My entry to Craigster's build competition!

dave-chaulk · #1 08-01-2010, 06:26 PM

I'll be competing in the "complete build amateur" section of his competition. basically, the rules are;
"1. Can't spend over $125 on additional parts over what you might have laying around.
2. Must post pictures of starting parts by start date of Aug 15th.
3. Competition runs from Aug 15th til Sept 30 midnight PST
4. Must keep a running total of money spent on additional parts and post it.
5. Take lots of pictures of your project while your working on it. This is a learning experiance for a lot of us (me included) and it helps us learn.
6. Post your project on this thread.
7. At end of competition we will have a poll and have the TB community vote on their favorite bass from each catagory.
8. Anything we haven't come up with yet (in the millitary this was knowm as an article 15)"

So, I'll be building;

Jazz bass
neck-through
maple neck - free, made from an old coffee table (four piece)
pine wings - should be about 20 bucks
padauk fingerboard - already have
old wilkinson pickups - already have
old truss rod - already have
cheap tuners - 20-30 dollars
I'll make a bridge, and make it string-thru - free
electronic bits - (3 pots, 1 input) already have - free

Total thus far; a max of $50.00.

The contest doesn't start until august 15th, so I'll order parts soon and begin when they come!

I'll be in town to get most parts on wednsday.

Craigster · #2 08-01-2010, 06:29 PM

welcome aboard! did you build your own neck? I would love to learn how to do that. Maybe next year I can build my own neck

mikeyswood · #3 08-01-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craigster

did you build your own neck? I would love to learn how to do that. Maybe next year I can build my own neck

Some poor sots put together a thread about that:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/how-necks-622200/#post8595835

Dark Horse · #4 08-01-2010, 06:41 PM

Awesome - welcome aboard !

Craigster · #5 08-01-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Some poor sot put together a thread about that:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8595835

looks like I'll be investing in more tools B4 I do my own necks (one day)

dave-chaulk · #6 08-01-2010, 07:16 PM

I build my necks really simply, actually. I used to cut taper with a handsaw, now I just use a bandsaw. then I shape with a rasp and a little planer. done. I check the thickness every now and then, and make sure everything's straight and all, but I really do it by feel.

Craigster · #7 08-01-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave-chaulk

I build my necks really simply, actually. I used to cut taper with a handsaw, now I just use a bandsaw. then I shape with a rasp and a little planer. done. I check the thickness every now and then, and make sure everything's straight and all, but I really do it by feel.

whats a cut taper

dave-chaulk · #8 08-02-2010, 01:57 PM

the angle from the heel to the nut. I've always called it that anyways, not sure if it's correct or not...

mikeyswood · #9 08-02-2010, 02:26 PM

If you are referring to the reset angle of neck that is the cant. If you are referring to the tapering of neck thickness from body to nut that is the neck taper. If you are referring to the width of the neck from body to nut that is the string taper. If you are referring to the change in width of laminates within the neck that is laminate taper. If you are referring to the person sealing packages that is the masking taper.

dave-chaulk · #10 08-02-2010, 05:45 PM

"If you are referring to the width of the neck from body to nut that is the string taper."
There you go.

xmaddogx · #11 08-02-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

... If you are referring to the person sealing packages that is the masking taper.

Once I learned this, I could make a neck blind folded.

Craigster · #12 08-03-2010, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave-chaulk

"If you are referring to the width of the neck from body to nut that is the string taper."
There you go.

Gotcha'... after looking at Mike's thread maybe I'll try and tackle a neck build on my next build

SDB Guitars · #13 08-03-2010, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

...If you are referring to the person sealing packages that is the masking taper.

With this one piece of wisdom from deep within your soul, your circle of knowledge is now complete. There is nothing more that anyone can teach you, grasshopper. The student has now become the master.

dave-chaulk · #14 08-03-2010, 07:09 PM

Body wood bought and glued up. making a jazz bass template tonight (finally).

dave-chaulk · #15 08-05-2010, 08:48 PM

OK, body cut out and glued to the neck. truss slot routed (poorly) and fingerboard ready to glue on. pictures whenever I get my compute rback.

TomA1234 · #16 08-06-2010, 03:52 AM

Looks like I have competition and you're at an advantage having some previous build experience unlike me!

dave-chaulk · #17 08-06-2010, 09:44 AM

I've got some previous builds, but very little experience - it shows with this bass, hah.

I don't think I'll do any more neck-throughs with recycled material. I just like bolt-on better.

dave-chaulk · #18 08-06-2010, 03:54 PM

dave-chaulk · #19 08-06-2010, 03:54 PM

there's a small gap between the fingerboard and neck on the bottom/treble side. I guess I'll just fill it, since it's not really a big deal.

Musiclogic · #20 08-06-2010, 06:38 PM

Definately on the right track Dave, keep it going.