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5 string fan fretted 36"-34" all in Wenge
- Thread starter Matteo Marziali
- Start date
I got a couple of splinters in my hand when i was cutting the body 
Really painfull! Now i wear gloves to handle it!
Really painfull! Now i wear gloves to handle it!
It's time to take care of the veneers.
I got to glue 3 ply of red veneer, but i'm not very excited about it...
As you can see a have wide and narrow sheets, my first idea was to glue them alternated, like on a brick wall, but it's too difficult and stupid, so i will glue all the narrow sheets together, and the wide sheets together, in this way i'll be able to planing the sides and glue them together, like a sounding board.
For the narrow side i shouldn't have problem, but i worry about clamping the wide side...
In this pics you can see also the hole i will drill to reduce the weigth if necessary.
I got to glue 3 ply of red veneer, but i'm not very excited about it...
As you can see a have wide and narrow sheets, my first idea was to glue them alternated, like on a brick wall, but it's too difficult and stupid, so i will glue all the narrow sheets together, and the wide sheets together, in this way i'll be able to planing the sides and glue them together, like a sounding board.
For the narrow side i shouldn't have problem, but i worry about clamping the wide side...
In this pics you can see also the hole i will drill to reduce the weigth if necessary.
I'm slightly worried about all those holes around the pickups, as that may cause a tearout into the pickup cavity.
Do you mean when i will route the cavity or when i drill the holes? In any case a tearout inside the cavity it's not a big problem if the cavity edge will be safe, because i will put more then 5mm of veneers and wenge top.
But i'm not sure about make all this holes, i will try the weigth balance with all the hardware on, and then i will decide.
I glued 3 sheets of veneers, the narrow side, it wasn't easy.
I used almost all my clamps.
I also made the cover for cavity of batteries.
I will try to use magnets to hold it.
I used almost all my clamps.
I also made the cover for cavity of batteries.
I will try to use magnets to hold it.
Amazing project... Radical..! I really like it 
Regarding the control cover and the magnets, maybe you can use what I did with mine as inspiration:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/ritter-inspired-total-makeover.1076568/
Under the battery cover I routed away one corner, the cover will lift up when pressing that corner. The magnets are 5mm in diameter, the ones on the cover are 1mm thick and the ones in the body are 2mm thick.
Regarding the control cover and the magnets, maybe you can use what I did with mine as inspiration:http://www.talkbass.com/threads/ritter-inspired-total-makeover.1076568/
Under the battery cover I routed away one corner, the cover will lift up when pressing that corner. The magnets are 5mm in diameter, the ones on the cover are 1mm thick and the ones in the body are 2mm thick.
Morten! Last night I saw what you did for your cover, and I was thinking to use the same trick, but I will route away two corner and a side.
I have 5x2mm magnets for the cover and I'm thinking to use screws as "ground" for the magnets, should it work?
I have 5x2mm magnets for the cover and I'm thinking to use screws as "ground" for the magnets, should it work?
I'm sure it will work! The screws are not as ''solid'' a ground as magnets, they have less hold, but with 5 magnets / screws it should work fine. My experience is, that the point to press should be relatively close to one of the magnets. This creates leverage to make the cover open.
Some update.
I was able to glue the wide veneers, but it wasn't a perfect job, there are some "waves" due to bad clamping, too short. I will sand those waves, but before what if a try to iron???
I cutted those veneers and i tried to assemble the bass to check the weight balance.
I was afraid of neck diving, but the body is really heavy, so i can drill some holes in the body core, and plane it, now it's 23mm thick, i can get to 20/18mm
About the weight, now it's 4,4kg, but i think i can get less than 4kg
I was able to glue the wide veneers, but it wasn't a perfect job, there are some "waves" due to bad clamping, too short. I will sand those waves, but before what if a try to iron???
I cutted those veneers and i tried to assemble the bass to check the weight balance.
I was afraid of neck diving, but the body is really heavy, so i can drill some holes in the body core, and plane it, now it's 23mm thick, i can get to 20/18mm
About the weight, now it's 4,4kg, but i think i can get less than 4kg
Brilliant!!! With all the parts attached.
When you carve out the electronic cavity that will cut the weight down a good amount. Wenge is so heavy but so awesome.
Some update.
I was able to glue the wide veneers, but it wasn't a perfect job, there are some "waves" due to bad clamping, too short. I will sand those waves, but before what if a try to iron???
I cutted those veneers and i tried to assemble the bass to check the weight balance.
I was afraid of neck diving, but the body is really heavy, so i can drill some holes in the body core, and plane it, now it's 23mm thick, i can get to 20/18mm
About the weight, now it's 4,4kg, but i think i can get less than 4kg
Love this third pic lots.
Lots.
Ahahah! The pics with the boxes is so fun, i know! It was the fast way do it.
And also i had to cut the neck, and route the neck pocket.
Last edited:
This is the trick i used to route away 5mm from the body core: a large baseplate for the router, and the scrap pieces from the body blank as guides for the height.
You can also see the holes for weight reduction. Now the weight should be under 3.9kg...
3.5kg is my target!
I glued the red veneer layer in thr front and in the back of the body core.
In this pic you can see the screw i will use as basis for the magnets of battery cavity cover.
Clamping the top and the back. Now the heigth is less then 30mm
Ready to route the away the control cavity from the top
In this pic you can see the screw i will use as basis for the magnets of battery cavity cover.
Clamping the top and the back. Now the heigth is less then 30mm
Ready to route the away the control cavity from the top
