Jabba_the_gut Posted April 16, 2022 Author Share Posted April 16, 2022 The neck is starting to look more like it now!! I cut it roughly to size then trimmed on the router table. This is a little more difficult to do than a Fender type neck due to the angled headstock. Just takes a little more thinking about. This one is even more fiddly as it has a finger rest built into the fretboard, just needs a little patience and a bit of swapping of router bits to complete. A smidge of sanding later and it fits really nicely into the neck pocket: The headstock has also been drilled to accept the Gotoh tuners. This was done using a Forstner bit to get a really neat cut and finish - the head was clamped to an offcut of wood to ensure there was no tear-out when the bit cut through to the other side. And the fifth hole? Just decoration as I have done on my previous basses. Next task will be to fit the Luminlay side dots whilst the fretboard is still square after which I'll start the neck carve and radiusing the fretboard. Cheers 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 The hole is to hang it on the wall no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 (edited) As any fule kno. Edited April 16, 2022 by Si600 Double post 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 6 minutes ago, Si600 said: As any fule kno. Been a while since there's been a Molesworth reference. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 2 hours ago, Si600 said: The hole is to hang it on the wall no? No. It’s precisely drilled to fit my loupe so I can examine my extensive stamp collection. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 1 hour ago, Richard R said: Been a while since there's been a Molesworth reference. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted April 25, 2022 Author Share Posted April 25, 2022 First task is to make very obvious chalk marks on the fretboard to show where the dots will go. This is to prevent holes being drilled in the wrong place for the side dots (guess who got that wrong in the past when not paying enough attention....) One of my favourite tools is this - makes finding the centre line for side dots so easy. I then use an engineers square and a white pen to mark the side line for drilling. I drill the side holes on all my necks using a piece of right angled aluminium with a hole in it as a template. Once all the holes were drilled, I glued in some Luminlay, cut flush and tidied it up. Then turned out the lights to see how it looks. I've also fitted a small piece of the offcut from the neck rods into the back of the fretboard where the thumb rest is just to add a little more strength. With that done I'm now onto shaping the neck and radiusing the fretboard. Cheers 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 11 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said: I've also fitted a small piece of the offcut from the neck rods into the back of the fretboard where the thumb rest is just to add a little more strength. I was just considering suggesting that but you beat me to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 2, 2022 Author Share Posted May 2, 2022 Had an enjoyable couple of day where I've been able to get on with the neck carve. I always like this bit as the block of wood turns into something very tactile. Out with the Shinto rasp and start the shaping: This neck is a little more tricky as it is being fitted to an existing body so sanding the contours to match the body takes a bit of patience as to avoid removing any of the finish: After a fair bit of time with a mini rasp and some sandpaper I got to something I'm happy with. Only shame is there is a a small mark in the maple but that's what you can get with a natural material. Now it is starting to look really nice! Still got quite a few jobs to do - quite a few of these are decorative and I've still got to work out how to do them!! But that the enjoyment of making stuff - always something new to learn. Cheers 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Your designs are always so tactile. I want to get greasy fingerprints all over them! (I'd clean em off, after, promise!) 😀 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 12 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said: After a fair bit of time with a mini rasp and some sandpaper I got to something I'm happy with. Only shame is there is a a small mark in the maple but that's what you can get with a natural material. I love marks like that. My old Rob Allen had a similar odd mark on the body, just adds to the character in my book. Excellent. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 13 hours ago, Jabba_the_gut said: a small mark in the maple but that's what you can get with a natural material. Is it feasible to bleach it or use hydrogen peroxide to lighten it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Should have said, awesome craftsmanship as always. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 On 10/04/2022 at 21:17, Stub Mandrel said: It would be cool to anodises the fret lines in groovy colours... Yeah man, if I played bass for Ozric Tentacles... 🙄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 3, 2022 Author Share Posted May 3, 2022 7 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: Is it feasible to bleach it or use hydrogen peroxide to lighten it? I have tried bleaching in the past but not too keen on it. When I tried it on a sample of sycamore previously it left a bit of a stain that looked worse than what I was trying to remove! I don't think it would do much to this particular blemish. If I want to remove this one I would remove it with a Dremel and infill it with an offcut of maple. Cheers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 7 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said: I have tried bleaching in the past but not too keen on it. When I tried it on a sample of sycamore previously it left a bit of a stain that looked worse than what I was trying to remove! As you said yesterday, …but that's what you can get with a natural material. It’s now part of the character of the instrument, I’ve got my fingers crossed that the fretted has some quirky marks in the wood too! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 25, 2022 Author Share Posted May 25, 2022 I've been trying to make some knobs for this bass - it's taken a little while to work out how to do it when I don't own a lathe. I've also made quite a few as I've been trying different things: I will post some picture of the process later but for now here's some different designs. I'm thinking of the one on the right with the marker but without the veneers as I think they are a bit fussy. I'm also waiting for my planer blades to come back from the sharpeners so I can get on with the second body. Cheers 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 I have to say that no one has ever emailed me knob pictures before and then, like busses, three at once! It was like Knob Xmas 🎅 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 (edited) Why not put an aluminium disc in your knob to reference the fret markers ? so a silver line is seen just below the knob “head” ? A silver ring amongst the wood, a knob ring, if you will It would have to be the right girth though heh heh Edited May 25, 2022 by Geek99 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 I’m all discombobulated now, so many knobs to choose between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 It’s a knob buffet, or smorgasbord - pick the knob you fancy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 Fnarr 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’ve messaged Jez yet again this morning about the choice of controls. I’ll be amazed if he’s still talking to me let alone working on the bass. I went from choice A. through choices… 7. Q. Ovaltine. A keep left sign. Borneo. ♾️. 🆙. Wantage …before essentially settling with A. again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 Serious thought - @Jabba_the_gut can you use a side marker on the knob instead of a white line ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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