First build:Pre-pre-planning stages

erochelle77 · #1 10-01-2007, 08:30 PM

I know it's ambitious for my first ever build, but that's just the way I do things. I would like some input of whatever kind you'll give. From wood selection to design tips.

Body:Flame Maple
Top:Figured Claro Walnut
5 piece flame maple/claro walnut neck-through (m/w/m/w/m)
Ebony fingerboard
Ebony accent lines between all pieces.

I know the headstock looks too small...I couldn't get it to look proportional, but it gets the idea across.

T2W · #2 10-01-2007, 08:36 PM

Any experience working wood?

Cerb · #3 10-01-2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T2W

Any experience working wood?

If you have some patience and some basic logic skills, this shouldn't be a factor. Just look at the first build thread for some examples.

I know I didn't have any woodworking skills before my first build.

erochelle77 · #4 10-01-2007, 08:52 PM

Yes, I have woodworking experience.

erochelle77 · #5 10-01-2007, 09:07 PM

I'm also considering fanning the frets. I understand the concept, and the layout shouldn't be that complicated.

eleonn · #6 10-01-2007, 09:23 PM

All my woodworking experience before my project was to smash some nails against a piece of wood a couple of times. Other than that I usually called somebody to do whats needed to be done!!!!

I say with or without experience go for it!!! Without it you will spend more money replacing what once was a nice expensive exotic wood but if you live in a place where what is called exotic in other places its called local ...like ...humm Perú?? this doesnt matters!!!

erochelle77 · #7 10-01-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleonn

All my woodworking experience before my project was to smash some nails against a piece of wood a couple of times. Other than that I usually called somebody to do whats needed to be done!!!!

I say with or without experience go for it!!! Without it you will spend more money replacing what once was a nice expensive exotic wood but if you live in a place where what is called exotic in other places its called local ...like ...humm Perú?? this doesnt matters!!!

I live in a place where all you can get is pine. Seriously, as far as lumber goes, it's only pine. I'm waiting on a price quote for some wood now.

eleonn · #8 10-01-2007, 09:44 PM

Thanks to you mother nature and to you Amazonas Yungle!!!

Bass Kahuna · #9 10-02-2007, 08:56 AM

My strong suggestion would be to make complete, full scale drawings of your design from the front and from the side before cutting or glueing any wood. Include drawings for where the control cavity will go, the pickup wire channels, all of the dimensions of the neck (nut width, width at last fret, etc.).

These drawings and detailed measurements will then be used to build from.

To do this, first select the hardware you will use (ie: bridge, tuners, pickups, etc.). Use the minimum and maximum adjustments of those parts in your drawings. That way you won't end up with strings that are still laying on the fingerboard when you do the final build, but the bridge won't adjust any higher.

Then make a production list which will include the necessary steps you need to take to build the bass before you start buildling. If you're going to put on a figured top, maybe you want to route a channel for the pickup wires before you glue it down? Or make sure you radius and slot the fingerboard before glueing it down? Etc.

Also, for those speciality type of operations (like radiussing and slotting the frets), checkout places like Luthiers Mercantile International (lmii.com), as they will sell you a fingerboard already radiused and slotted. Rather than design your own control cavity will the control cavity template and plastic cover from StewMac work for you? Etc... etc..

Planning it all out, measure and draw it all out first to avoid any big "gotchas" that will bring the project to a halt or a complete stop.