first build is about to begin!

tribal3140 · #1 09-30-2006, 02:18 AM

ok most of you know me and probably have been wondering with all of the wood around + I play bass, design bass & guitar
as well as am a decking carpenter.
when is he going to make his own bass?
Well I just broke up with my girlfriend of 5 years so I have some free time on my hands in the immediate future.

I have a
band saw, scroll saw, router, drum sander, jointer, and a bazillion clamps.
and scraping and carving tools
you know..... naginata, gonfu, gladuis, barong, butterfly.... just kidding!
(below!- that also may help me with my bebensee problem too

)

I have decided on stuff I have excess of.

the specs:

2 pc Sapele body
beeswing pyinma top and ziricote back.
the neck is to be
qsawn curly bubinga stringers
wenge with holly pinstripes.
Bolt on. or set neck, not sure yet.

I will be asking shawn may of may custom basses for help on the stuff that may be the most challenging for a first timer
(although I will be telling him tomorrow hehehe)

dual action truss, gotoh ultralights.
hipshot A"
a Mec twinjazz dual J sweetspot pup
and dual MEC bec III preamps as a dual 2 band,
with a neutrick locking input jack.

I am going to have my guitarist eurathane it and steel wool satin it. he is a professional automotive body guy and has all the sweetest equiptment.

yes its a lofty projet but I dont think its at all out of my reach
given that all of the woods are probably processed and sanded already!
I just have to get good with the router!
I dont think I'll be scarf jointing my first bass
I'll be stacking everything to 8/4 and cutting (I know wasting) but a little wasted bub and wenge is better than a seperated scarf joint on my first bass.

I will be posting progress pics!
the body style is going to be that of my now debacled bebensee rudy I
if youd like to see it go over to the main bass forum its a mess

the once great KB is now not so great.
(fingers crossed)

wilser · #2 09-30-2006, 06:54 AM

Hi tribal,
I'm pretty sure you have the skills to build a killer instrument, plus with all that wood you have access to, it should turn out great. Definetely looking forward to seeing your work.

PS. too bad to hear about your break up.

Hambone · #3 09-30-2006, 07:26 AM

Boy, talk about "rebound"!

One girlfriend is barely out the door and you've gone and gotten another one. Take it from me, this type can be just as frustrating as the flesh and blood version.

RWP · #4 09-30-2006, 07:39 AM

A new luthier is born.

This will be so interesting to see how your project progresses. I would love to try but my skills with wood are nil. Model RC planes is about as far as I have ever gone. GOOD LUCK and please post!

JSPguitars · #5 09-30-2006, 08:48 AM

Congrats on the next step!
If I can make a scarf joint, so can you!
Seriously, as long as the neck blank is wide enough, use screws to help aid in the process. It's worked good for me, although I haven't been able to get the lines of the 'stringers' to flow/transition perfectly straight yet.
Anyway, looking forward to the progress pics.
Jeff

spudmaster34 · #6 09-30-2006, 10:48 AM

good luck

**Rodent** · #7 09-30-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tribal3140

I have to buy a belt sander for joints and thats about it for tools. .... I have a band saw, scroll saw, router, drum sander, jointer, and a bazillion clamps.

not sure I catch you on the belt sander, as you already have the necessary tools for clean, solid joints with your drum sander (I assume you mean a thicknessing drum sander, the one you use for your business) and jointer.

since you'll have experienced outside help, I'll refrain from suggesting that your first build be of quality non-figured woods (except for bookmatched top) to allow you to build a solid, stable neck and body without complications that can be introduced by wood figuring. oops! guess I did it in saying I'd refrain from it

all the best on this new project,

R

tribal3140 · #8 09-30-2006, 06:19 PM

I went into the shop today and cut all of the woods
I have pics but I have to resize them!
I have made a few revisions when I looked at the woods down there.
the sapele body is actually curly one the edges go figure!

The pyinma is as stable as figured wood gets just a dream to work with
and ziricote is also very easy to work with.
I think the biggest pain will be the wenge and thats not bad.

I will be using a wenge 1/8" veneer with a bookmatched beeswing pyinma top 3/16"
the back will be a 1/8" holly veneer and a bookmatched 3/16" ziricote back.
the neck will still be figured bubinga and wenge with a holly stripe in the center.

pics to come of the raw materials.

the neck stringers are cut and jointed (need to be glued)
the body is cut but I am going to resaw it yet.
its a very strong 8/4 planed already and I want this to be a thinner instrument because sapele is kinda heavy.
I am going to cut it down and sand it thicknessed to 1 and 3/8"

I jointed all of the veneers and top and back I need to thickness them for glueing

I also have change the fingerboard from that fancy katalox to
quarterswan wenge.
It will look better with the busy pyinma figure! I have yet to
full scale cut the template!
Isnt that bass ackwards!
I'll get these photos rezized of the semi processed materials.
I was thinking of the belt sander but then I realized I have like a $400 4x24 one!
I need a drill press!
Thats what I forgot.

tribal3140 · #9 09-30-2006, 06:38 PM

the top and back

spudmaster34 · #10 09-30-2006, 07:05 PM

lookin' good

klocwerk · #11 09-30-2006, 09:56 PM

That black and white is the Zircote?
wow.
I think I need me some of that, one of these days.

Dean N · #12 09-30-2006, 10:41 PM

Wow.

Just looking at those pics makes me want to learn how to build a guitar from scratch.

That top is just insane. The ziricote ain't too shabby either!

I know I'll be watching this thread!

tribal3140 · #13 09-30-2006, 10:42 PM

yea this particular log was small, only 8" at its max across
and the sapwood is nice and clean, no stain!
I love ziricote!- but not the smell when drum sanding

tribal3140 · #14 10-05-2006, 12:20 AM

OK after some thinking , cutting & sanding I changed a few of the specs.

I dont think that was over my head but That pyinma and ziricot was way too cool to just waste. it'll be my 3rd homemade.

I changed the top to a myrtle burl
which is glued up and surfaced.
and the back is to be qsawn fig'd bubinga

I picked woods that I have an excess of- not wood that are showoffy- (yea I just made that word up) I do have alot of ziricote though,

I cut all veneers and stringers today.

the official rough materials list readu to continue glueing.
2 pc sapele body
cut to 1 3/8"
holly veneer at 1/8"
myrtle burl top. 1/8- 3/16
from the center back will be a 1/16" wenge veneer
and the fig'd bubinga back. 1/4"
the neck is to be: (from outside in)
1" wenge
1/16" holly
3/8" purpleheart
and a 1/4" black limba center stripe.
the ears will be wenge too.
the fingerboard will be purple katalox

these woods are all cheap so if I screwit up I wont cry
I am pretty good at most things on the first shot but I think I'll lay the old ego back on this one and start smaller!

mockup below

All of the woods are cut and sanded, the top is already glued up.

wish me luck!
THe bass on the left is this one.
the bass on the right will be the #2 same basic thing but with a maple body and a camatillo fingerboard.
the 3rd try will be the specs in the original post
but with a curly maple body.
I also decided on an easier body style until I find my groove
its exactly like my warwick fortress MM but with a little hook on the upper horn for flair.

(fingers crossed)

wilser · #15 10-05-2006, 05:52 AM

man, that bass looks amazing, kind of 'warwick-y'.

Good luck.

msherman · #16 10-05-2006, 08:20 PM

Welcome to the addiction. First off, you have a great knowledge of woods.....second, a great inventory of wood to choose from...... third, All the tools you will require.....forth, you are a Bass player.

The only thing missing, was you haven`t made your oun bass yet.
I`m sure it will the first of many to come.
Maybe the Bebensee incident had a good outcome afterall....thats the spirit!

Good luck with your first build.

Mike

tribal3140 · #17 10-08-2006, 08:36 PM

next step
glue! for the neck.
tops already glued up!

tribal3140 · #18 10-08-2006, 08:37 PM

the rest of it!

maybass77 · #19 10-09-2006, 07:45 AM

Just call me when ur ready to go. Make quick friends with your router.

tribal3140 · #20 10-13-2006, 11:10 PM

OK
I looked around for tips on glueing tops but all of the threads start with the tops already glued up!

so this is how I figured its done
I saw a show on a mandolin maker that used nails outlining the frame in a base board. then he lowered the top into it like a drawbridge and them clamped it down having the nails provide the pressure inwards.
then he maticulously pulled the nails out when it was dry alternating sides and ends as not to stress the joint by popping out.

well I figured this was easier!
its on blocks and clamped and a brace bar under one of the clamps so the boards wont pop up!
which happened to me a long time ago when I tried this
it worked really well.
I hadnt put the closest clamp on for the pic
the body glued really well too!

now for the laminates and cutting out the control cover and then to sandwich it all together and cut it out!

the neck is to be glued tomorrow!
its all nice and smooth until I get to the part where I have to buy a drill press (which I will but not for a week or so -no time!)
I know I should put small wood slices under my clamp ends but these all are in cutoff areas
and the clamps holding the set down arent very tight just a backup against popup!

truckin!