EdwardHimself Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 (edited) Hi there i've got some wood: It's a bit of ash which i really should have had glued and planed by the shop. I'll have to find some woodshop to do it now probably, unless i could do it by hand. Dunno if i can though. Might as well give it a go though eh? This is the hardware. On the left is a hipshot bridge, tuner bushings and neck mounting bolts and ferrules. I ordered this shizzle from guitarpartsresource.com in the US and i was very satisfied with the delivery, said it would take 2-4 weeks but it only took 5 days. No import charges either as it "only cost $25" ahem... I'm so glad i got those tuner bushings as it was getting on my nerves only having 2! So what i have to do is sort out the body and buy some electronics and pickups. After i've sorted out the gluing and planing it should be a simple case of cutting out the rough shape with a saw and sanding it down nice and smooth, then routing out the neck, pickup and electronics cavities. I'm reckoning on a musicman style pickup and active 3band eq. Maybe a soapbar for the neck but that's for later. Edited October 3, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopercrip Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Not by hand matey, you will never get a good enough edge. Needs to be machine planed edged and thicknessed for a good joint (maybe even biscuit joined, I did). And at least 6 cramps to hold it while it glues up. Alternating the cramps above and below to avoid cupping. Rough shaping with a bandsaw, and taking down close to size with a belt sander. Then it's hand stuff. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 (edited) [quote name='soopercrip' post='592446' date='Sep 7 2009, 08:59 PM']Not by hand matey, you will never get a good enough edge. Needs to be machine planed edged and thicknessed for a good joint (maybe even biscuit joined, I did). And at least 6 cramps to hold it while it glues up. Alternating the cramps above and below to avoid cupping. Rough shaping with a bandsaw, and taking down close to size with a belt sander. Then it's hand stuff. Andy[/quote] Okay fine i'm going to try and find a woodshop tomorrow who will do it for me. I know you don't have to biscuit joint it or anything but i might do something like that just to make it a bit stronger. I'll get 6 cramps at some point. [quote]This is one to watch. No offense, but lots of people think it is easy to do this sort of thing. Not many ( I would guess 5% ) end up playable or even finished. Good luck and prove me wrong!!!![/quote] Well i think i have a good idea of what i'm doing and apart from the planer i have pretty much all the tools i need to do it. I've not actually built a body before but hell we all have to start somewhere? Edited September 7, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 good luck.... Why do you have to glue anything? It looks like that peice is big enough for a body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 (edited) [quote name='cheddatom' post='592713' date='Sep 8 2009, 10:35 AM']good luck.... Why do you have to glue anything? It looks like that peice is big enough for a body.[/quote] Yeah but it came in 2 pieces. I just put one on top of the other to show how it would look when it's glued together. I might go to jewsons and see if they've got a planer there. I know you said i should try a smaller carpenters but really i'd rather pay a bit more than spend hours trawling through the phonebook looking for some random shop tucked away in the countryside. Edited September 8, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 [quote name='EdwardHimself' post='592894' date='Sep 8 2009, 02:07 PM']....some random shop tucked away in the countryside.[/quote] Now that's no way of talking about Jon Shuker's shop lol Good luck with the build! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 [quote name='Sibob' post='592936' date='Sep 8 2009, 03:02 PM']Now that's no way of talking about Jon Shuker's shop lol Good luck with the build! Si[/quote] haha well i rang them up and apparently they don't have a machine shop but they told me of someone who does and they're going to ring me back at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopercrip Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Hi Eddie I think Jewsons might have an issue with machining timber that isn't theirs, local one in Brid is like that. Maybe try ringing these [url="http://www.heritagejoiners.com/contact.php"]http://www.heritagejoiners.com/contact.php[/url] and asking if they will do it for you. At worst they can only say no mate Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 [quote name='soopercrip' post='593056' date='Sep 8 2009, 05:00 PM']Hi Eddie I think Jewsons might have an issue with machining timber that isn't theirs, local one in Brid is like that. Maybe try ringing these [url="http://www.heritagejoiners.com/contact.php"]http://www.heritagejoiners.com/contact.php[/url] and asking if they will do it for you. At worst they can only say no mate Andy[/quote] well i've already (hopefully) found a place that will do it for me but i will keep that in mind thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 (edited) Well i've finally got it planed and thicknessed. The good news is that we went down to leven to a shop run by some bloke called brian fell and he ran it through the planer/thicknesser for free. So now it's nice and smooth on the top and bottom and exactly 45mm which is just over 1 3/4". Here's a little piccy: I whapped the straightedge clamp on there to get it together for the time being. I've ordered some clamps. £31. Oh well i suppose i'll just have to build another bass at this rate! I also ordered the pickups and electronics. I know how you lot like to have posh things like bartolini or nordstrand pickups on your basses but i'm just going to get some old Kentucky-Fried plebbite EMG MMTW and BQC Equalizer. Edited September 15, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopercrip Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 [quote name='EdwardHimself' post='599343' date='Sep 15 2009, 03:57 PM']Well i've finally got it planed and thicknessed. The good news is that we went down to leven to a shop run by some bloke called brian fell and he ran it through the planer/thicknesser for free. So now it's nice and smooth on the top and bottom and exactly 45mm which is just over 1 3/4". Here's a little piccy: I whapped the straightedge clamp on there to get it together for the time being. I'm probably going to have to buy some actual clamps. Probably some F clamps or something.[/quote] Hi Eddie Looks good mate try these www.transtools.co.uk for cramps mate, they have some a bit cheaper, maybe not best quality but adequate for the Job. Based at Hunmanby near Scarborough They are also on ebay. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 [quote name='soopercrip' post='599351' date='Sep 15 2009, 04:05 PM']Hi Eddie Looks good mate try these www.transtools.co.uk for cramps mate, they have some a bit cheaper, maybe not best quality but adequate for the Job. Based at Hunmanby near Scarborough They are also on ebay. Andy[/quote] well i've already bought them now, they look like they're okay quality and only like £5.15 each for 600mm so i suppose that's alright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 (edited) Hi there lads and lasses i've got my knobs and pickups. I'm really f***ing pissed off with the knobs though because they're the wrong size for the EMG pots which is really annoying because they're really nice looking, especially compared to the crappy plastic things you get with the EMG electronics. And yes i know there are some stains on the wood but i'm not too bothered as i'm going to paint it anyway. Edited September 21, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Hi Sorry if this might appear patronising but I notice you say it is "nice and smooth" , but it has "marks" and you are going to paint over them. I assume you will progressively fine sand it before painting anyway? Any small imperfections that may not appear noticable on bare wood can show right up once it has paint/lacquer on it: I don't necessarily mean those marks which I'm sure will sand out but any other slight grain imperfections. I know all this from bitter personal experience and wish I had been a bit more diligent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) [quote name='yorks5stringer' post='607098' date='Sep 23 2009, 09:01 PM']Hi Sorry if this might appear patronising but I notice you say it is "nice and smooth" , but it has "marks" and you are going to paint over them. I assume you will progressively fine sand it before painting anyway? Any small imperfections that may not appear noticable on bare wood can show right up once it has paint/lacquer on it: I don't necessarily mean those marks which I'm sure will sand out but any other slight grain imperfections. I know all this from bitter personal experience and wish I had been a bit more diligent![/quote] Yeah that is what i'm going to do, i'm thinking some of it might have stained into the wood but we'll see. [quote]Could you not use a filler primer. That will fill any minor holes scratches and grain and a simple sand to finish will be all that is required[/quote] I'm planning on doing that actually. The problem with leaving it as is though is that the join line between the 2 pieces of the wood isn't perfect to be honest, it's not a huge descrepency but you can see it. Well i might have a look at it once i've done the primer/grain filler and depending on whether i'm satisfied with how it looks i'll either leave it or stick a solid paint finish above it. Edited September 23, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share Posted September 25, 2009 Well i've got the body glued up now and so then i drew on a rough outline of the bass design on the body. i then routed out the front, i know what you're thinking "is he crazy?" well i figured it makes sticking the clamp on a lot easier so i can do a proper outline of what needs to be routed. I need to fill in a few bits and that so i really think a wood finish is probably out of the question tbh. Well that's it for now. Terrible i know but whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 hi guys i've cut the body out and done all the rough shaping and contouring, now it's just a case of smoothing things out to make them a little nicer: I'm still yet to cut out the electronics cavity though. Thanks for looking edd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) still got some shaping to do, but i decided to mount the hardware and the neck now well because i felt like it tbh. Edited September 28, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopercrip Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Looking good mate. it's a good idea to mount everything and get a feel of how it's going to end up, so you can make any adjustments . It's looking a bit 'Burns Bison' which I like Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 [quote name='soopercrip' post='611613' date='Sep 29 2009, 08:39 AM']It's looking a bit 'Burns Bison' which I like Andy[/quote] I know what you mean. I'm going to have to probably re shape that lower horn so it's a bit farther way from the fretboard. Plus i do think it's a bit odd the way it seems to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Kudos for attempting this - experiential learning in action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 [quote name='Gust0o' post='612990' date='Sep 30 2009, 02:28 PM']Kudos for attempting this - experiential learning in action![/quote] What are you trying to say!? only joking yeah this is pretty much just me learning as i go along. I've done a bit of woodwork before but not this sort of scale, i do have some idea of what i'm supposed to be doing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 Right well here's a picture of it with some filler primer on and everything pretty much in. Whether i decide to actually finish it properly remains to be seen but really i think it looks alright as it is. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to stick some grey primer on it to make it look a bit nicer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 i think i've come to realise that i should have just bought a body off f***ing warmoth for all the good this has ended up being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 [quote name='EdwardHimself' post='616561' date='Oct 4 2009, 03:33 PM']i think i've come to realise that i should have just bought a body off f***ing warmoth for all the good this has ended up being.[/quote] Or just a Musicman... I am sure it will work out. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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