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Custom Grabber - 1st A to Z build

Looking great! best of luck with this build. Just remember how to intonate the bridge this time :D

Will do :P after i had traced teh template, i also marked the 34" scale and had modified the pickguard template by shaving off 1/4" in order to have enough space between it and the bridge and also for me not to screw up the intonation this time around :D
 
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ripperAd3.jpg


Something to consider this time around.
 
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I'm sorta questionning where i should install the top strap pin although it shouldn't be the biggest deal :p. Either i go the original route (inner horn), position it at the top of the horn (like epiphone did on their "rippers"), or slgithly off the top horn towards the neck (like ibanez GaxB)

I would see where it balances the best and put it there.
 
Today's focus will be the slide route (but i need to locate my routing bit for it), the pickguard and drilling the ground from the bridge. Also in the mix of all that, i'll be starting my hardcase build with the composite wood from way back. essentially it's going to be a coffin case with two compartments (small & large one). And here's some pictures from yesterdays progress on the body routing/carving
 

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Pickguard is nearly finished (only thing left is the pickup hole along w/volume-tone holes) I've also started cutting out the same pickguard but for my ripper bass in the future (since it'll be the same body width just different electronics). I've decided not to drill the bridge ground until i have the bridge sometime in may/june. By then the paint will be/or close to being done "drying" so i could wet sand & polish it. Next week will be more or less finishing what the body needs to have (slide route - still havent found the router bit, drill holes for pickguard screws, wood fill some shallow holes & sand everything top to bottom). Along with that i'll be cutting the top & bottom parts of my coffin case build.
 
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Today on this usually boring & long sunday, i'm taking charge & have filled some minor gaps in the grabber body. Will drill the holes for the pickguard into the body. + i need to dowel the neck bolt holes because the neck is slightly off center. But that will come sometime this week after i get around to finishing a friends guitar project. Also, i've started cutting out the top & bottom pieces for my hardcase build.
 
The neck is done, after hours of filling away sharp frets & giving them a new bevel it's complete. Worst luthier job ever!!! At least now the neck is the right shape, the width is consistent & feels great overall. I'm hoping to be done with the body next week (by then i'll have found my missing router bit), the pickguard will be complete as well & i guess tonight i can drill the remaining strap pin hole (i'm going fender style at th top of the horn, i like the original, just feels like i'd have a bit more strap for the bass to sit a tad lower.

Color wise, i'm going for a sparkle green (maybe a wee thing darker but not much)
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Green is one of my favourite colors & i like to keep the sparkle idea (since he liked the purple sparkle that he mentioned before i started the first time). But since the dan armstrong bass is debating between all natural or purple sparkle, i'd rather give something that's specified to his liking, but with my own touch to it. I'll post more pictures next week.
 
Do you guys think this is the best method for a sparkle finish Invalid Link Removed At first i wanted to just go with the dupli color green specks (Which is what the OP from the link used at first) but it's not exactly the final color finish i'd be happy with. I was thinking i could do his second method but i'm not opting for the metalcast, i'm going for liquitex opaque green (the first attempt with the purple had the liquitex dark purple as a final color coat for added darkness).

If it's not the best way to obtain my finish choice, what do you guys suggest?
 

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