Linas' First Build Progress Thread

Linas · #1 07-19-2006, 06:58 PM

Well it seems that this forum is getting quite popular and that there are a many of these "first build" threads floating around, but heres my take on it. The bass i am building is a 34" neck thru. I took most of my major specs from the Moll bass plans that i got on MIMF and just changed around the body shape. I am actually using the 4 string plan, but since i like a tight string spacing, i am just making it a 5er (making the spacing around 16-17mm). The neck is made out of flame maple and a purple heart stripe down the center. There are 1/4" purpleheart transition pieces from the neck to body. The wings are a laminate of black limba, fiber veneer, and a 1/4" cap front and back of myrtle. The fretboard is pao ferro. All of my wood is from Gallery Hardwoods. Not tons of work is done on the bass yet, but its starting to take shape.

For the neck, the general shape is cut out, but i still have a decent ammount of work to do on it. I also need to plane the fretboard surface a bit more, because its got a bit of a bow.

Heres a general mockup of the bass. The one wing is cut out, but i still have to clean it up with my template and router. Also, you can see the treble wing with just the fiber veneer on and a hole for me to start cutting out the control cavity. I will be making a continuous back plate.

Here is the bookmatched top for the treble wing. I have to cut out the control cavity before i glue the top on.

The templates that i made, this is what the body shape will be like.

A cross section of the body. The veneer should create a nice contrast once i round the body over and start adding some countours.

Please... comments, questions, and constructive criticism appreciated and welcome.
*ALSO, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DRAW OUT A HEADSTOCK SHAPE THAT WOULD BE FITTING FOR MY BASS I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!

Greenman · #2 07-19-2006, 09:24 PM

Looks great. How are you going to finish the body? I think it would look nice with a gloss finish.

klocwerk · #3 07-19-2006, 10:54 PM

looks sweet!
I love me some progress threads...

Linas · #4 07-20-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

Looks great. How are you going to finish the body? I think it would look nice with a gloss finish.

I am going to do a oil finish out of ease and lack of equipment to do a laquer finish. Ideally, what i would like on a bass is the nordstrand style finish; glossy body and headstock, but satin neck. Oooh those are so nice looking.

mahrous · #5 07-20-2006, 01:03 PM

hehe nordstrand guitars = 40% of my inspiration corner! fascinating stuff

Linas · #6 09-26-2006, 10:12 PM

Well guys, its progress time. Started the new semester of woodworking at school and had my first day of work in the woodshop today. I finished the lower wing. There are ups and downs.

Ups- It looks pretty good

The continuous control cover turned out very well, the line blends great.

And the big botch of the day....

Tore out a nice sized portion on the front of the lower wing. I am going to have to take the MFer back to the bandsaw and cut off about 1/8-1/4" and reshape it a bit.

Greenman · #7 09-26-2006, 10:29 PM

Those acsent lines are going to look great. Good luck.

wilser · #8 09-27-2006, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linas

And the big botch of the day....

Tore out a nice sized portion on the front of the lower wing. I am going to have to take the MFer back to the bandsaw and cut off about 1/8-1/4" and reshape it a bit.

DON'T DO THAT!!!! this happens a lot to me when routing outlines with templates on end grain. For some reason, this happens to me everytime in the same spot, the upper horn (bass side). Just glue up your body together to the neck and use a random orbit sander to work the shape. Trust me, it'll turn out great.

btw, you are doing a killer job, keep it up.

Linas · #9 10-17-2006, 10:35 PM

Alright, so as i had planned, i got to route out the truss rod channel. I used the table with a fence which was the easiest option and it turned out very well.

I also cut out the adjustment recess just using a miter saw. I will use a piece of neck scrap to make the door. Ile most likely use inlayed magnets to hold it down. (does anyone know if using magnets will interfere with the pickups at all?)

Used small threaded inserts from cliff bordwell to screw down the control cavity cover.

And just a general mockup of the bass so far. Next step is slotting the fretboard.
Also, the router burns on the body still need to be sanded off.

DigthemLows · #10 01-02-2007, 06:13 PM

Hows this one coming along?

Jazzdogg · #11 01-02-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilser

DON'T DO THAT!!!! this happens a lot to me when routing outlines with templates on end grain. For some reason, this happens to me everytime in the same spot, the upper horn (bass side). Just glue up your body together to the neck and use a random orbit sander to work the shape. Trust me, it'll turn out great.

btw, you are doing a killer job, keep it up.

+10

I like to clean up (prevent) that kind of tear-out by using Nicholson #49 and #50 patternmaker's rasps, spokeshaves, and scrapers.

Linas · #12 01-02-2007, 09:31 PM

I have made minimal progress since the last pics. I ran into some problems with glueing the wing transitions and that set me back a bit. Still need to order new transition pieces from larry. But im thinking i might do something other than purple heart. At the end of the semester i had to miss my woodworking sessions for various reasons. But i plan to finish it in spring hopefully. Next semester starts soon and i cant wait to start working again. Hopefully ile have some progress pics in a couple weeks.