Bubinga Singlecut re-work

[Greg Johnsen]

Hey guys,

So I finally got back home from school (I love new york but its always nice to be home, and seeing as I'll be staying here I'll have plenty of time to start working on basses), and I took out my first bass build to take a look at it. I've been thinking for a long time and I was never truly happy with how it turned out, and I spent way too much time and effort (as well as money!) on this project to just let it be a flop, I want it to be something I'm proud of and thats what I plan to do here.

The work that needs to be done?
-Remove Fingerboard and maple accent underneath (makes the neck way too thick for my taste, plus I never truly spent the effort needed here, I was rushed at the end of this build)
-Plug the tuning holes in the headstock
-Reshape headstock to make it "headless"
-reshape the volute slightly, I'm not completely happy with it
-Veneer the top and back of the headstock to cover up the plugs (I'm thinking either ebony or bubinga
-Order new fingerboard and replace the old (most likely from LMI, I do not have the tools yet to make one myself or else I would do this on my own)
-Plug the current pickup route (might not do this...still deciding, if I plug I will re route for a new configuration
-Fix crack caused by movers
-Reshape butt-end to accommodate headless tuning bridge (brand suggestions? I'm thinking ETS right now)
-Sand, sand, sand, sand.
-Make an ebony or maple pickguard (to cover up the plug)

That's pretty much the jist of the work, I should be able to do the majority of it without many problems, and I'll be updating as much as possible of course.

Seeing as I'm not doing anything today, I think I'm going to start removing the fingerboard using the methods people have posted here, we'll see how it goes.

Here are the current pictures of it, I would love any further suggestions from anyone, I'll take all the help I can get.














(The Crack )




Thanks for looking guys, updates soon.

Greg

[Melik]

Dis yar furst bild?! Good job!

[Greg Johnsen]

Thanks, could have done a much better job, but lack of experience and being rushed definitely took a toll on it.

I'm also thinking of deepening the tummy contour towards the upper bout more, its not as comfortable as I would like it to be. I will have to remake the truss rod cover too, sticks out like a sore thumb and I'm not happy with it.

Taking off the fingerboard tomorrow, wish me luck.

Greg

[Triad]

I like it. If you want my point of view, I'd leave it as is (looks very nice!) and start a new project.

[Greg Johnsen]

Originally Posted by Triad

I like it. If you want my point of view, I'd leave it as is (looks very nice!) and start a new project.

Haha, little late for that. I (basically) ripped off the fretboard today, took me two hours to get the damn thing off, and I managed to get plenty of chip out along the side of the neck as well as on the front (goos frah bah...)

Pictures tomorrow of my destruction, however it is all very fixable so we'll see where this takes me. Mistakes mean lessons learned and its better to learn now than down the road.

However, I dont suggest anyone to try and take off a glued on fingerboard with an iron and the dullest chisel known to man.

SO, to fix the mess I caused, I'm going to level out the top of the neck from the tear out (or should I say chunk out?), trim the neck down along the sides to make it a 4 string width, and then continue with the previous plan.

Can't wait to get some decent tools around the house, shouldnt be too long now.

Greg