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Bass number two: 4-string headless single cut

#61
Truss slotted, headpiece is here, about to start carving!

IMG_3674.jpg
 
#64
BillytheBassist said:
Man, I really like the way this bass is layed out..... excellent lines, I bet it is going to be a joy to play as well. Many kudo's for the work done so far.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I really love the way it balances. I'll definitely post some action pics.

roberthabraken said:
Gorgeous!! Really, this bass has huge potential to become the nicest headless evah!

One question about the construction: (how) did you plane the 'body part' of the neck through flush with the body? Because I looks like the neck part is raised a bit.
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Thanks again. I'm pretty proud of this one, but I already know how build number three will be even better...

The neck is raised a bit. I used the safe-t-planer to get it close, then I cleaned up with an English saw, a mini Japanese saw and cabinet scraper. I love the look of a detached overhanging fingerboard, I think it's a remnant of my upright-playing days. I did it on my first build, and I'm seriously thinking about doing that here.

IMG_3626.jpg
 
#67
A little safe-t-planin':

IMG_3690.jpg


...little raspin':

IMG_3691.jpg


...little cabinet-scrapin':

IMG_3692.jpg


and voila:

IMG_3693.jpg


Seems the rasp is unnecessary, as I didn't use it on the neck area. That neck area, btw, will end up a little different once I get the neck shaped. Just waiting for my stew-mac fret slotting jig, will shape the neck after the fingerboard is glued on.
 
#73
Alembicplyr said:
Is it just me, or are you gonna lose some of that CoCo, when you shape that neck?
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Gonna lose a lot of it, but because the neck core is tapered, it will be equal the whole way down the neck. The neck blank is already the correct width and thickness. From the side, you should see equal amounts of cocobolo, maple, and walnut.

I'm also putting a lot of cocobolo back on, in the form of a fretboard. It is made from the same piece as the neck stripes.
 
#74
barnaclebeau said:
Gonna lose a lot of it, but because the neck core is tapered, it will be equal the whole way down the neck. The neck blank is already the correct width and thickness. From the side, you should see equal amounts of cocobolo, maple, and walnut.

I'm also putting a lot of cocobolo back on, in the form of a fretboard. It is made from the same piece as the neck stripes.
Click to expand...

That makes my mouth water :rolleyes:
 
#75
barnaclebeau said:
Gonna lose a lot of it, but because the neck core is tapered, it will be equal the whole way down the neck. The neck blank is already the correct width and thickness. From the side, you should see equal amounts of cocobolo, maple, and walnut.

I'm also putting a lot of cocobolo back on, in the form of a fretboard. It is made from the same piece as the neck stripes.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that'd do it..... You doing a uniform neck thickness? That's what I ended up doing on my headless (Somewhere around .965, with the fingerboard attached.)
 
#76
Alembicplyr said:
Yeah, that'd do it..... You doing a uniform neck thickness? That's what I ended up doing on my headless (Somewhere around .965)
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Yes, it's uniform. Was shooting for .800, but my bridges might be a tiny bit too high right now, as worked out in the design. (Saw how you routed a hole for yours, good solution!) I might try to make up a little bit w/ fretboard height so the neck will probably be closer to .900. I've got an idea for a quad-laminated fretboard (black/maple/black/cocobolo), so a little bit more thickness will show it off a bit.
 
#77
Yeah, I also used the .3mm veneer to raise it slightly too. I didn't give it enough angle on the body, to make up for "neck angle".
I ended up using the full 1/4" + 2mm or so of neck, it has some height. What shape are you doing on the neck?
I ended up with a "D", only because I had 2 rods.
 
#78
Alembicplyr said:
Yeah, I also used the .3mm veneer to raise it slightly too. I didn't give it enough angle on the body, to make up for "neck angle".
I ended up using the full 1/4" + 2mm or so of neck, it has some height. What shape are you doing on the neck?
I ended up with a "D", only because I had 2 rods.
Click to expand...

Mine will be "D"-ish as well, I plan on keeping the radius on the edges fairly constant, with a widening flattish spot down the middle. I think it would feel the best with the constant thickness, and also look the best because the depth that I'm cutting into the cocobolo won't change much up the neck.

Now if I could find someone to make me a titanium headpiece... ;)
 
#79
barnaclebeau said:
Now if I could find someone to make me a titanium headpiece... ;)
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Ha, good luck. The machinist that did mine, said Ti is one of the most hatefullest (<< Not even a real word), shite he has ever worked with. Go figure, I love, he hates it. Either way the hours it takes to make one, you'd have a very, very nice complete headless set for the price ;)
 
#80
A little bit of progress, been busy with my day job and packing up to move.

Got the back rounded over:

IMG_3743.jpg


And my slotting jig came today! Cocobolo fingerboard in 3...2...1...I know, the wood has to be IN the jig...

IMG_3745.jpg
 

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