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Acoustic Electric Bass
- Thread starter mapleglo
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,974
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
You could probably use those large rubber-bands that are for assembling/gluing up classical guitars - I think Stew Mac sells them.
Hopkins
Commercial User
I am going to throw an idea your way.
How about cutting away the center section of the ply wood structure just leaving a strip along the outer edge to glue the top on. Then you can add a 3/4" block on the underside of the top to bolt the neck to, and get rid of even more material, leaving thin strips of the original thickness that act as traditional acoustic bracing.
As far as clamping goes, get some 3/8" surgical tubing.
How about cutting away the center section of the ply wood structure just leaving a strip along the outer edge to glue the top on. Then you can add a 3/4" block on the underside of the top to bolt the neck to, and get rid of even more material, leaving thin strips of the original thickness that act as traditional acoustic bracing.
As far as clamping goes, get some 3/8" surgical tubing.
Then I could bolt the neck on before gluing the top on, which would be easier than after. And the surgical tubing is a good idea. Thanks!
Hopkins
Commercial User
I'm glad you posted that picture as it clarified your previous post. I wasn't sure I understood before I saw the picture.
I think I'll still need a supporting strip that runs the length of the body. Perhaps I have a spare piece of maple somewhere.
Hopkins
Commercial User
I don't think you would need the strip of maple. Standard acoustics with spruce tops and bracing aren't nearly as robust as that would be. Just make sure the block you glue on for the neck pocket is solid. Maybe a horizontal strip that runs across the bridge block, but I doubt that would really be necessary.
Yeah, maybe I'm being overly obsessive about the string tension. You're absolutely right about the rather minimal support in that area of acoustic guitars and basses. I have a scrap piece of mahogany that I'll use for the neck and bridge block.
With maybe a vertical strip down the center for strength. Oops, there I go being obsessive again
With maybe a vertical strip down the center for strength. Oops, there I go being obsessive again
If you did keep the body's center support strip, I'd be tempted to forego clamps for glueing and instead, when glueing, snug the top tight to the body with screws (temporary) via the neck-pocket holes and screws at the bridge-mounting location.
The latter could be a couple of flat-head screws, permanently installed under the bridge, or better yet, you could use the actual bridge-mounting screw locations to snug the top and bottom together.
This ought to give you a good bond between top and bottom pieces along the length where the strings travel, if that's important.
I did some more work today. First I routed out some more chambering.
Then I cut out the center strip in the shell, and added a mahogany support to the top. Yes, I know, I'm obsessive…
Then I glued it into place.
While that was curing, I started on a pickup cover.
And routed out the pickup location in the top.
Not perfect, but since this was my first attempt at a wood pickup cover, I'm pretty happy with the way it came out.
I also cut down the metal neck plate so it will fit inside. I'm pretty close to be able to glue the top to the shell. I still have to figure out what I'm going to do about the tuners. The holes in the G&L neck are just too big for the tuner shaft, and too small for the ferrules. And I have to do something about a nut - maybe I'll try to make one out of some scrap aluminum I have, or I'll just order one from ebay.
I'll add that the bass is significantly lighter today than it was yesterday, thanks to Hopkins
Then I cut out the center strip in the shell, and added a mahogany support to the top. Yes, I know, I'm obsessive…
Then I glued it into place.
While that was curing, I started on a pickup cover.
And routed out the pickup location in the top.
Not perfect, but since this was my first attempt at a wood pickup cover, I'm pretty happy with the way it came out.
I also cut down the metal neck plate so it will fit inside. I'm pretty close to be able to glue the top to the shell. I still have to figure out what I'm going to do about the tuners. The holes in the G&L neck are just too big for the tuner shaft, and too small for the ferrules. And I have to do something about a nut - maybe I'll try to make one out of some scrap aluminum I have, or I'll just order one from ebay.
I'll add that the bass is significantly lighter today than it was yesterday, thanks to Hopkins
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A little more progress this week. I started installing the tuning machines.
And then realized I must have used a majority of the mounting screws for other projects along the way.
The bag only had 6 screws left in it. So I placed an order last night for some more. Of course, when I put in an order with StewMac, I can't just order what I need. I also got another fret file, and some of those super duper rubber bands that I plan on using to clamp the top to the shell. I ordered the nut earlier in the week (along with a different fret file), which should arrive tomorrow. I'm hoping to have this strung up by next weekend.
And then realized I must have used a majority of the mounting screws for other projects along the way.
The bag only had 6 screws left in it. So I placed an order last night for some more. Of course, when I put in an order with StewMac, I can't just order what I need. I also got another fret file, and some of those super duper rubber bands that I plan on using to clamp the top to the shell. I ordered the nut earlier in the week (along with a different fret file), which should arrive tomorrow. I'm hoping to have this strung up by next weekend.
The nut and fret file came in today. I have my work cut out for me this weekend.
There's nothing like a little fret dressing with my morning coffee.
This is the first time I've dressed frets, so I really have no idea what I'm doing. I guess time will tell. After some filing and sanding, I marked and drilled out the holes for mounting the tuning machines.
And of course, I ended up finding the bag of tuner mounting screws, and even have 2 left over. I really need to get organized.
And just out of curiosity, I mounted the neck with 2 screws, screwed down the bridge with one screw, and threw some strings on I had lying around.
In a stoke of luck, it turns out that mounting the center hole of the bridge on the center line of the body has everything line up fairly well. Turns out I have to rout the neck pocket a little deeper as the strings are lying directly on the frets. I'll also rout a little more off that support piece of mahogany going the length of the body. This is still pretty heavy, especially with the tuners mounted. I hope to get to that this morning. And I need to buy a string tree. That Leo Fender and his flat head stocks. Grrrrr. I also need to clean the house a little. All these projects going on leaves little time for normal day to day activities, like house cleaning.
This is the first time I've dressed frets, so I really have no idea what I'm doing. I guess time will tell. After some filing and sanding, I marked and drilled out the holes for mounting the tuning machines.
And of course, I ended up finding the bag of tuner mounting screws, and even have 2 left over. I really need to get organized.
And just out of curiosity, I mounted the neck with 2 screws, screwed down the bridge with one screw, and threw some strings on I had lying around.
In a stoke of luck, it turns out that mounting the center hole of the bridge on the center line of the body has everything line up fairly well. Turns out I have to rout the neck pocket a little deeper as the strings are lying directly on the frets. I'll also rout a little more off that support piece of mahogany going the length of the body. This is still pretty heavy, especially with the tuners mounted. I hope to get to that this morning. And I need to buy a string tree. That Leo Fender and his flat head stocks. Grrrrr. I also need to clean the house a little. All these projects going on leaves little time for normal day to day activities, like house cleaning.
I did a little more routing to the lighten the mahogany support strip.
I also deepened the neck pocket, and strung it back up. This time, I held the shell to the top, and it actually makes sound.
While I had the router out, I also deepened the pickup rout, just because.
I think now, it's just a matter of waiting for the big rubber bands, and I can glue the top to the shell, add the final layer of resin and cloth to the shell, and start finishing the top.
I also deepened the neck pocket, and strung it back up. This time, I held the shell to the top, and it actually makes sound.
While I had the router out, I also deepened the pickup rout, just because.
I think now, it's just a matter of waiting for the big rubber bands, and I can glue the top to the shell, add the final layer of resin and cloth to the shell, and start finishing the top.
Glued up the top to the shell this evening, as the rubber bands from StewMac came in.
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BassHappy
Supporting Member
Hey mapleglo
The rubber bands are cool - look like they worked really well!
I don't think I heard you mention - forgive if I missed it - what finish are you going to use on that beautiful top?
The rubber bands are cool - look like they worked really well!
I don't think I heard you mention - forgive if I missed it - what finish are you going to use on that beautiful top?
Yeah, the rubber bands actually worked well. It was a little rough putting them on, but they seems to hold the top down pretty tight, enough where I was getting some squeeze out.
I hadn't decided what I'm going to finish the top with, but since I have a bunch of Deft Clear Lacquer finish, I'll likely go with that.
