New "How to" section

**Basschair** · #1 03-26-2007, 08:23 AM

Hey all,

If there's anything that's come up recently that you feel should be included in this section, let me know.

Some How-To’s (in no particular order...sorry):

“Top Carving with your old friend Scott French”
Top carving with your old friend Scott French

Here's one a TBer put on here a while back about defretting:
http://www.geocities.com/charlesarms/

Nateo's defret tutorial
A Hack Defret Tutorial

Wilser's scarf joint
This is how I cut a scarf jointed neck

Fat Karl's thread on finishes
Show and tell: finishes

Josh Curry: wooden knobs
Making wooden knobs

Cerb's process and blog link on making a bass
My First Attempt at Constructing a Bass... (With Bass Porn)

Hambone's photo tip
A Photo Tip

Calculates fret placements
http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator

As far as fretting goes, here's a link to "wfret," which is a fret distance calculator...Windows only, sorry!:
ftp://mimf.com/pub/wfret.zip

Thanks for the reminder Wilser!

Another fret placement program/site:
http://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/

spreadsheet: string spacing layout: equal centers vs. equal gaps
spreadsheet: string spacing layout: equal centers vs. equal gaps

spreadsheet: effect of headstock/nut break angle on string downforce and friction at nut:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/pics-more-than-usually-angled-headstocks-145896-post1683337/

Truss rod gluing
glueing in a truss rod.....

"Long Awaited Epoxy Photo Tutorial"
Long Awaited Epoxy Photo Tutorial

"Spud's Easy to Follow Nut Replacement Thread," with pics!
Spud's easy to follow nut replacement thread

"Building a Body Blank from Scratch," with pics, from Scott in Dallas.
Building a body blank from scratch

"Building a bass from parts: customizing a pre-finished body/neck," with pics, from Rodent.
Building a bass from parts - customizing a pre-finished body/neck

"HOW TO DO A RELIC: NOW IN A 70 Page pdf" from ibanezcollector.
HOW TO DO A RELIC: NOW IN A 70 Page PDF :)

"Don't Make the Mistakes I Made!" by digthemlows...perhaps this shoulc be in the how not to section

Don't Make the Mistakes I made!

"Sanding help please!" (getting that gloss finish on an epoxied fretless FB) asked by engedi1.
Sanding help please!!!

"Pickup Making Tutorial"
Pickup making tutorial
Here's the direct link to Wilser's website

"Decal Application Tutorial"
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...86#post9519986

"pickup mounting - threaded inserts "
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...98#post8825798

"Wood Bridge Tutorial"
Wood Bridge Tutorial.
by Mario, with pics...would that make it a pictutorial?

"How To: Lined Fretless Fingerboard"
HOW TO: Lined Fretless Fingerboard

Phil's fret slot cutting using a square and fret saw
help i still dont know how to cut straight frets

Kencasino submitted this alternative approach to pickup covers
http://www.gminet.com/bassmod/

NickInMesa asked about how people were fixing their name/brand to their necks:
How do you write your brand on the neck?

Eleonn came up with this thread a few years ago..."Jigs & stuff"
Jigs & stuff...

LedBelli Bass created this thread on finishing with Nitro:
Nitro-Cell Lacquer Finish Schedule/Tutorial

Mikeyswood's "How to: Fingerboards"
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...32#post8591732

Basschair's "Inlaying Crushed Turquoise" tutorial:
Inlaying crushed turquoise tutorial

Making Inlay Tutorial:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...39#post8654739

Mikeywood's "How To: Necks"
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...35#post8595835

Ledbelli's "Fingerboard Radius Jig for Router"
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...30#post9095930

Mikeywood's "How To: Undo Yellow Glue"
How To: Undo Yellow Glue

Mikeywood's "How To: Design a Bass"
How To: Design A Bass

Engine207's "Epoxy on a fretless Warmoth neck by Lewis Bass and Guitar"
Epoxy on a fretless Warmoth neck by Lewis Bass and Guitar

Pictorials:

A word of warning: pictures and attachments can disappear over time to make room in alotted storage space for other pics. Discriptions will remain...hopefully these can be helpful.

Budman
Pics by request

Scott French
New bass in the works, shop pics, new press & more!

Mcdade
RIM Custom Singlecut 4 for Craig

JSPguitars' "Where's the BEEF???"
Where's the BEEF??

Toonman
my carl thompson

Gard
Progress Pics Of My Baby
In this one, you'll have to scan through a lot of commentary to get to the bulk of the pics, but it's a beautiful bass!

bill h
A project bass

Wilser's "The Steve Swallow Parker Fly knock-off," and "Two more basses in progress"
The Steve Swallow Parker fly knock off
two more basses in progress

Budman's pics
http://www.lowtones.com/LeCompteJSSM/
http://animegrafx.com/gallery/F-bird?page=1

DirkDiggler's "6 string headless multiscale build" link
6 string headless multi-scale build

GMC Basses
http://www.gmcbasses.co.uk/GMCBasses/BassPlace.htm
Thanks Suburban

Cliff Bordwell's site: click the link and then click on "The News" button on the left to see his current projects. Amazing basses!
http://www.cbbasses.com/

"Build a set neck joint and carve a neck"
this is how I build a set neck joint and carve a neck

NEW!!! Tutorial/pictorials on Pickup cover-making:
Wilser's Wooden pickup cover tutorial (and plans for plastic cast covers)
and Musiclogic's How I build Wood P/U Covers - Pictorial

Shawn's (SDB Guitars)
How to make a single-acting truss rod

Don't forget Spudman's nut replacement pictorial/tutorial listed above in "tutorials," as well as Scott in Dallas' "Building a Body Blank from Scratch," and Rodent's "Building a bass from parts."

T2W's "Step by step LED installation"
Step by step LED installation.

scottyd's "How To: Fiber Optic Side Markers Part 1"
How To: Fiber Optic Side Markers Part 1!

Musiclogic's "Decal Application Pic/Tutorial"
Decal Application Pic/Tutorial

Finishing:

"Getting my oil finish to look glossy"
getting my oil finish to look glossy?

"Show and Tell: Finishes"
Show and tell: finishes

"Polishing with a brown paper bag"
Polishing with a brown paper bag. . .

"Oil finishing easier than painting?"
Oil finishing easier than painting?

"Glues, finishes, and general advice"
Glues, Finishes and General advice

"DIY Natural Wood Refinish"
DIY Natural Wood Refinish

"Sanded-in Oil Finish"
Sanded-in Oil Finish

"Dyeing Quilted Maple"
Dyeing Quilted Maple How-To

ROCKWOOD · #2 12-13-2008, 09:02 PM

I have a tree that was 'downed' 8 years ago & left intact
above ground. I'm ready to harvest it. Made a cut today
& it is in excellent shape - no rot & no splits! I'm planning
to cut out 6' sections & saw them into roughly 6" slabs.
Well, it turns out there is still quite a bit of moisture in this
wood. What do I do to finish dry the slabs? Anyone know
about kilning?

T2W · #3 12-14-2008, 05:58 AM

I worked in a kiln for a while, Yellow and I were supposed to do a tutorial on 'pick your own wood' and on how to dry it. Ill take care of it this week. With Pics and a lot of details.

eleonn · #4 12-14-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T2W

Yellow and I were supposed to do a tutorial on 'pick your own wood' and on how to dry it. Ill take care of it this week. With Pics and a lot of details.

I'll keep both eyes open for that. Not that I'm going to go to the Amazon Rain Forest and take down the first mahogany tree I see but Im interested in this.

GregBlach · #5 05-10-2009, 08:28 AM

"HOW TO DO A RELIC: NOW IN A 70 Page pdf" from ibanezcollector.
HOW TO DO A RELIC: NOW IN A 70 Page PDF :)

is dead...

wayne holmes · #6 11-11-2009, 12:50 AM

"who are you?"thread for any member who would like to share their life and history with the bass.

Mr wiggl3s · #7 12-06-2009, 12:16 PM

Photobucket implemented some ******** into their system. If you don't sign in every 3 months they wont show your pictures.

So most of these pictures aren't showing. Something to keep in mind.

ppk · #8 03-24-2010, 06:36 PM

Could there possibly be a thread for trussrod repair and fretboard removal??

thanks, Paul

albertofrog · #9 07-04-2010, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleonn

I'll keep both eyes open for that. Not that I'm going to go to the Amazon Rain Forest and take down the first mahogany tree I see but Im interested in this.

Me too, here's hoping..

Ive got an ash tree in my garden that growing rediculously straight.
Its just asking to be a through neck...

ColeWinger · #10 11-04-2010, 11:03 AM

I've got an unfinished Swamp Ash body coming from California soon and would really like to do the finishing work myself. I'm finding that Ash wood needs to be filled. I'm trying to achieve a natural or blonde look. Any suggestions on what products work best for retaining the sound of the wood. Filling and Sealing products. I'm thinking of finishing with Tung Oil. What do you think.
Thanks

**Basschair** · #11 11-04-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColeWinger

I've got an unfinished Swamp Ash body coming from California soon and would really like to do the finishing work myself. I'm finding that Ash wood needs to be filled. I'm trying to achieve a natural or blonde look. Any suggestions on what products work best for retaining the sound of the wood. Filling and Sealing products. I'm thinking of finishing with Tung Oil. What do you think.
Thanks

Hi Cole,

You'll probably find a lot more information on it if you go to the first page of the Luthier's Corner and use the search function (probably using "finishing swamp ash" as keywords). There's most likely going to be a lot of existing threads on the subject.

Best of luck!

Drake Custom · #12 12-02-2010, 08:57 AM

I have had some luck with using a clear wood filler that I bought from StewMac. I follow the instructions on the can but let it dry longer. Then after light sanding I would use Minwax wipe-on-poly to build your protective coats as it dries clear and dries hard. Use a thinned coat first and keep the surface wet for at least 30 minutes by wiping on more finish. This lets the finish penetrate deeper into the soft Ash. Once that coat is hard then you can use several thin coats to build your finish. I use the satin style (gold can) for best results. It can be buffed and polished to a shine. You can build the finish as thick as you want but if you want an "oiled" look use only three or four coats thinned.
Oil, especialy tung oil, never really dries as true oils never dry hard. Most products sold as "oils" are really just varnish or varnish with oils in them. Also the oils are kind of amber in color and may deepen the color of the Ash or make the end grain look dirty. On my website below if you search out the BH6 in the guitar section, you will see an example of this finish.