Craziest build yet (for me)!! - Page 6

Rip Topaz · #**101** 03-16-2012, 08:25 AM

Back to work.

Here's the new neck. It's gonna be a damn shame to cover this with paint.

There wasn't that much curl before I planed the board. It went wild shortly after.

irishmonster100 · #**102** 03-16-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Back to work.

Here's the new neck. It's gonna be a damn shame to cover this with paint.

There wasn't that much curl before I planed the board. It went wild shortly after.

dont paint it then use a stain to make the burl really pop

SolarMan · #**103** 03-18-2012, 06:54 AM

Sorry about all of your troubles - hopefully you have video of the wedding!

Glad to see you back to work - I really want to see this thing finished!

Jazz Ad · #**104** 03-18-2012, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Unlike the original, my customer will actually be able to drink JD out of his bass!!

I4m pretty sure the original has a flask built in the upper part of the body.

Rip Topaz · #**105** 03-18-2012, 07:33 AM

Actually, they tried and failed, so the original had a small compartment in the treble horn that held two airline bottles.

This one will have a 4 ounce flask mounted in the headstock.

Rip Topaz · #**106** 04-21-2012, 08:57 AM

Been awhile.

My back pretty well took me out for the last few weeks, and it's been a struggle to get anywhere on this, but it's the only thing in my shop until its finished, so I've been chipping away as much as the pain allows.

I've outdone the previous attempt by a long shot. Everything about the new bass is better than the first.

The neck came out incredible. The flame on the neck is probably the most intense I've seen in quite some time, and it was purely accidental. When I shopped for the replacement neck blank, I was only looking for straight grain, the figure didn't matter because it's getting painted.

Well, it WAS getting painted. As I planed the neck blank to its final thickness, the curl revealed itself. It would be an absolute crime to cover it, so I'm gonna dye it and sand back to pop it, and match the colors to the body. (side note: I've got enough left for a P-bass neck when I'm done!!)

It's moving along nicely now, and I expect to be painting in the next week or so (fingers crossed!!)
Routing for the tuners ended up being quite a challenge, as their placement made it necessary to take a pretty big chunk from the lower end of the body. I've got the weight down to a respectable number with the new build. MUCH lighter than the first.

Sorry for the lack of pix, I really don't wanna spoil the end reveal.

bakerbass · #**107** 04-21-2012, 11:14 AM

I've just subscribed to this. That neck is incredible! I love this build. Mikey is great. I love this bass.

Basso54 · #**108** 04-21-2012, 11:47 PM

Holy cow!!! Love that grain!

Rip Topaz · #**109** 05-12-2012, 05:29 AM

Haven't updated this in quite some time, but I'm still working on it!!

My health hasn't cooperated for a second during this whole build, with whole weeks going by with no work done at all.

The rebuild is back on track. The new build is right around 9.5 pounds, which is considerably better than the 24 pounds of the first attempt.

The new neck is amazing. So glad I started over. Here it is with the first run of dye, just to show the grain. It'll get another coat of tobacco brown, sanded back, and then an amber coat over top of the brown.

The rest of the bass is miles better than the first.

I'm hoping to start painting next week or the following. Still have a bunch of sanding to do, as well as fretwork and routing cavities.

Still, the finish line is finally in sight.

BillyB_from_LZ · #**110** 05-12-2012, 10:10 AM

Very cool! Paul, I hope you feel better!!!

bakerbass · #**111** 05-13-2012, 03:20 AM

Looks fantastic. 60% lighter. 200% nicer. I can't wait to see the further progress. I hope you feel better. This build has become an odyssey for all the right and wrong reasons in equal measure for you.

Rip Topaz · #**112** 05-13-2012, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakerbass

Looks fantastic. 60% lighter. 200% nicer. I can't wait to see the further progress. I hope you feel better. This build has become an odyssey for all the right and wrong reasons in equal measure for you.

Without a doubt. When I first started this, I expected a quick build.

Within a week of starting, my health went downhill fast, and I haven't recovered. I've been forced to work on this in 5 and 10 minutes increments.

Still, it has also become a labor of love. Knowing full well that this could be my last build, so much attention to detail has gone into this. It's going to be a fantastic instrument when it's done.

**countbassiedad** · #**113** 05-13-2012, 06:53 AM

Holy crap - I thought bodies and necks were made by elves in a hollow tree owned by allparts!

Rip Topaz · #**114** 06-09-2012, 03:30 AM

Well, the back finally gave me a break this week, and I took full advantage!!

I've spent this week routing all the cavities, and getting some more sanding done. It's really coming along nicely. Hopefully the back continues to play nice.

I've only got to route the control cavities and route for the bridge and this suckers ready for paint!!!

brummiejon · #**115** 06-09-2012, 05:45 AM

Glad to hear your back is feeling a bit better....

BJ

Rip Topaz · #**116** 06-13-2012, 06:23 AM

Wow, man. Murphy's Law has been all over this build!!!

So I'm preparing to drill for the bridge (getting so close to finishing that I can smell the fumes!!) and as I'm drilling into a piece of scrap to check my depth, MY DRILL BREAKS!!! Are you SERIOUS?!?!?

Unfortunately, the body shape won't allow me to fit the bass under my drill press, so the bridge screws will have to be drilled by hand. No big deal, I've done it before, but without a working hand drill, it ain't happenin'.

So I hit Amazon. The new drill will be here in a few days.

The electronic cavities have been a real challenge. Because of the location of the controls, a regular single cavity won't cut it. I need to make 3 separate cavities.

The first will be on the upper horn, for the controls. This is the hardest one, as it sits on an angle.

The second will be the output jack.

The third is the battery box.

The first two will get Bakelite plates. The battery box will get.... Wait for it... A battery box.

Then I need to drill to connect them, and we're off to paint!!

Feels good to be back to work, but I could really use a little cooperation from the tools!!

brummiejon · #**117** 01-12-2013, 04:41 PM

Any more news on this build?

Rip Topaz · #**118** 01-12-2013, 05:26 PM

It's getting very close to completion, but I've been laid up for quite some time now. Next week I go in for the 6th back surgery, so hopefully things will heal up enough to get me into the shop.

There's been some hold ups due to needing to make parts that don't exist for the headstock, but here's a quick pic of where it's at right now.

moonshinegtrs · #**119** 01-12-2013, 07:52 PM

It is looking great Rip. You are one talented Dude.

Take care of yourself Brother... Sending prayers/good vibes your way.

You will get this done & will kick major ass doing so.

Take care of yourself first & foremost.

Moonshine

Rip Topaz · #**120** 01-13-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonshinegtrs

It is looking great Rip. You are one talented Dude.

Take care of yourself Brother... Sending prayers/good vibes your way.

You will get this done & will kick major ass doing so.

Take care of yourself first & foremost.

Moonshine

Thanks, man.

Luckily this build is for a friend, who is being unbelievably patient with me!!

Like I've said before, having only short time periods to work has turned this into a true labor of love. I've already completely restarted the build!!

But even though the back isn't cooperating, this bass WILL be completed and will be something I can be proud of. I've buffed out the finish by hand, which really brings you closer to the instrument.

I've got a surgery on January 16, which is this coming Wednesday, so I'll be down for a few weeks (unless the wife leaves me alone in the house!!). After that, it's all hands on deck!!

Only things left are to apply the label (waiting till last possible moment to do that to avoid possible shop damage), make the cavity covers, wire it up and do a setup.

The present holdup, other than the surgery, is the attachment of the strings at the headstock. We've had to machine new parts because what is needed just doesn't exist, and quite frankly I'm stumped. I'm working on a redesign that I'm hoping will make everything stable and still look good. More on that later.