i designed my bass shape now how can i get a decent acurate template? it is custom. here it is
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402673

Draw it out full scale on paper or a board of MDF. You can then cut out the mdf accurately to shape with a jigsaw or bandsaw. Sand smooth any rough edges. There's your template.

Draw it out full scale on paper or a board of MDF. You can then cut out the mdf accurately to shape with a jigsaw or bandsaw. Sand smooth any rough edges. There's your template.

What is MDF? i only have a p bass. how do i get the shape of the hybrid bass drawn full scale? there is a computer/printing/office supplies store down town. maybe i could have them blow up the blackout image i have of the shape in 'paints' on my computer, and print that out through a large printer or something. i hope the larger resolution don't make it all rough and crappy. could that work?

i usually draw mine in half-scale, making it really easy to have printed out at the print shop. If your image is not at half scale, you will need to measure it to find its scale to know how much you need to size up.

MDF is Medium Density Fiberboard. Its kinda like really dense cardboard or plywood. You can find it at most hardware stores.

MDF= medium density fiberboard. You local hardware store will know what your looking for if you ask for it. If you have a design on you computer and you want it blown up call your local print shop and talk to them, most places can enlarge a image and print it out for you. Just a word of advice, if you are going to use your template to route the body out make a master and use it to make your working templates in case you tear up your template you have your master to make more from.

so is it like thin drywall then? if it is i think we got some of that in the garage. hey what do you do with the image once it is at half scale?

MDF is brown its made from wood fibers, it looks like this. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MDF_Sample.jpg)

thanx man. so how much is this stuff$$ ?

Not much really, its been a while since Ive bought any, but you can fit it into your budget easily. And wear a mask when you cut or sand the stuff it can be hard on your lungs.

thanx, well i have a little more descent understanding. right know i still need to gather the wood. my bass will be quilted maple wings, and a figured purpleheart center

Do you know how to scale up a drawing using a grid? Say you want to double the size: If your PC prints out the outline of the bass body, draw a grid over it with vertical and horizontal lines an inch apart.
Then on your mdf draw a grid with lines 2" apart and square by square you can copy the outline from the paper to the mdf. Get the idea? It does not need to be perfect, just go for good, flowing curves, and the end result will be the right sort of scale to start work.

I just drew it out to full scale on some freezer paper. Starting with the scale length at center line, then drawing out the finger board, and the the body shape. Then I traced the shapes on to a separate piece of paper and traced that on to 1/4 plywood.