Peaty Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) Spring is here and a young mans fancy turns to thoughts of his next bass guitar. So inspired by all the very loverly single cuts that were built last year the plan is for a through neck single cut five string (E to C). I am looking for a mellow to dark tone so through neck of mahogany and maple with walnut wings and faced over the front with some nice (yet subtle) book-matched bubinga. Also grainy red stuff (that rings like a bell when you tap it) at the back but not facing over the laminated through neck so not book matched. Facing over the through neck may prove to be challenging but I am in the mood for woodwork. Laninating the through neck [url="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peatypete/4th%20build/21032009001.jpg"]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peat...21032009001.jpg[/url] truing up the laminate [url="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peatypete/4th%20build/22032009.jpg"]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peat...ld/22032009.jpg[/url] Wood layed out upside down ie book matched top is at the bottom of the pile Also the grainy red stuff is on show here I bought it as an interesting plank from a wood fare some years ago don't know what it is but it is very hard (any thoughts?). [url="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peatypete/4th%20build/DSCN1860.jpg"]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peat...ld/DSCN1860.jpg[/url] bookmatched top [url="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peatypete/4th%20build/DSCN1861.jpg"]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peat...ld/DSCN1861.jpg[/url] [url="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peatypete/4th%20build/DSCN1863.jpg"]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/Peat...ld/DSCN1863.jpg[/url] Ok next job is routing for truss rod and carbon fiber stiffeners hopefully this weekend. Edited April 3, 2009 by Peaty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeefChief Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Your builds are incredible. If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living? Must be something to do with carpentry surely?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 [quote name='BigBeefChief' post='453363' date='Apr 3 2009, 02:00 PM']Your builds are incredible. If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living? Must be something to do with carpentry surely?![/quote] Thanks BigBeef, Glad you like the builds Oddly enough nope I don't work much with wood for the day job, Nine to Five I work in a university. I am a archaeologist teaching/researching soil chemistry, bone chemistry and environmental reconstruction. I came late to woodwork and was very crap at it at school, but got interested through building boats (wood strip canoes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeefChief Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I remember the slightly Wal looking one you did. Think it was 5 string with a reasonably exotic top? I hate 5's and exotic woods, but somehow it looked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey R Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Hey, looks good so far! Looks like youve got a similar bench to mine - how do you find working on a 700mm neck on a 500mm bench? Looking forward to this one taking shape! One question, for the sake of us lazy clickers, could you put the images one the page rather than as hyperlinks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) Yup 2 and 3 were heavily influenced by the Wal shape. The First build was more thumb shaped and way over ambitious (it had a make over this winter infact I will see if I have a photo somewhere). I do like a nice bit wood so grainy tops tend to feature high up my wish list. This build will be a bit Wal like in shape but with the top horn extending over to join the bass side of the neck. Still I am aways away from that stage yet. Here is build no 1 getting a routing for a new neck this winter it was originally a through neck build but I cocked that up good and proper and it sat as a reminder above my work bench to measure more accurately in future. It is up and running now I will snap a shot of it this evening. Sorry crazy wood again. Here it is finished I will try and post a sound clip. Anyway enough of me hijacking my own thread back to build 4. Pete Edited April 4, 2009 by Peaty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) Been rather tardy about this project but now the hols are over its has taken off again Laminated wings have been laminated wings and lower part of through neck shinned down to 38 mm and edges dressed ready for joining. But the template needs a bit of reshaping as I would like a little more offset on the lower part of the body and a slightly slimmer top horn/single cut thingy But next job is to shape neck and angle back headstock on the band saw. More soon I hope Edited August 3, 2009 by Peaty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDM Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 That's looking really good. Where do you buy your wood from? if you don't mind me asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 Hi Donutman This project has wood from a few places some from the sound wood department of craft supplies [url="http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/"]http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/[/url] some from e bay sellers [url="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/gibson-craftwood__W0QQ_armrsZ1"]http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/gibson-craftwood__W0QQ_armrsZ1[/url] [url="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Prime-Timbers__W0QQ_armrsZ1"]http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Prime-Timbers__W0QQ_armrsZ1[/url] some (main neck laminates) recycled from a local demolition site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 A bit more progress this weekend Through neck laminate cut with band saw, the angle back head stock has been cut and some waste trimmed off the back of the neck. then glue on the lower wing laminate Next day glue on the upper wing laminate, this was more problematic as it turned out to be 5mm wider than my widest clamps (poo!) so i had to use the vice in the work mate but this is not good as it tends to push unevenly however a reasonable joint was achieved. Also the body template shape has been tweaked with slightly more offset and a reshaped top horn Next week I hope to get on to fitting the bubinga top facing over the laminates lets hope the sun shines Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Nice crocs! And the bass is alright too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 Ahh yes the crocs belong to my son Hamish. At 6 years old he seems happy with pink but I imagine that will change with time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 Ok update time and work has moved on a bit Body shape cut out and beginning to get the neck profile roughed out at the head end next sticking down the black (stained maple) and brown (wenge) veneer that is to provide the accent under the facing. then start the fitting of the book matched facing, one side done The second side was much tougher to get a good join and alignment along the taper of the neck. There must be a better way of doing this. Any way it was finally done although the glue line between the book matching is bigger than I would like. Ok time to head off to the Park with my helper "No lad you cant use it as a bat" Next jobs get the neck profiled, sort out the headstock shape order a finger board! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 looking good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 A couple of out of sequence photos of the veneer layers going on befor the top, just for compleatnes of record. Then a bit more progress this weekend with shaping the neck. In this case rough carving with my favorite carving tool. It looks brutal but it is really efficient and can do some quite delicate work as long as you watch out for the edge of that abrasive disk. The neck shape I am going for is broad and quite shallow. now it is on to rough sanding and getting on with that headstock. Then routing for pup and cavity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 It looks a lot darker on the front than the back. Will it stay like that? I love those dark/chocolate colours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 I hope so, but it depends on how the different bits respond to the oil finish. Time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaty Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 Fingerboard arrived today so here a a couple of pics with the bridge and pup resting on the body come on camera focus! I am tempted to take the black top of the pup and replace it with a nice bit of walnut does anyone have any experience of this? I was thinking I might have a go at sanding it off but if anyone has other sugestions please let me know. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 would it not be easier to just put a very thin veneer over it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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