Carvin LB75 ressurection

[Slidlow]

At this point I used my machinists square to mark the pickup routes. Making them slightly smaller so they can be carefully sanded out to finish size.

Cut them with a backsaw to depth.

And lastly align the other side to drill for the dowels.

A small trick. I used a bit of packing tape to reduce tear out when cutting the pickup slots.

 

[Slidlow]

And there we have it, all dowelled and aligned ready for gluing.

 

[Slidlow]

Regarding the truss rod, the replacement that had been installed was a quality double acting rod and I'll be able to salvage it for a future build but it was really too short for this bass. As well it was too tall at 1/2". I have some longer ones at 3/8" tall so one of those will go in. I have to recut for the carbon fiber reinforcement rods and cut a new channel for the truss rod.

 

[SC Bassboy]

This project is witchcraft level. I approve

 

[Slidlow]

This project is witchcraft level. I approve

 

[RichterScale]

Are you going to remove the finish from the whole bass and start over, or just the new section and then blend and buff/clean up the whole thing?

 

[Slidlow]

Are you going to remove the finish from the whole bass and start over, or just the new section and then blend and buff/clean up the whole thing?

It has a very thin satin finish so I will sand it all down level and apply a tung oil finish.

 

[rwkeating]

@Slidlow makes it looks so easy I find myself thinking, "I could do that" ... uh ... no I couldn't

 

[TerribleTim68]

@Slidlow makes it looks so easy I find myself thinking, "I could do that" ... uh ... no I couldn't

This ^^^^^ This right here. I watch what he's doing and just go crawling off with my tail between my legs thinking "I suck...."

 

[Slidlow]

@rwkeating @TerribleTim68 Both of you as well as many others can do this. Really I'm not using any kind of special tool or secret tricks.

 

[Slidlow]

I forgot to mention I decided to do a little coring since I had the body sliced apart. Just a little as I am adding a little weight with the new truss rod and denser fretboard. I will be using regular tuners but if this turns out well I will probably put light weight tuners on. This started at 8 lbs 14 oz. I lost two ounces with the nogal in the neck but added 2 with the new truss rod so neutral there. I may have lost 4-5 ounces with the coring so I expect to reduce a little. The light weight tuners will most likely depend on the final balance.

 

[Slidlow]

Sorry no clamping pictures! It was pretty straight forward as the saw cut was near perfect and the planed center strip pieces had a excellent surface so all pieces fit very close. I glued one side first with just one bar clamp across the lower bout and two spring clamps at the head stock. Just used regular packing tape around the neck and everything came together fine. Repeated for the other side and I have a RBSO (reconstructed bass shaped object) . I'll do the trimming and sand it out as well as route the carbon rod channels back to shape but will be waiting for new hardware to arrive. I can prep the fretboard and put a overlay on the headstock while I'm waiting as well.

 

[RichterScale]

There's no pics because it's witchcraft.
It's all good though.

 

[Slidlow]

Received the gold fret wire. I guess I can prep the fretboard. Just need to decide which wood to use.

 

[Leo Smith]

View attachment 4470885

that is just amazing withchcraft right there. AMAZING

 

[Slidlow]

Spent some time planing and sanding the new center laminate with the body and headstock. It presently weighs 5 pounds 7.8 ounces.

 

[Beej]

Awesome. If not for this build thread, the next person would do their research and be like "huh, I wonder what the hell the story is around this bass?"

 

[Slidlow]

A quick trip to the drill press and a 14mm brad point bit puts the tuner holes back in shape.

 

[TerribleTim68]

I'm pretty curious how you got the brad point to center on those holes that only had a shoulder of wood in them.

 

[Beej]

I'm pretty curious how you got the brad point to center on those holes that only had a shoulder of wood in them.

He's the Human CNC!