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Custom Grabber - 1st A to Z build

#221
So i went back today on my neck profile because it had some bumps and wasn't perfectly flush at various points, i rasped that to now it's final form ever. I also had to recoat it with the satin clear, which is all good, i still have enough for at least 3 coats today :P and the good news is that i won't be behind schedule neither so that's even better for me :) can't wait. Updates to come idk when hahaha. Hope you guys are all doing well, and still following.
 
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#222
This really is a challenge of patience: it hasn't been a week and i want it to be cured and set up already!!! It's okay, it's all good. At least i know the final process of everything. Still need to install the frets so i think i'll do that soon, that way i'll only set it up and file them smooth along the edges so there's no cutting while playing.

Also, does a dab of super glue work for setting the frets once they're inside the slots?
 
#223
Last night, i decided to start inserting the frets. I'm glad a have a feeler gauge, since i just knocked off the edges excess wood form the slots with the right gauge. Once all slots were done, i started installing the frets, following CTMullins' advice, i started from the higher frets since they're longer, and made my way down. Having a clamp to press it down was easier and less noisy than if i had used a mallet. Also, i need to get new cutters since mine don't cut very well. But anyway, i figured i'd have enough fretwire to finish the whole board....
10846132_10205256941604565_2532054070142657194_n.jpg

Not even. once the 13th fret was done, i only had enough wire for either of the first 3 frets, so i decided to use it on the 3rd one. I've done 10 fret boxes and i have 11 left (since it's a 21 fret neck). So i'm ordering another pack of jumbo bass frets and even if they arrive next week or the week after, i'll be fine. But it looks better now than it was completely fretless :P. it's still in it's hardning process, so another week or so of that for the neck and body, and then it's final preps before the assembly.
 
#232
ThaCoast said:
Cellphone is getting old + it's instagram too :D. my friend and fellow bass player suggested that i upload my build & mod photos to an instagram account so i've been doing it ever since i after the body of this build was pretty much complete.
Click to expand...

I suggest getting a photobucket account and using their app to load your photos as well. The square format that instagram uses is terrible for guitars/basses.
 
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#233
Hopkins said:
I suggest getting a photobucket account and using their app to load your photos as well. The square format that instagram uses is terrible for guitars/basses.
Click to expand...

True, i'll look into that as well. Thank you hopkins :). Last night, i got around to wiring this beast.....it works. The only downside is that if ever a repair arises, i'd need to remove the controls from teh pickguard & set it aside. But other than that it works properly. Just need to get some strings...maybe a strap, well hopefully i can :D stay tuned, this monster's gonna scream!
 
#234
Along the way of this build, i've discovered the ups and downs of it all. I've kept notes on what to do and how to proceed, watched videos and asked if i wasn't sure. SO i'd like to thank you all for aiding me in this build with your insights and suggestions. I'd also like to say that, as much as i like doing this, and most likely will continue to do so, there's one thing i hate a lot...fretjobs D: Everything else is good experience, fun and amazing to see come to life. But fretjobs are long and just down right boring. I'm sure that, the more i do it, the more acustomed i will be to completing the job without faults. Haven't weight it yet, but i'm sure it's well over 9 lbs. That's what i get for using a huge 2 inch thick body :P

Oh well lesson learned, never have a thickness over 1.75 inches, and everything will be alright
 
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#235
ThaCoast said:
Along the way of this build, i've discovered the ups and downs of it all. I've kept notes on what to do and how to proceed, watched videos and asked if i wasn't sure. SO i'd like to thank you all for aiding me in this build with your insights and suggestions. I'd also like to say that, as much as i like doing this, and most likely will continue to do so, there's one thing i hate a lot...fretjobs D: Everything else is good experience, fun and amazing to see come to life. But fretjobs are long and just down right boring. I'm sure that, the more i do it, the more acustomed i will be to completing the job without faults. Haven't weight it yet, but i'm sure it's well over 9 lbs. That's what i get for using a huge 2 inch thick body :P

Oh well lesson learned, never have a thickness over 1.75 inches, and everything will be alright
Click to expand...

:) I bet it's way more than 9 pounds!

And - bodies that thick can be great candidates for chambering!
 
#236
ctmullins said:
:) I bet it's way more than 9 pounds!

And - bodies that thick can be great candidates for chambering!
Click to expand...

Only if i make it as a hollow body and have a laminate top. But pretty much for my own basses, it'll be max 1.75 inches. I don't really plan on making a semi hollow bass/guitar, i've already found one that's perfect for me, i just have to acquire it: hagstrom Viking bass in white.
 
#237
I'm still waiting for the fretwire to arrive. Hopefully, it'll come today. But i'm glad that's almost finished: the frets have been trimmed and slightly beveled edges and nothing sharp is left. The nut has been cut on the sides, filed and i've marked the string spacing (though it's not sloted yet). I'll be getting super long scale strings 45-105 for this bass so it can be strung through., And sunday, i've also ordered the yorkville Jack cassady bass case so that will arrive in 2-3 weeks. It's later than i wanted to give it to my dad, but at worse, it'll just be when i visit him in Ottawa.
 
#238
I've just received my fretwire so i'll be fretting the last of the boxes and file each one of them down. Then soon after i'll be clear coating once again the sides of the fretboard. Then next tuesday will be wetsanding it and reassembling it on the body, string it up, slot the nut, removed excess over the strings, and then wait for the case to arrive.
 
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#239
After two hours, i'm finally finished filling those damn frets down :D. Now off to clear coating. Hellow staying up til 1 am. At least it's worth it, plus i'm done school so more relaxing time anyway :)

Just sprayed on a coat of clear. Wondering if i just leave it at that, or if i spray another on in 2 hours time. We'll see. But anyway, neck is done. Finished, no more worries about it looking half fretless and half fretted.

Now's time to find my half pencil....
 
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