henry norton Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 After being convinced by my compatriots on the forum [i]not[/i] to plane off the top my JV Precision neck in order to fit a fretless board, I've decided to make one to the same profile in one piece maple with an epoxy coated board. I've designed a different headstock so I don't feel like it's a total ripoff. It's years since I've built anything musical so once I'm sure of the shape I'll post a couple of pictures. Watch this space.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 Oops - nearly 100 views for a few empty promises... My wife's been out of the country with the camera - that's my miserable excuse. Anyway, without further adieu, My neck blank is a bog standard slab sawn bit of hard maple. It's got no grubby looking figure or poxed looking birdseye. As it's to be unadorned with dots or frets I wanted it as plain as possible from a distance, but has got a nice interesting grain to it close up. The waney offcut of cherry will be turned into my skunk stripe as I don't have any walnut at the moment and the cherry seems to offer a nice contrast. I haven't included a picture of the whole neck drawing (we all know what a 20 fret Fender looks like after all), but I've stuck in the best close up I could get of the headstock from the rather faint drawing. It's close enough I think to not look out of place on a stock Precision without being just another ripoff.... Let me know what y'all think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Looking forward to seeing this progress mate, although I'd stick with a Fender headstock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 [quote name='Beedster' post='669410' date='Nov 29 2009, 09:03 PM']Looking forward to seeing this progress mate, although I'd stick with a Fender headstock [/quote] The problem is the late 50s-on Fender headstock is kind of like the diamond bicycle frame in that it's near perfect. Any attempt to change it virtually always looks worse than the original. I tried to come up with a cross between a 51 and a 57 but I have to admit it looks a bit 'frilly'. It could do with a bit more thought but I figured if I didn't like it once it was done it's only one cut away from a 51! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 Right - I've had a half an hour this evening to look at my headstock again and have come up with this; Anyway, I'll make a start maybe this weekend so will probably change another couple of times before chickening out and going the '57 Fender route... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 4, 2009 Author Share Posted December 4, 2009 I'm on it today and cut the truss rod channel, followed by the basic neck shape. I had a flat, 2 way truss rod kicking around so decided to fit that instead of the normal curved style. As it would end up pushing directly on the fillet I was a bit concerned it could push it out so I've cut a wider channel for a double width one (12.5mm). It'll look like a bigger version of the normal Fender skunk stripe so I'll just have to wait and see if it looks good in a Delano P pickup, oversized sort of way or, eh.... not. The nut will be at the body end but it won't need an anchor at the headstock end so it won't have the almond plug. Anyway, it's now roughed out and basically shaped so I'll fit the rod, glue in the fillet and get on with carving the profile in the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 The truss rod's installed now and I've stuck the fillet in and planed it all down ready to carve. I'm quite pleased with the stripe although I've since figured out a better way to fit a 2 way rod without stressing the fillet by installing it via a hole in the headstock, a-la standard Fender.... Hey Ho. Anyway, here's a picture of the neck so far next to a JV Precision neck for comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 Blummin bandsaw broke so I had to chisel the headstock to the right shape. There's also no such thing as a 17mm drill bit to fit the Hipshot ultralites I've got so I had to grind down an 18 to the right size. Anyway, complications asides, I smoothed it all off and cut the board radius this afternoon. I cut it to 10 inches - not for any particular reason other than a flatter board might be less inclined to choke a bent string on a low action, and my other basses have either 7.5 or 12, so I can now boast 3 different cambers on my wall.... Finally reaching the carving stage. Gulp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznbass Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 looking nice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 8, 2009 Author Share Posted December 8, 2009 [quote name='aznbass' post='677244' date='Dec 7 2009, 10:35 PM']looking nice!![/quote] Thanks! It's starting to look a bit more like a neck now the headstock's done. I'll start carving the profile in the next couple of days, so I'll hopefully have a basic neck done by the weekend if I can make some time. The really interesting work starts then when I start applying the epoxy - especially when it comes to smoothing and polishing it. I'll probably have to stop myself bolting it straight on the bass before I've put the finish on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 8, 2009 Author Share Posted December 8, 2009 I got a couple of hours this afternoon so started carving the neck. Plenty of sanding and smoothing to do yet, but it feels pretty nice so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 Finished sanding the neck and coated the board with epoxy. Sanded and reshaped the fingerboard as I was quite surprised how my nicely cut radius was messed up by the epoxy pooling at the edges. Anyway, I've polished it to like a satin finish but will need more elbow grease (or another buffing mop) to get it to that glassy stage. As the rest of the neck will be satin finished I'm not sure I'll go that route or just keep it the way it is. I suppose I can take it off and polish it any time... Anyway, here's a test fitting - I'll post a picture of it once I've made the nut and fitted it all up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznbass Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Lookin nicer! That headstock shape is really nice, Cant wait to see it finished! good luck with the rest mate :):) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 [quote name='aznbass' post='682290' date='Dec 12 2009, 05:37 PM']Lookin nicer! That headstock shape is really nice, Cant wait to see it finished! good luck with the rest mate :):)[/quote] Thanks again! I can't wait to get playing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 It's not finished yet but I strung it up this evening to fit the nut and check the general fit , alignment and hardware. It needs a string tree and a truss rod tweak but I'm really pleased with it. It sounds very crisp and clear but not harsh, presumably as the coating's around a millimetre so the sound of the wood's still coming through. I didn't finish the nut in the end as I was too busy playing it! Anyway, I'll get it sorted, finished then photographed properly and I might even stick it in the gear porn section it looks that good (if I say so meself...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 All done now - I've tried to take some clearer pictures too. The epoxy works really well, very smooth and quick with a good clear, bright sound yet doesn't sound harsh or glassy, in fact not dissimilar to my old ebony fretless. I use stainless rounds and they haven't made any impact on the surface either. I ended up making the profile slightly chunkier than the '57. It's the same width and depth but is more rounded rather than elliptical, so really gives you something to hold on to! Anyway, I've just been asked to make another one for a friend so hopefully we'll be seeing a few more fretless maple boards out there I'm working on a bunch of other things atm (not least trying to finish building my house ), but want to look into the epoxy board coatings a bit further so may try it on my rosewood short scale. I'll post it up when I get started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 looking good.....I love the maple board. great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plux_the_Duck Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I'd love to have a maple neck for my VMJ fretless.... that would look most awesome!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted January 30, 2010 Author Share Posted January 30, 2010 [quote name='voxpop' post='728614' date='Jan 29 2010, 01:49 PM']looking good.....I love the maple board. great job.[/quote] [quote name='Plux_the_Duck' post='729107' date='Jan 29 2010, 08:39 PM']I'd love to have a maple neck for my VMJ fretless.... that would look most awesome!![/quote] Thanks for the comments - I'm really pleased with it, the only problem being it makes the rest of my 1982 Precision look kind of ratty and scruffy. I'm certain that epoxy coatings make maple fretless boards as relevant a choice as ebony and the best way to go on a 'proper' Fender. I'm making a copy of it for a guy in Brighton Plux so you might see it around your way in a month-or-so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Looks really nice. Have you put dots along the edge of the board? And what does it actually sound like now it's finished and had a chance to settle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) [quote name='Happy Jack' post='730138' date='Jan 30 2010, 10:56 PM']Looks really nice. Have you put dots along the edge of the board? And what does it actually sound like now it's finished and had a chance to settle?[/quote] Thanks! It's been left plain for the time being as I'm trying to 'listen' a bit more and 'look' a bit less for my intonation, as I got a bit lazy with my last marked fretless. The sound is very punchy and clear with rotosound stainless rounds - you can even get a passable slap sound out of it - but it's not harsh and clanky like some phenolic boards can sound, there's still a woody warmth to it. I've left the board surface with a slight satin sheen which makes it smoother and faster feeling than my glossy fretted neck. It would feel supersonic with a Jazz neck profile Edited January 31, 2010 by henry norton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 This is a wonderful project, the neck look beautiful. You made it sound so easy! Is it wider than the usual Precision at the nut or is it just the way it looks without frets? It will be interesting to see how the surface survives round wounds over a period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 [quote name='4 Strings' post='730880' date='Jan 31 2010, 07:10 PM']This is a wonderful project, the neck look beautiful. You made it sound so easy! Is it wider than the usual Precision at the nut or is it just the way it looks without frets? It will be interesting to see how the surface survives round wounds over a period.[/quote] Thanks for the comments 4 Strings - it's a standard '57 Precision width but without the frets and dots it does make it stand out a bit more. Regards the finish I'm playing it allot and keeping an eye on the surface yet there's not a mark thus far. One good thing about epoxy is it's relatively straightforward to refinish (not as poisonous as polyester and no thinning the neck down dressing the board), so when the time comes it should be relatively quick and easy. I'll keep everyone posted anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.