Frank Blank Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 6 minutes ago, Geek99 said: Serious thought - @Jabba_the_gut can you use a side marker on the knob instead of an aluminium line ? FTFY 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 I saw a bass somewhere on the internet which had massively oversized vol and tone controls (trying to drag this back on topic). Obv on a FSO they would be all wrong, but on something with a different aesthestic they looked superb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 10 hours ago, Jabba_the_gut said: Not my choice as not my bass, but I really like the one above on the left. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 38 minutes ago, ezbass said: Not my choice as not my bass, but I really like the one above on the left. Agreed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 1 hour ago, ezbass said: Not my choice as not my bass, but I really like the one above on the left. 1 hour ago, eude said: Agreed! Exactly what I said to Jabba last night but having slept on it I think I share his concerns about how the square top will look on such an otherwise curvaceous body. I think I've settled on knob A. with an aluminium marker line like C. but no veneer line. But he more I look at D., again, the more I like it but I am really not sure about the square top. Gah, why does he have to do such an excellent job? Because they are all lovely it's difficult to decide! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 2 hours ago, Geek99 said: Serious thought - @Jabba_the_gut can you use a side marker on the knob instead of a white line ? I believe I'm right in saying I discussed this with Jabba and it is possible but I specifically requested the aluminium lines to kind of match the fret markers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 33 minutes ago, Frank Blank said: I believe I'm right in saying I discussed this with Jabba and it is possible but I specifically requested the aluminium lines to kind of match the fret markers. Didn’t realise they were aluminium, thought that was white 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 (edited) D fits better with the "fret" markers and the rest of the instrument so perfect knob IMHO, but C would be 'kin hilarious with the line right across the top like a John Thomas..... Edited May 26, 2022 by Si600 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 Well. I have had further pm conversations with Jabba and I think we have settled on shape C. but with a top wood that matches the body. However, I cannot get D. out of my mind so I have asked him to make me a pair like D. as well, that way I can try both out. There is something about D. that really has a hook in me, it triggers all sorts of 70s styling memories and that, as we all know is a good thing. I just know that if I simply settle on C. then D. will claw at me in my dreams until I take up heroin and drive off a cliff. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Si600 said: …but C would be 'kin hilarious with the line right across the top like a John Thomas... John Thomas? Edna Thomas’s boy? The luthier, harpsichord wrangler and world renowned expert in oyster cultivation? Last I heard he was doing six months in Wandsworth for embezzlement with menaces. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 2 minutes ago, Frank Blank said: John Thomas? Edna Thomas’s boy? The luthier, harpsichord wrangler and world renowned expert in oyster cultivation? Last I heard he was doing six months in Wandsworth for embezzlement with menaces. John Thomas? Didn't he pop up in Lady Chatterley's Lover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 3 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: John Thomas? Didn't he pop up in Lady Chatterley's Lover? No idea but something popped up somewhere, probably behind the potting shed or in the orangery. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 6 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: John Thomas? Didn't he pop up in Lady Chatterley's Lover? Yes it was a bit part 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrinkleygit Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 Must admit I prefer D, however on all my instruments with a locking screw knob, I use the screw as the marker. At least once you’ve sorted your knob, it won’t be long before you’ve got your hands on your new tool !!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 I seem to have spent quite a long time over the past few weeks making knobs so here's a few pictures of the process I used. I've used wooden knobs a couple of tie before and I got a local wood turner to make them for me as I don't have a lathe. I still don't but I wanted to make them myself so.... First step - drill a shallow hole with a Forstner bit in the piece of wood that will make the body of the knob. This will be the recess under the knob where the pot nut will end up. Next, drill a hole straight through that will accept the brass insert later Then I drew a circle round them for both sizes of knob ready to cut out with a bandsaw Cut these out and ended up with a load of these 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 I don't have a lathe but I do have a drill stand. I mounted this horizontally and cut the head of an M10 bolt. This allowed me to clamp the knob blanks, run this like a small lathe and trim these to size. I made quite a few blanks as I know having not tried this before it would go wrong at some point and I'd end up with a number of scrap ones!! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 Next I cut circles of wood for the knob tops For the walnut ones, I cut a slot with my fret saw and glued in a strip of aluminium and filed flat. These are for the knobs that will just have the marker in the top. Tops were then glued onto the bodies. By luck, I found a small socket that had and outside diameter of 10mm and the knobs just pushed onto these sufficiently tightly that I could run them on my drill 'lathe' and trim them to size. The ones for the full length marker were marked up so they could be cut to get the aluminium correctly in line. I clamped these into my fret slotting jig so I could get a nice clean cut. This left me with a selection of knobs with a slot in for the aluminium 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 This is all my fault... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 (edited) The aluminium was glued in and filed to size. I then put the knobs back on my drill 'lathe', shaped then with a chisel, sanded them and put a coat of sanding sealer on. This is what I ended up with from all the bits: The knobs were then marked up for the position of the grub screw hole (the aluminium has been fitted to follow the grain - the first one I made didn't and it just looked wrong). The hole for the grub screw is opposite the aluminium marker. The holes were drilled then the insert fitted and glued in place with CA glue. After all this, these are the knobs I ended up with. Might need a little more finishing later but we'll see. So that's that part finished and tie to get back on with the bass itself!! Cheers Edited June 4, 2022 by Jabba_the_gut 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Outstanding quality, this raises the self build bar height beyond attainable for some of us. The diy technique to overcome the lack of a lathe is superb, I find the developing jigs, tools, methods a considerable part of the joy of self builds 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 4 minutes ago, 3below said: I find the developing jigs, tools, methods a considerable part of the joy of self builds Completely agree. It’s just another part of the problem solving process that adds to the satisfaction. In this case I neither have the funds or space for a lathe just for this purpose so was really pleasing to find a way around it. Cheers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 3 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said: Completely agree. It’s just another part of the problem solving process that adds to the satisfaction. In this case I neither have the funds or space for a lathe just for this purpose so was really pleasing to find a way around it. Cheers Those knobs look very nice indeed. I've just bought a very, very basic/cheap/small lathe to do one specific job. It is basically exactly what you have set up yourself, just with a tapered spigot at the end on a slider. I did think I could turn a few control knobs on it. I've yet to try it but if it's up to the job I'll put a post on here about it as it might be useful to other folks for making knobs. If it's not up to it it'll go in the bin. 😁 It's only 30cm long and £22. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 (edited) 25 minutes ago, 3below said: The diy technique to overcome the lack of a lathe is superb, I find the developing jigs, tools, methods a considerable part of the joy of self builds Absolutely. Now once each knob has my name written on it, in Latin, in mother of pearl that lights up every Michaelmas we'll be getting near the brief. Edited June 4, 2022 by Frank Blank 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 7 hours ago, Jabba_the_gut said: So that's that part finished Fantastic 👏 How many hours work went into those? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 5, 2022 Author Share Posted June 5, 2022 It has been time consuming and I bet I have spent something around 15 hours in total. That includes all trial and error as well as making some decent knobs in the end. One of those thing that if I decide to do it again it would be a lot quicker. But it’s been enjoyable and I learnt something new. Cheers 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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