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Aerodyne Clone Build

#85
Gilmourisgod said:
BTW
Please post photos of your process for cutting in the neck binding and block inlay, I wouldn't know where to start with that process.
Click to expand...

Ok, here you go.

Got the binding on today.
First thing I did was make a guide for the router. Drew out the shape of the neck on a piece of 1"X3" and used my taper jig to cut it out on my table saw.
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Then I shaped the heel end with a sanding drum in my drill press.
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....and cleaned up the saw marks with a piece of 80 grit sticky back paper on a stiff piece of steel.
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Then I put a laminate cutter in my little trim router and clamped the guide onto the neck. I compensated for the radius of the fretboard by ripping some 1/4" wide strips of 1/8" thick Masonite, and applying them to the bottom edges of the guide with doublestick tape.
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I used three clamps, always leaving two on so the guide didn't move, and shifted the clamps around until I had routed the whole edge.
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Here you can see the ledge for the binding on both sides.
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Then I taped everything off and glued up the bass and the piece of binding.
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The binding is applied and taped down tight to dry overnight. You can see the ends sticking out from the tape.
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Tomorrow when I pull the tape off, I'll route for the blocks.
Stay tuned.
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#87
Gilmourisgod said:
Bassman
You make it look easy! What did you use to glue the binding? Acetone or CA glue?
Click to expand...

Thanks. I used this. Weld on plastic cement from Stew-Mac.
Weld-On_Cement.jpg
 
#88
Ok, got the tape off this morning. Looks pretty good.
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I started shaving the binding down flush, by scraping with a razor blade at a 90 degree angle to the binding, pulling it toward me, until it's even with the fretboard. I did the same thing on the sides of the neck too until it was flush all the way around.
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Then I dressed the ends the same way and finished it off with some 230 grit sandpaper at the head and all the way around both sides of the neck.
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And a shot from the heel end.
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That's a nice mornings work. Next up, the block position markers.
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#90
Splods said:
I do quite like it dotted and bound like a 65/66 jazz.
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Oops! Too late. Lol.
Started on the position markers this afternoon. The first thing I do is draw out where the marker is going to go.
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Since these are just blocks and don't have any fancy shape to them, I just use a steel straight edge and an x-acto knife and score it about a 1/16" deep.
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Then I hog out the center freehand with my trim router, and then clean up the edges and corners with the x-acto knife.
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Epoxy it in and sand the radius in with some 80 grit on a radius block. Then I polish it up with some 0000 steel wool. One down, ten to go.
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#94
Gilmourisgod said:
Love this build! Is that real MOP or pearloid? Did you end up using colored epoxy for the inevitable tiny chipout around the blocks? Makes me want to buy an old Aerodyne and trick it up like this.
Click to expand...

It's real MOP that I cut out myself from blanks. I mixed a little ebony sawdust with the epoxy that I had saved when I did the radius. It matches perfectly.

It would be a lot easier with a real Aerodyne. Just bolt on a blocked and bound neck. If you get one of the models that have a pickguard, I'd make it a tort and you would have my favorite color combination. With the binding on the body that would be one beautiful bass.
 
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#96
OK, I can't take it any more! :help:

How much for a 5 string one with 19mm spacing and a satin finish on the back of the neck? Ready go.

Seriously. Beautiful stuff there. As described in my plea would be the Two Fingers Signature bass. :bassist:
 
#99
Well I see it has been exactly one year since I have updated this thread. Wasn't planned that way, I just happened to look at it today. They say things happen for a reason so I better get busy here.

Since my last post I had to sell my condo in a short sale. Then I moved 100 miles north from where I was in Benicia, to Cool, California, which is a little town above Auburn in the sierra foothills. That came with a new larger two car garage which I use for my shop, no cars allowed. I also changed doctors, my job-twice, and just about everything else. The dust has settled and my life is getting back on track, so time to share where this build is at.

I see I lost all of the old pictures from when TB got it's new server so here are some new ones. I started working on this again about a month ago, so this is where I'm at now.

I got the new mother-of-pearl block position markers finished and the binding on the neck.

I reshaped the neck heel where it came into the body. It had a bit of a taper that made you open your hand, so I flattened it out and moved the join farther into the body. Much better access to the higher frets now.

I addressed many flaws that were in the original finish. I reshot the front of the body black, and added metal flake and resealed the back where I reshaped the neck heel.

I'm working on the headstock now and have it primed and ready for color. If it warms up enough today I hope to shoot the color. If I get that done maybe tomorrow I can shoot the flake.

So here are the pics, hope you like it.

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I had to get out in the sun to get the metal flake to show in the pictures. When I get the headstock done there is still clear to shoot over the whole thing.

That's all for now, stay tuned.
 
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