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1st Build - Power Tool-Free Pine Body
- Thread starter J Posega
- Start date
I used a set of chisels and sandpaper... Slow progress, but it gave a satisfying result. A rasp or Microplane would be great, though.
Got some more pictures! And some questions at the end of this post.
Last I left you showing the neck screw holes on the neck heel. Next step was to bolt the neck on and bask in the glory of what I've done so far.
Very, very light right now. If I can't get a really good deal on some ultra-lightweight tuners for this, I'm going to be adding weight to the body... maybe drive a couple big old bolts into body.
So next I went to my indoor 'workbench'... the music room floor with a blanket that I borrowed from my cats. Got out the super high tech, state of the art wooden yardstick to find where 34" lies on the body.
Here it is, lined the yardstick up with the fingerboard dots to keep things relatively straight. Then I marked the point on the body.
Used The Thing and a metal ruler to roughly draw a line across that point, so I could see it while lining up the bridge.
Seems like the string method is the number one way to line up your bridge, so that's what I used! This string actually came from an archaeology project I volunteered at in the first part of the summer.
Looped the string through the headstock and over the nut.
And through the bridge. My goal was to set the bridge so that 34" was the halfway point for intonation adjustment. Did some complex algebra (read: Eyeballing) to get the bridge straight with the neck and the end of the body, and then marked the holes.
Now, the next step was to roughly layout my pickup location. I've been lucky to score some really great deals on Peavey T-40/45 pickups on TB and eBay this past year or so, a full set of which went into the fretless black T-40 hanging out behind the doubleneck in the above picture.
I'm a huge P-bass fan, and a huge T-40 fan, so my first thought was to do the pickup in the traditional P-bass location. So I marked the location of the pickup coils on a P-bass by laying my Capri Orange CIJ Fender P down next to the pine bass, and using my yardstick to draw lines on the body.
Silly me got too close with this pic, so you don't see the whole body, but here is the pickup in traditional P location...
...here it is shifted back slightly, pretty close to MM location I believe...
...in T-40 neck pickup land...
...T-40 bridge pickup zone...
...and where I prefer it visually, and probably audibly as well, with the bridge coil in the same spot as the neck coil of a P bass. Closer to the fatness of the T-40 neck pickup, but not in mudbucker range.
----
Now, my question is, where can I find a cheap Fender style bridge with 2 extra mounting holes at the neck-end? When I drilled and screwed down this bridge, I found it wanted to sink into the body, lifting the front edge, so I figure getting a bridge with those 2 extra holes will keep it nice and level.
Remember, this bass is getting a milk paint finish, no polyurethane, so it's not going to get hard.
I'm thinking of cutting down the upper horn further, bringing it closer to the shape of my initial drawing, but I might not, simply for balance sake (and because cutting and chiseling is a pain).
Since these pics, I've sanded down to 220, and am very happy with the results so far. Next step is chiseling for the pickup and electronics, then I gotta get me some paint.
Last I left you showing the neck screw holes on the neck heel. Next step was to bolt the neck on and bask in the glory of what I've done so far.
Very, very light right now. If I can't get a really good deal on some ultra-lightweight tuners for this, I'm going to be adding weight to the body... maybe drive a couple big old bolts into body.
So next I went to my indoor 'workbench'... the music room floor with a blanket that I borrowed from my cats. Got out the super high tech, state of the art wooden yardstick to find where 34" lies on the body.
Here it is, lined the yardstick up with the fingerboard dots to keep things relatively straight. Then I marked the point on the body.
Used The Thing and a metal ruler to roughly draw a line across that point, so I could see it while lining up the bridge.
Seems like the string method is the number one way to line up your bridge, so that's what I used! This string actually came from an archaeology project I volunteered at in the first part of the summer.
Looped the string through the headstock and over the nut.
And through the bridge. My goal was to set the bridge so that 34" was the halfway point for intonation adjustment. Did some complex algebra (read: Eyeballing) to get the bridge straight with the neck and the end of the body, and then marked the holes.
Now, the next step was to roughly layout my pickup location. I've been lucky to score some really great deals on Peavey T-40/45 pickups on TB and eBay this past year or so, a full set of which went into the fretless black T-40 hanging out behind the doubleneck in the above picture.
I'm a huge P-bass fan, and a huge T-40 fan, so my first thought was to do the pickup in the traditional P-bass location. So I marked the location of the pickup coils on a P-bass by laying my Capri Orange CIJ Fender P down next to the pine bass, and using my yardstick to draw lines on the body.
Silly me got too close with this pic, so you don't see the whole body, but here is the pickup in traditional P location...
...here it is shifted back slightly, pretty close to MM location I believe...
...in T-40 neck pickup land...
...T-40 bridge pickup zone...
...and where I prefer it visually, and probably audibly as well, with the bridge coil in the same spot as the neck coil of a P bass. Closer to the fatness of the T-40 neck pickup, but not in mudbucker range.
----
Now, my question is, where can I find a cheap Fender style bridge with 2 extra mounting holes at the neck-end? When I drilled and screwed down this bridge, I found it wanted to sink into the body, lifting the front edge, so I figure getting a bridge with those 2 extra holes will keep it nice and level.
Remember, this bass is getting a milk paint finish, no polyurethane, so it's not going to get hard.
I'm thinking of cutting down the upper horn further, bringing it closer to the shape of my initial drawing, but I might not, simply for balance sake (and because cutting and chiseling is a pain).
Since these pics, I've sanded down to 220, and am very happy with the results so far. Next step is chiseling for the pickup and electronics, then I gotta get me some paint.
Amazing. I'm actually planning on doing the same thing soon, so this is really helpful. Subbed' and thanks.
This is one if the better DIY's in terms of detailed explanation. I was having issued lining up my neck with the body much like you, now I have a workable solution! Good idea with the string!
Hopkins
Commercial User
I wouldn't worry about the bridge to much, when you get it under string tension it should force the front down against the body.
Guess I didn't add in string tension, you're probably right. I might invest in some threaded saddles, just in case everything doesn't like up 100%.
Currently working on chiseling out the pickup cavity. Stay tuned...
Currently working on chiseling out the pickup cavity. Stay tuned...
I used this bridge from StewMac (It has the extra screws holes your hunting for).
Invalid Link Removed
It fit great, and adjusted well, and for $23.46 it was a bargain too
. Here's a pic of it installed on my recent project.
Did this go by the wayside??? I found this thread on a search for something different, but man, subbed immediately.
A lot of us have been waiting to see some progress here - but it is Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, so maybe it'll resurface in the Spring.
I'd guess that has something to do with it.
I'm in the middle of a build right now, and i have to pick and choose the times I work on it. Fortunately, winter has been pretty mild here, but that could change. And there's no way I could do a decent finish in this weather. Regardless how far I get with the build, I'll most likely have to wait until April or May before I can start finish.
Wow, I've really neglected this thread, but I have assembled and played the bass. I'll upload some pics when I get home. It's still rough around the edges and needs a finish, but I think part of spring will be dedicated to finishing it all up.
It sounds pretty awesome.
It sounds pretty awesome.
