When doing photos, I just upload them onto a private Facebook folder, then get the link of the image itself. Works well, and the images are a good size.
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5-String Fanned Hybrid Headless
- Thread starter Dave Higham
- Start date
I've Sub'd. I am in the middle of my first build and stuff like this is amazing inspiration. I would kill for a bass like this.
Can't wait to see finished product!
Can't wait to see finished product!
Hello, it's me again, after another long pause.
The next things I made on the lathe were these little ebony grommets (dont know what else to call them). They will be glued in the holes in the headstock where the Allen key is inserted to lock the strings. I just think it will look nicer than bare holes in the headstock and may avoid the edge of the hole being chewed up when changing strings.
I also made some ebony and maple control knobs. I didnt take step-by-step photos of the process; it was almost all done on the lathe, but it is possible to make similar knobs using a drill press.
I couldnt cut the flutes on the lathe however, but I saw some similar knobs somewhere on one of the forums that David King had made, where he said he cut the flutes on the milling machine using a dividing head. I dont have a dividing head. For those who dont know, its a piece of very expensive engineering equipment which, when mounted on a milling machine, enables you to turn the work-piece by any number of equal increments and can even be linked to the table feed to do clever things like milling spiral flutes on shafts, etc.
So I made a little gadget instead and here it is. The spacing of the flutes doesnt need to be accurate to a thousandth of a gnats whatnot so this does the job. Release the woodscrew, turn by one increment, tighten the screw and mill another flute.
So thats about it, apart from finishing which Ive decided to do with Tru-Oil and Im in the process at the moment doing two coats per day.
After Id made the control knobs I got to thinking it might be nice if the tuning knobs matched the control knobs and it would also reduce the weight a bit more. So I made some more
So, when Ive finished with the Tru-Oil Ill be putting all the bits and pieces together and hoping it all works. Ill come back and tell you if it does.
The next things I made on the lathe were these little ebony grommets (dont know what else to call them). They will be glued in the holes in the headstock where the Allen key is inserted to lock the strings. I just think it will look nicer than bare holes in the headstock and may avoid the edge of the hole being chewed up when changing strings.
I also made some ebony and maple control knobs. I didnt take step-by-step photos of the process; it was almost all done on the lathe, but it is possible to make similar knobs using a drill press.
I couldnt cut the flutes on the lathe however, but I saw some similar knobs somewhere on one of the forums that David King had made, where he said he cut the flutes on the milling machine using a dividing head. I dont have a dividing head. For those who dont know, its a piece of very expensive engineering equipment which, when mounted on a milling machine, enables you to turn the work-piece by any number of equal increments and can even be linked to the table feed to do clever things like milling spiral flutes on shafts, etc.
So I made a little gadget instead and here it is. The spacing of the flutes doesnt need to be accurate to a thousandth of a gnats whatnot so this does the job. Release the woodscrew, turn by one increment, tighten the screw and mill another flute.
So thats about it, apart from finishing which Ive decided to do with Tru-Oil and Im in the process at the moment doing two coats per day.
After Id made the control knobs I got to thinking it might be nice if the tuning knobs matched the control knobs and it would also reduce the weight a bit more. So I made some more
So, when Ive finished with the Tru-Oil Ill be putting all the bits and pieces together and hoping it all works. Ill come back and tell you if it does.
It is so exciting to get an email notification that Dave Higham has updated this thread!
Even if it doesn't (as if!) I still want to see this beauty all put together and finished up!
Even if it doesn't (as if!) I still want to see this beauty all put together and finished up!
I know you don't need any random internet folk passing judgment on your work, but I think its amazing nonetheless. You're probably a fascinating dinner guest too... 
- Aug 15, 2011
- 571
- 171
- Disclosures
- Owner/Luthier:RoseBud Basses & Guitars LLC
SaintMez
Commercial User
- Jan 3, 2010
- 428
- 59
- Disclosures
- Blood Brothers Guitars - Luthier, Porter Guitars - Contractor
I'm with him. This build has set the bar quite high. Can't wait to see it all assembled!
Geoff St. Germaine
Commercial User
- Aug 31, 2001
- 6,267
- 302
- Disclosures
- Owner - St. Germaine Guitars
Your attention to detail is astounding, Dave. All your work looks very well planned and executed.
Wonderful! What clean and precise work. Subbed and stealing a lot of your tool ideas. 
Can't wait to see the finish.
Can't wait to see the finish.
Your work, sir, is in a league of it's own. I would love to play your instrument someday. Simply beautiful engineering of every detail.
Blimey!! (I'm a Brit too). So I went away for the weekend and got back to an avalanche of compliments. It's very gratifying and I really appreciate it. Thank you all.
Yes, (Linda? Louise? Lavinia? Lulu? Laura? Leah? Leslie? Letitia? Lily?... I wish poeple would at least sign a First Name...) the volume and blend are sort of normal size and the tone knobs are a bit smaller; like on an Ibanez.
I probably bore everyone into a coma talking about luthery.
Feel free. As far as I'm concerned, sharing is what these forums are all about
Yes, (Linda? Louise? Lavinia? Lulu? Laura? Leah? Leslie? Letitia? Lily?... I wish poeple would at least sign a First Name...) the volume and blend are sort of normal size and the tone knobs are a bit smaller; like on an Ibanez.
You're probably a fascinating dinner guest too...
I probably bore everyone into a coma talking about luthery.
Feel free. As far as I'm concerned, sharing is what these forums are all about
Lisa, haha.
Are they 3/4" and 5/8" or somewhere around there? I want to try making my own knobs on my next bass and all I could find, without having a lathe or drill press, was a 5/8" plug cutter. I wasn't sure if that was big enough or not, but I'm going to try to work with it.
