Was: From the ashes of disaster...now various projects

[BassTool]

Brilliant work, that neck looks fantastic 👌🏼

[Dom in Dorset]

I've spent the morning finishing applying the binding on the travel guitar and made a start on carving the bass neck. As it's finally stopped raining and the sun is predicted to come out shortly I'm off out to enjoy it.

[Dom in Dorset]

I found time to finish the carving (I'll sort the heal and out when the neck pocket is ready)

Side dots in

I wasn't sure if I had enough abs rod for the side dots but I did... just 

[Happy Jack]

Just stumbled across this (fascinating) thread. I realised that the ash-crete thing was an April Fool but I must admit I did start wondering whether it could be a thing.

 

But, what all this chiefly reminded me of was:

 

 

[Dom in Dorset]

Remember my post on April fools day about making a guitar out of wood ash? A few people fell for it I suspect because it sounds vaguely plausible. I even started to think that there might be something in it myself. So to prove it one way or another I'm giving it a try on a small scale.

I'm using ash from the fire pit that we used last night. After removing any large lumps or unburnt bits I added wood glue and water. Stir and leave to settle, not sure how long it will take to dry..... I'll get back to you.

[Richard R]

If you Google "Ashcrete" there are many types and uses. Bass Guitars don't figure on any lists.... yet!

[Dom in Dorset]

First coat of lacquer on the travel guitar, it will take a few more coats and two weeks to cure. I'll be back on the denim bass soon.

[Dom in Dorset]

Remember me? 

I'm back and I've made some progress. 

I was planning on using a set of Entwistle JBXN pickups but not in the usual Jazz bass positions. 

I found this picture which shows how Rickenbacker do it so:

I've put the neck onto this mock up to test the idea. The result is just what I wanted,  fat but focused and great throughout the whole range. I haven't begun to experiment with control settings much , it's vvtt so should be versatile too.

I was holding off on the body until I'd had a chance to test to theory but I'm giving it the green light now. Shouldn't be too long now. 

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2024 by Dom in Dorset
The dog ate my homework.

[Dom in Dorset]

I've done the final bit of epoxy,  sanded it flat and put the neck pocket in. A few more experiments with puckup positions and I'll rout for them.

[Dom in Dorset]

As the weather is totally nasty today and a tree narrowly missed the workshop last night I had to take this photo in the spare room . Dolly the cat refused to move.

once fully sanded and polished the colour will be much more blue and the denim more visible. 

Edited November 24, 2024 by Dom in Dorset

[Rich]

Any chance of this splendid beast making an appearance at next year's South West Bass Bash? 

The bass, that is, not Dolly. 

[Dom in Dorset]

1 minute ago, Rich said:

Any chance of this splendid beast making an appearance at next year's South West Bass Bash? 

The bass, that is, not Dolly. 

I should really try to get back to a bass bash, where? When?

[rOB]

5 hours ago, Dom in Dorset said:

Dolly the cat refused to move.

 

Full respect to Dolly. 

 

I hope the workshop survived alright?

[Dom in Dorset]

7 minutes ago, rOB said:

 

Full respect to Dolly. 

 

I hope the workshop survived alright?

Before 

after

ironically it flattened the garden of a neighbour who complains if I make the slightest noise. 

[Rich]

6 hours ago, Dom in Dorset said:

I should really try to get back to a bass bash, where? When?

 

12th October, 2025

The Memorial Hall, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Rowford, TAUNTON, TA2 8JY

 

 

[scrumpymike]

6 hours ago, Dom in Dorset said:

I should really try to get back to a bass bash, where? When?

Look forward to seeing you and your bass(es) next year - and thanks to Rich for replying.

[Dom in Dorset]

Two steps forward and one step back.. 

Control cavity routed without incident 

But the ball race that guides the router bit came loose while doing the pickup routes and made a mess of the top 

top right corner and bottom left lug are out of shape.

I cut some bits of wood to plug the holes ,covered them in denim and glued them in place, a further hut of resin and hopefully I can re cut them in the morning. 

 

[BassTool]

1 hour ago, Dom in Dorset said:

Two steps forward and one step back.. 

Control cavity routed without incident 

But the ball race that guides the router bit came loose while doing the pickup routes and made a mess of the top 

top right corner and bottom left lug are out of shape.

I cut some bits of wood to plug the holes ,covered them in denim and glued them in place, a further hut of resin and hopefully I can re cut them in the morning. 

 

Oof that's unlucky but a clever save! Looking good Dom 👌🏼 

[Dom in Dorset]

 

Fix complete 

a spray of super glue accelerator to give you an idea ofcthe eventual finish 

I even found time to get this up and running.  An old project that ground to a halt due to a run of bad luck and silly mistakes. 

[sprocketflup]

Well that save worked out rather well

[Rich]

That save is superb. You wouldn't know it was a mend. And the finish is going to look awesome. 

[Dom in Dorset]

It's beginning to look a lot like shiny 

There's a few imperfections to deal with but nothing serious. 

[Pea Turgh]

2 hours ago, Dom in Dorset said:

There's a few imperfections to deal with but nothing serious. 

Just put a Guns’n’Roses patch on them

[Stub Mandrel]

Clever bugger!