Routing A New Picking On My Bass Help Needed!

[fretless bass]

I have a p bass and i want to add a second pickup but need to know whats the best tools to route out the new pickup. Any advice where/how to to this would be greatly appreciated

[Foamy]

Safety glasses
A decent router
A SHARP bit
Some template or method to control the cut
Some method of clamping the guide to the body
A drill or drill press to hog out most of the wood before routing
A drill/bit capable of making the hole for the wiring
Maybe a sharp chisel to clean up the hole
======
Scrollsaw for cutting pickguard
Template and guide for making a clean cut in pickguard
File to clean up cut
Sandpaper

[jsbass]

If you're not sure how to do it, then have a luthier do it. Unless you wan't to trash your bass. You only get one go at it before it's trashed.

[spudmaster34]

and be sure to use proper safety glasses and have a friend around while you are doing the work

[Rodent]

as noted above, you'll need a router, template, and a means to hold the template in place. I utilize a double-sided weatherproof tape to hold the template in place





if you have access to a drillpress, it will greatly ease your work if you utilize a Forstner bit to remove most of the excess wood prior to routing with the template. think of your routing work with the template as cleaning up and detailing the route



you will also need a drill bit long enough to reach the control cavity. I utilize a 3/16" bit like this



if you have no router experience - this is NOT the project to learn on. you must measure accurately for good results. if you slip or make a mistake you will either be heading to the hospital of finding a luthier to fix your bass.

all the best,

R

[fretless bass]

Thanks everyone for your advice especially Rodent with the pics and detailed description of a route job. i think im gonna take it to a luthier to be on the safe side for me and my bass lol

[Foamy]

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

and be sure to use proper safety glasses and have a friend around while you are doing the work

...and make sure your friend has proper safety glasses.

[spudmaster34]

Just to further scare you away from doing this: I have been working for the past few days to install a preamp in my P, I was using sun glasses because I couldn't find my safety glasses. I got a face full of sawdust from the router. Today, 4 days later, my eye is still so bloodshot that the first thing my saxaphone teacher said when he saw me was "What happened to your eye?". It is getting beter so I haven't bothered going to a doctor, but I will not route with sunglasses again

edit: got a number wrong, fixed it