Can i carve pickup cavities without a router?

[JJ08]

Obviously a router would be better, but i live in a terraced house without a shed or garage or anything. I've heard that if you're careful, a really sharp chisel can do it, and that idea has face validity. I know it would take way longer, but I'd probably get stabbed if i was constantly using a router in my back garden (that's fair, I'd stab my neighbour if they did the same thing)

If a chisel wouldn't work, are there any other ways i could do it? Ideally it's quiet and compact enough that i could do it in my bedroom without bothering my family, neighbours or chihuahua.

P.s. if it helps, i will gladly provide pictures of the aforementioned chihuahua

 

[lowfreqgeek]

This, some Forstner bits, a properly sharpened chisel, a mallet, and some patience will get it done.

 

[tb-player]

Technically, it can be done. You'd need to be extremely meticulous and measure angles and widths very, very carefully for it not to look janky. Plenty of builders have done it. If you do it right, it'll be a very slow process. Sanding could potentially give it a nice finished look. And if you don't like the look inside the cavity, throw in some copper tape for shielding. That could cover a few mistakes.

All that being said, take it to a luthier.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

It sounds like you don’t have much, if any access to power tools? A drill press could go a decent way towards what you’re looking to do. That or a carefully used drill, either power or hand, and Forstner bits to drill out most of the waste then have at it with the chisels. You could also look into a router plane to finish the bottom of the cavity. There’s a few kits out there for router planes or a few DIY options. Check out the Wood by Wright channel on YouTube. He doesn’t build instruments but does do almost everything with hand tools.

That’s all assuming you have some experience with hand tools. It looks easy to do it that way but if you haven’t worked with chisels and like take some time to learn how to sharpen them then get some scrap, even if it’s just a construction 2x6 or something similar, and practice a few pickup routes.

 

[JJ08]

It sounds like you don't have much, if any access to power tools? A drill press could go a decent way towards what you're looking to do. That or a carefully used drill, either power or hand, and Forstner bits to drill out most of the waste then have at it with the chisels. You could also look into a router plane to finish the bottom of the cavity. There's a few kits out there for router planes or a few DIY options. Check out the Wood by Wright channel on YouTube. He doesn't build instruments but does do almost everything with hand tools.

That's all assuming you have some experience with hand tools. It looks easy to do it that way but if you haven't worked with chisels and like take some time to learn how to sharpen them then get some scrap, even if it's just a construction 2x6 or something similar, and practice a few pickup routes.

Thank you. I have a little bit of experience with woodworking, and I'm pretty sure i have some spare wood hanging around

 

[ZBbass]

Try and find a maker space or community woodshop near you first. I've been a proffesional woodworker for almost 15 years and I garauntee that if you don't already know how to get your chisels sharp enough to shave with them, you're better off have a luthier or other local woodworker do it for you. It takes a lot of practice to properly sharpen chisels and if yours aren't done correctly, then you're never going to get a good cavity routed. Not to nay say, but if you're going to do it yourself, get some help from someone with the proper tools.
Also, driving a chisel with a mallet is as loud as a router. It's just intermittent.

 

[BeyondFiredUp]

In a word, No. If you have experience with a router, just find a friend that has a shed or garage or something you can and do it there. And if you've never worked a router before don't try it yourself. Take it somewhere and get it done. Sorry to be blunt but this could go bad really fast if you don't know what you're really doing. And chisels are not the way to go here.

 

[ardgedee]

A router isn't any louder than a power drill, and I don't think anybody would make your life hard for using one of those during daylight hours. Routing out something like a pickup hole is going to take less time than the preparation you'll be doing to make that hole.

Although on the other hand I can appreciate not wanting to sink hundreds of dollars into tools you might only use once or twice a year. Is there a tool library or maker space in your area where you can do the work??

 

[fretno]

Safety, keep hands out of the way. If no shop or tools then no go. Send it out if you must or find a local guy.

 

[Deleted member 261632]

No woodworker in here, but I feel that having a router will get you there faster and cleaner. Good luck in any way

 

[Drredplate]

It’s possible with either chisels or a router.
I have done both BUT both methods require skill and practice using either tool

 

[el murdoque]

One word of advice:
If you go down the chisel route (which absolutely works), you should get yourself a piece of matching hardwood, the same as your bass body, and do a test run.

 

[Drredplate]

One word of advice:
If you go down the chisel route (which absolutely works), you should get yourself a piece of matching hardwood, the same as your bass body, and do a test run.

Absolutely correct different woods behave very differently when using a chisel.
It’s not totally different to chopping in a mortise lock or hinges in a hardwood door.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Doing a pickup cavity with a router is done in no time (assuming you buy or make a template). Surely your neighbor won't go nuts from 2-3 minutes of router noise? Because that really all it takes, although if you've never used a router before it might be a good idea to do a couple of practice runs on a piece of scrap wood.

If you don't use a template... Well, that need a lot more skill, and a good quality router. Freehand routing isn't something you should do on a bass unless you know 100% that you have the skills and experience to pull it off. For a pickup cavity I STRONGLY recommend buying or making a template. Routing a pickup cavity using a template is so easy that someone who has never, ever used a router before should be able to get a good result (although I still strongly recommend practicing on a piece of scrap, to get the "feel" of it).

Of course you can also do it with a combination of drilling out most of the cavity and using a chisel for the fine work, but getting a good result with a chisel takes a lot practice. The fact that you need to ask these questions tells me that you do not have the necessary skills to get a good result using a chisel. You will also need a good quality, sharp chisel and ideally learn how to sharpen the chisel yourself, which is also a skill that needs to be learned.

My advice?

Router+template. You will be most likely be finished before the neighbours even have the time to complain.

And of course, whatever you end up doing, make sure you get all measurements right. THAT's the most critical part.

Also, I don't think you've mentioned whether there's a pickguard involved. A pickguard can hide a less-than-perfect cavity, although then the pickguard would have to look nice and be a perfect fit of course.

Do you have any specific pickup(s) in mind? If not, it might be worth considering that some pickups (like mudbuckers or Thundertrons with pickup rings) can hide a poorly made cavity. The only person who will know about the mess below is YOU.

(Make sure the pickup you use is suitable for your string spacing though, the two examples above are NOT suitable for Fender string spacing, but I've seen reports from other Talkbass users saying ThunderBLADES work ok).

 

[JRA]

i've converted several J-basses to PJs by altering the neck pickup route with forstner bits on a hand drill + a sharp chisel for the finishing. works like a charm! think it through, mark accurately, go slow...easy peasy! good luck!

 

[el murdoque]

Absolutely correct different woods behave very differently when using a chisel.
It's not totally different to chopping in a mortise lock or hinges in a hardwood door.

Yes. One thing they all have in common: If you take out too much, you've taken out too much

 

[Drredplate]

Don’t buy cheap router bits either !
They spin very quickly and cheap ones can vibrate like crazy and possibly disintegrate

 

[Bassdirty]

A router isn't any louder than a power drill, ...

No Offense, but ARE YOU SERIOUS? A Router is WAY louder than a drill, also higher pitched which adds to the annoying-ness. VERY much more bothersome than a drill.

That said, if I were a neighbor, using a router ONCE, (or twice) for a "few minutes" would be preferred, rather than a constant "Chisel Pounding" for DAYS. (Which is likely what is will take).

Is this "Routing/Chiseling" in a place that is visible? Because THAT makes the difference.


T$

 

[ardgedee]

No Offense, but ARE YOU SERIOUS? A Router is WAY louder than a drill, also higher pitched which adds to the annoying-ness. VERY much more bothersome than a drill.

I am serious.

Maybe I have a very loud drill.

But yes using the router will be, in terms of time spent making noise, much less bothersome than nearly any other method of making that hole.

 

[Five or Six]

Try and find a maker space or community woodshop near you first. I've been a proffesional woodworker for almost 15 years and I garauntee that if you don't already know how to get your chisels sharp enough to shave with them, you're better off have a luthier or other local woodworker do it for you. It takes a lot of practice to properly sharpen chisels and if yours aren't done correctly, then you're never going to get a good cavity routed. Not to nay say, but if you're going to do it yourself, get some help from someone with the proper tools.
Also, driving a chisel with a mallet is as loud as a router. It's just intermittent.

^^^^This. Depends on finish and how much you value your bass? One slip and then what? Take it to someone. Someone hammering on a chisel will take a whole bunch more time, be as annoying as a router. It will draw as much if not more attention!