• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

$100 Bass Challenge - Marceline's Axe Bass

#161
Gilmourisgod said:
Maple,
Great practice neck carve for the Rick build. Did you use some kind of template, or just wing it? I'm paranoid about shaving through to the trussrod or stiffener rods. I'm going to make a series of templates for stations along the neck and gradually pare down to the templates.
Click to expand...

I just winged it, but did have a plan. I used the rasp, and filed the same angle on each side, first one side and then the other. Then filed a second angle, one side and then the other. And so on. After each set of maybe three angles, I sanded it with 60 grit smooth, and ran my fretting hand up and down the neck, until it felt right. The neck is just over and inch thick, and the truss rod is only 1/4" deep from the top of the mahogany, so with the fingerboard, it's about in the middle of the neck. I was aware of that positioning, but didn't fear I'd hit it. With stiffeners off to each side, I'd likely have taken more actual measurements during the process. For the Rick build, with 2 truss rods, I'll do that. Though maple is a bit harder then the mahogany, so I might have to use a more aggressive rasp.
 
#163
A little more work on the headstock today.

kcgzew.jpg


2pqjlhj.jpg


jkdm41.jpg


Nut slot cut, headstock close to final shape, and tuner holes drilled. I think at this point, I can start to get ready to give the fingerboard it's first coat of red stain so I can install the fret marker laminates. After that, I can glue the body wings on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vmabus
#168
Speaking of the Leafenbacker, I cut a slot in one of the body panels to run the wires, employing the same technique I used when building the Leaf. I may want to extend that down deeper into the body panel toward the bottom by the yet to be cut control panel before I glue the wing on.

2pousmw.jpg


And another status shot. I shaved down the neck to just about an inch in depth, and worked a little more on the back of the headstock. Next will be to stain the fingerboard, put in the laminate fret markers, and glue up the body wings.

33eskmw.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: vmabus and potomac
#169
gmjhowe said:
What happens when you finish the bass, and it turns out the best playing bass you ever made happens to be shaped like an axe?
Click to expand...

mapleglo said:
Ha! I guess I'll have to join a metal band :p
Click to expand...

Nope. Jazz combo. Or polka band.

Edit: And you're gonna have to start an Axe Club so you can update your sig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CosmoReverb and mapleglo
#170
ctmullins said:
Nope. Jazz combo. Or polka band.

Edit: And you're gonna have to start an Axe Club so you can update your sig.
Click to expand...
Whatever the band's genre I would love to see @mapleglo start a band called "Aggressive Rasp" and play bass using this particular axe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mapleglo
#171
michaelwayneharwood said:
Whatever the band's genre I would love to see @mapleglo start a band called "Aggressive Rasp" and play bass using this particular axe.
Click to expand...
Dang! You beat me to it! That stuck in my head as a band name too.

News Flash: "Marceline Mapleglo, lead singer and bassist for Aggressive Rasp makes cameo appearance at Comicon!"
 
  • Like
Reactions: vmabus, mapleglo and ctmullins
#176
mapleglo said:
9rrf3b.jpg

Marceline Mapleglo - Lead vocal and Bass
Rip Shedder - Guitar and Backing Vocals
Bam Bam Rubble - Drums and Rocks

Music that will scrape your face off.

Their new album "Sawdust" available on iTunes and at your local lumber yard.

:p
Click to expand...


"This band is raw....it scraped my last nerve to tatters, and I liked it."
-- Rolling Stoner
 
  • Like
Reactions: mapleglo
#177
Dyed the fingerboard.

2yo8h3c.jpg


I first mixed a little black in there as I was afraid it was coming out too pink, but that just made it purple. I poured most of it out, and mixed in red which came out much better. It'll likely fade a bit when I sand lightly to level the yet to be installed laminate fret markers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vmabus and reverendrally
#178
One thing I learned doing the Leafenbacker build was that planning several steps ahead could save some work. I drilled another hole to connect the pickup wire channel to the future output jack and control cavity.

34grbjo.jpg


I still need to drill the bridge ground wire.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vmabus
#179
mapleglo said:
I first mixed a little black in there as I was afraid it was coming out too pink, but that just made it purple. I poured most of it out, and mixed in red which came out much better. It'll likely fade a bit when I sand lightly to level the yet to be installed laminate fret markers.
Click to expand...

I would try a little brown mixed in for a second coat..
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back