just thought that i'd share a build that i'm currently working on, a '55 type precision bass.
i started with a very lightweight slab of swamp ash (one piece). after tracing a genuine '52 precision bass for the template and routes i cut it out on my band saw and routed the necessary routes, the body ended up looking like this. at this point, the body (a slab bodied p bass) weighed 4lbs 7.2 oz
next, i added the 7/16" roundover to the edges. in this pic you can see the dowel that i made and inserted into the side jack hole so that the roundover bit's bearing would properly trace the perimeter in that area.
then i cut the tummy cut and arm relief on it. at this point, ready for sealer, the body weighed 4 lbs .7 oz::
then i test fit the neck to it, getting a very snug fitting neck pocket, but with just enough room to allow the nitro lacquer finish on the neck:
on this one, i used an Allparts tele bass neck, which i find to be very light, stiff and resonant. they come really chunky so reshaped it's profile to more of a modern C for comfort:
i also dished the area behind the nut with a tighter radius as fender did on the early-mid 50's maple necks.
next, the swamp ash had to be sealed. the large grain areas really soak up the sealer like a sponge, so i shot it with Fullerplast (the same sealer that fender used), and sanded almost all of it off (so it would it would remain thin and not add a bunch of weight). i had to seal and sand it 5 times until i was happy with it. (sorry, i should have taken some pics of that that step).
next, i shot it with 'telecaster blonde' nitro which is almost opaque, but just slightly allows some of the grain to show thru. here's a pic straight off of the buffer:
then i installed the large rear string ferrules in the back of the body, and the vintage nickel fender strap buttons:
on this one, i used a RI fender bridge base plate, but went with Wilkinson brass saddles that swivel to allow the tow saddle bridge tobe completely 'intonate-able':
then the side jack system was installed with a switchcraft #11 jack:
i mounted the neck, which i shot with a slightly amber tinted nitro to the body and made this pickguard template out of a sheet of a .080" thick white vinyl pickguard blank:
the final pickguard will actually be an .060" (thin) white guard and i'm also making a black genuine bakelite one for it too.
these basses had a wood (maple) tug bar that had a single screw mount (they spun around on the guards), but i made it that way to be 'period correct' for this bass. it will eventually be sealed and shot with black nito.
that's all for this first 'installment', but i'll post more pics as the build progresses.................
best,
