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Acoustic Electric Bass
- Thread starter mapleglo
- Start date
I liked it
And speaking of art, I did some sanding this afternoon after I got home from work, made dinner, and practiced for an hour. Here's an artistic take of cutting off the lip of the shell.
I had to be careful to cut off as much as possible but not so much that it fell below the top of the "undertop".
And I had to come up with some creative ways to clamp the body down while I cut and sanded. With the rounded back, it's hard to get a grip on the thing.
I was able to sand the top almost smooth, and the patch as well. Some more sanding tomorrow. I also felt the back flex in some places. I definitely need another layer of material/resin. I'll try to do that one right, so I don't have to sand it. Just leave it "natural". And I'm still deciding if I want to put on the last layer after I glue on the top or before. There's pros and cons to each.
Have I mentioned how much I dislike working with fiberglass?
I liked it
And speaking of art, I did some sanding this afternoon after I got home from work, made dinner, and practiced for an hour. Here's an artistic take of cutting off the lip of the shell.
I had to be careful to cut off as much as possible but not so much that it fell below the top of the "undertop".
And I had to come up with some creative ways to clamp the body down while I cut and sanded. With the rounded back, it's hard to get a grip on the thing.
I was able to sand the top almost smooth, and the patch as well. Some more sanding tomorrow. I also felt the back flex in some places. I definitely need another layer of material/resin. I'll try to do that one right, so I don't have to sand it. Just leave it "natural". And I'm still deciding if I want to put on the last layer after I glue on the top or before. There's pros and cons to each.
Have I mentioned how much I dislike working with fiberglass?
Link Removed
Every single gig, I play the Ovation CC245 12 string. I've never liked Ovation guitars, because of their round plastic back, but I tried out many acoustic/electric 12 strings, and this was by far the nicest-sounding and playing 12-string that I could afford. This guitar is constantly trying to get away from me. It has severe neck dive. It is a major pain in my ass. But as I said, it sounds great through the PA, and it plays real nice.
I'll never know why the round back seemed a good idea to someone, and I have no idea why you're putting yourself through all this torture, but as with all of your projects, you seem to be doing a fantastic job of it!
Thanks! Interesting, I prefer Ovations because I find them comfortable due to the shape of the back. And I think they sound great. Though I can imagine that a 12 string would have neck dive because of all those tuners.
It's interesting how different people perceive different things about the round backs. I have heard many people cite how the body slips away.
I logged lots of years with those round backs, and I never experienced that.
I never thought the Ovations were the best sounding Acoustics, but plugged in, I always thought they were the best Stage Acoustic Electrics on the planet. Very stable, reliable instruments.
I logged lots of years with those round backs, and I never experienced that.
I never thought the Ovations were the best sounding Acoustics, but plugged in, I always thought they were the best Stage Acoustic Electrics on the planet. Very stable, reliable instruments.
Exactly. I played a number of 12 strings through a decent amp at Guitar Center, and no guitar, even some much more expensive ones could match the sound of that Ovation.
I've played it onstage about four or more years now, and it has been as consistent as any acoustic could ever be.
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Did a bunch of sanding today. I think I've reached the point where I'm no longer willing to inhale resin dust and the body is as smooth as I want to get it. With a little luck, the final layer will cover a multitude of sins. I also made a top template, which I'll also use to make the neck rout. The G&L typically take 6 screws. Anyone have any idea what size machine screws and threaded inserts I should use? #8 x 32? #10 x 32? 1/4" x 20? I may have to use machine bolts - I think I'll bolt on the neck through the sound hole - to keep it removable, and make an aluminum neck plate.
Hopkins
Commercial User
My brother used to build and repair boats, and gave me some good advice:
"Never tell anyone you know how to do fiberglass. They will ask you to help them repair something made of it."
Cool project as usual Maple
"Never tell anyone you know how to do fiberglass. They will ask you to help them repair something made of it."
Cool project as usual Maple
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
oh my.., and here I blindly stumbled upon the latest and greatest from the mighty mapleglow to find verse of deep magnitude reinforcing and reverberating her endeavorers with such fervor and zeal… such can only spell resounding success in it's wake. I am humbly subscribed.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Without derailing mapleglo too much more than I have already, I don't know who Dinosaur Jr is, but I do enjoy Neil. I look ridiculous in that vid, but I was always proud of the half decent fingerpicking; difference in acoustic Neil voice and electric Neil voice, and my band actually coming in on time, not to mention the harmonica.
My point was the great sound of that Ovation. Those things really do get a nice tone, don't they? I think (to get on track,) her acoustic bass should sound pretty cool, once done.
For what it's worth (see what I did there?), any visitor to this thread may feel free to derail at their pleasure. I enjoy the friendly conversation that is sparked by my work and/or comments. I've always preferred the sound, both acoustic and electric, that the Ovation line of guitars offered. Even more than, dare I say, Martins, which are also top notch, beautifully crafted instruments.
And Neil Young has always been one of my favorites, much to my guitarist's distain.
That said, I went shopping today, and bought all manor of threaded inserts (they had no stainless steel so I settled for brass), nuts, bolts, washers, and because they had no hex head bolts in that size, threaded rod. Then I made an aluminum plate that matches the mounting portion of the neck and drilled some evenly spaced holes on the drill press. Tomorrow, I hope to transfer those holes to the neck, and install the inserts. I hope to pick up some wood for the top over the weekend. I'll likely go with something inexpensive, like poplar, though if I see a piece of maple or ash, or even alder, I may use that. At this point, I'd even settle for a nice maple veneer plywood piece as the sides will be covered.
It's still too hot to work outside, so I quit for the day.
And Neil Young has always been one of my favorites, much to my guitarist's distain.
That said, I went shopping today, and bought all manor of threaded inserts (they had no stainless steel so I settled for brass), nuts, bolts, washers, and because they had no hex head bolts in that size, threaded rod. Then I made an aluminum plate that matches the mounting portion of the neck and drilled some evenly spaced holes on the drill press. Tomorrow, I hope to transfer those holes to the neck, and install the inserts. I hope to pick up some wood for the top over the weekend. I'll likely go with something inexpensive, like poplar, though if I see a piece of maple or ash, or even alder, I may use that. At this point, I'd even settle for a nice maple veneer plywood piece as the sides will be covered.
It's still too hot to work outside, so I quit for the day.
Hopkins
Commercial User
- Jan 28, 2009
- 2,929
- 4,152
- Disclosures
- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
It was 93 degrees yesterday afternoon, with higher than usual humidity - like 20 or 25%, and I was filing the aluminum plate. Definitely working up a sweat. Also, the drill press is in the utility room, and the back wall faces the west, so it heats up pretty good in there. I prefer to save that kind of work for the mornings, which have been running in the low 70's of late.
