New Member Bass Build

automan · #1 08-29-2009, 12:37 PM

Hi, all. I was pointed to this forum through a pickup builder page I am a member of. I wanted to share my current build with you all and see if you have any feed back. This bass is about 2 weeks from completion I just need to complete the finishing process, build the wooden pickup covers, and do final assembly.

Final design drawing

Selecting woods

The 7 piece neck through section all cut and lined up in prep for gluing

Neck through section all glued up

Once it is dry, I make a lot of this

Until it looks like this

Next I cut out and glue up what will become the wings

Get the sandwich all clamped together

Once that is dry, I clean up the sides so I can run them through the jointer

Layout after everything has been squared

Cut and select a fingerboard

Everything together to see if I like the wood selections

Cut out the wings

Now here I am missing a lot of pictures due to a hard drive crash. Basically, it involves slotting the fingerboard. This is going to be fretless but with lines. Routing and installing the truss rod, glue the wings to the body, epoxy the fingerboard to the neck (Cocobola is a very resinous wood so I have to use epoxy over wood glue), and a few other things.

Neck is shaped and contoured into the headstock

Neck is contoured into the body. None of that slamming into the body with your thumb. It's hard to tell from this picture, but there is a nicely sculpted angle that leads into the body that feathers into the round over of the body edge.

The horns are a point within a curve. The top wood thins and comes to a point on an otherwise curved core and back wood horn.

Route for the pickups and electronics cavity

Money shot up the body

A finish coat of oil has been applied. Check out how much oil the wood is soaking up!

I still have to put the maple lines into the slots (fretless), radius is, and do a thin CA gloss finish of the fingerboard.
I'll post the pics of it fully assembled after finishing is completed and maybe a few sound clips.

patton63 · #2 08-29-2009, 01:01 PM

Wow. Excellent description and workmanship. I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing the finished product. Good luck!

millsbass5 · #3 08-29-2009, 01:06 PM

Headstock shape?????

vbasscustom · #4 08-29-2009, 05:58 PM

damn, someone builds fast lol, nice work

jordan_frerichs · #5 08-29-2009, 10:56 PM

nice! before, my favorite neck lam style was 3 piece, with the middle piece being around 3/4" thick, and of a contrasting color to the sides (ex. maple-bloodwood-maple). Now I think my favorite is with the contrasting accents.

Akshat · #6 08-29-2009, 11:49 PM

looks really nice,the p bass pups kinda ruin it for me,other than that looks awesome.what about the headstock ?

automan · #7 08-30-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshat

looks really nice,the p bass pups kinda ruin it for me,other than that looks awesome.what about the headstock ?

I don't like P style pickups, but it's what the customer wanted. I didn't realize I didn't post a headstock pic. I have to spend the next 4 days up in Maine, but I'll be back by Thursday. I'll take and post a pic of the headstock then.

Thanks for the kind words, all.

draftsmann · #8 08-30-2009, 05:46 AM

That is very neat woodworking. Very nice.

marksmith85 · #9 08-31-2009, 11:03 AM

That's one sexy bass! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Subscribed.

Stealth · #10 08-31-2009, 11:12 AM

Lovely purpleheart stripes. Can't wait to see the net effect of the effort.

automan · #11 09-02-2009, 01:06 PM

I, too, am looking forward to seeing the finished product. I didn't like the wood selection scheme that the customer picked, but I am really starting to dig it.

49sfine · #12 09-02-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by automan

I, too, am looking forward to seeing the finished product. I didn't like the wood selection scheme that the customer picked, but I am really starting to dig it.

I am starting to really ponder starting my first bass build, and like yours, it will be a neck-thru. I have a couple of questions which may seem obvious to others, but not to me. First of all, does everyone always use dowels when joining the body wings to the neck-thru assembly? Second, what is the deal with glues? What kind of glue do you like to use for all the work you've done to date? Are different glues used for different areas, or is it all the same?

Thanks for any help! Beautiful work by the way ...

vbasscustom · #13 09-03-2009, 12:35 PM

tight bond 2 all the way baby

Lonnybass · #14 09-03-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49sfine

I am starting to really ponder starting my first bass build, and like yours, it will be a neck-thru. I have a couple of questions which may seem obvious to others, but not to me. First of all, does everyone always use dowels when joining the body wings to the neck-thru assembly? Second, what is the deal with glues? What kind of glue do you like to use for all the work you've done to date? Are different glues used for different areas, or is it all the same?

Thanks for any help! Beautiful work by the way ...

Some guys use dowels and some use biscuits to help with alignment and to minimize sliding during glue-up - all depends on preference and skill in freehanding it. In terms of glues, I've had great success with both Gorilla Glue and Titebond II, fairly common stuff and I see them in use all the time around here.

Lonnybass

jworrellbass · #15 09-03-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49sfine

I am starting to really ponder starting my first bass build, and like yours, it will be a neck-thru. I have a couple of questions which may seem obvious to others, but not to me. First of all, does everyone always use dowels when joining the body wings to the neck-thru assembly? Second, what is the deal with glues? What kind of glue do you like to use for all the work you've done to date? Are different glues used for different areas, or is it all the same?

Thanks for any help! Beautiful work by the way ...

You don't need to use dowels, I glue the body wing/ neck through using a speed clamp just long enough until it stops slipping and then I put on the heavy duty clamps. Tite bond as well.

automan · #16 09-04-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49sfine

I am starting to really ponder starting my first bass build, and like yours, it will be a neck-thru. I have a couple of questions which may seem obvious to others, but not to me. First of all, does everyone always use dowels when joining the body wings to the neck-thru assembly?

I don't use any dowels. Good joints, lots of clamps, and the right glue for the woods you are using has always worked fine for me.

Quote:

Second, what is the deal with glues?
What kind of glue do you like to use for all the work you've done to date? Are different glues used for different areas, or is it all the same?

I use titebond for most all domestic nonresonous woods. Like for the maple/walnut/purpleheart neck through section, I used titebond, but to glue the cocobola fingerboard on I used 2 part epoxy.

Quote:

Thanks for any help! Beautiful work by the way ..

Thanks!

49sfine · #17 09-05-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by automan

I don't use any dowels. Good joints, lots of clamps, and the right glue for the woods you are using has always worked fine for me.

I use titebond for most all domestic nonresonous woods. Like for the maple/walnut/purpleheart neck through section, I used titebond, but to glue the cocobola fingerboard on I used 2 part epoxy.

Thanks!

Guys: Thanks for all the feedback. Once I get my garage set-up for my shop (within the next 6 weeks I hope) I am going to be getting closer to launching my first build. I'm getting pretty hyped about it ... Got a lot more reading to do for now, though!

automan · #18 09-17-2009, 08:05 PM

Sorry, the pics aren't so good. The finish on the fingerboard is CA glue. 14 coats went on, then sanded with 320 on a block, then I went up through the micro-mesh pads until it had a mirror shine. Like I said, the pics suck, but in the pic of just the fingerboard, the 2 bar lights reflected in the fingerboard finish are 2 fluro bulbs behind a cover. You can stand a quarter up on it and see every detail. The best part about this kid of finish is it takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Tomorrow, I make the nut, and string it up.

jworrellbass · #19 09-19-2009, 09:50 AM

That purple heart with the walnut looks really nice, when I first saw it I didn't care for the two together. Looks beautiful.

Micro mesh is a god send..lol.. I can't imagine not using it for the finish.

marksmith85 · #20 09-19-2009, 12:18 PM

Gotta say automan, that bass is looking sweet!!

If I had enough cash I'd be placing an order right now. The attention to detail and quality of finish are second to none. And I don't care if you say the photos are crap!