agree it is grainier so I would probably use grain filler and tru oil. That oil is polymerized so is pretty hard. 

[HazBeen]

With a fretboard like this (now radiused), it is going to have to be an unlined fretless.... simpel as. 
 

I’ve luckily been getting ample practise in lately  

[HazBeen]

Nut slot and side dots sorted! 

[spacecowboy]

Hi Haz, Is that an ABM adjustable nut? 

Bass is looking great! Keep up the good work! 

Edited October 6, 2020 by spacecowboy
Nut not bridge

[HazBeen]

1 hour ago, spacecowboy said:

Hi Haz, Is that an ABM adjustable nut? 

Bass is looking great! Keep up the good work! 

It sure is, perfect for a fretless (or any bass really).

[HazBeen]

Drilled some holes, test fitted some Gotohs....

 

[HazBeen]

 Starting to look like a bass!

Neck now pretty much done (apart from a string retainer) so moving back to the body.

Pickups, neck and control cavities to do. Once that is done I can start thinking about final sanding and finishing.....

[HazBeen]

Knobs will needs to be better, like this perhaps.

 

[HazBeen]

Or single MM pickup and the Hipshot single bridge units..... need to give it some thought

Edited October 9, 2020 by HazBeen

[HazBeen]

Need to do some calculations to ensure I have the neck pocket exactly right, but to first 10mm is a tight enough fit I’d say.

And neck is on straight too

.... phew...

Will finish next time.

 

Edited October 9, 2020 by HazBeen

[HazBeen]

Decision time.... I am going for the individual saddle bridge. First one fitted, spot on, so now to get the rest right as well.