• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Custom Grabber - 1st A to Z build

#321
So i found my router bit. Today before heading down to band practice, i will route the track for the pickup slide. I also wanted to do my neck pocket as well to make it nice and really flat, But it's on an angle right now, How much of an angle i have no clue, but my previous body was routed flat & i remember that even with a shim to get teh strings closer to the board, it wasn't enough and the saddles were pretty low (on the hipshot bridge).

Since i'm now using a schaller roller bridge, should i keep the pocket on an angle or should i route it flat like i did previously. I know fender basses/guitars have no angle in the pocket itself and just use tilt function or a shim. & gibson has an angle in their guitars/basses cause they're pretty much all set neck (exception of thunderbirds/firebirds). I can always come back to finalize the pocket after the paint job is complete. Just want to know what you guys think. I'll post some pictures when i get around to. Most likely tomorrow :D

Have a good weekend.
 
#322
ThaCoast said:
Do you guys think this is the best method for a sparkle finish MusicMan S.U.B. Refinish. | Page 3 | TalkBass.com 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?
Click to expand...

That is probably the best way to do it without spray equipment.

This is what I consider the best way to do it
MusicMan S.U.B. Refinish. | Page 3 | TalkBass.com
 
#323
#325
ThaCoast said:
Since i'm now using a schaller roller bridge, should i keep the pocket on an angle or should i route it flat like i did previously.
Click to expand...

Personal preference, really. Either will work. Do you have the shim that comes with the Schaller roller bridge? If you do, then you can use it to give the bridge some extra height and do an angled neck pocket. If you don't, best to keep it as a straight pocket. I enjoy playing basses of both types. And I have a few extra Schaller shims in black if you need/want one!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ThaCoast and hillerup
#326
ctmullins said:
Personal preference, really. Either will work. Do you have the shim that comes with the Schaller roller bridge? If you do, then you can use it to give the bridge some extra height and do an angled neck pocket. If you don't, best to keep it as a straight pocket. I enjoy playing basses of both types. And I have a few extra Schaller shims in black if you need/want one!
Click to expand...

Well my neck pocket got routed straight. & i have no idea if itll come with a shim or not since im only getting the birdge in may sometime, i`m not thinking it will but ill let you know if id need one :p
 
#327
I've got down to routing a little bit more in the pickup for it to sit perfectly with it's cover flush with it's cavity. I've doweled both the neck & the body since my neck was off ever so slightly & reverse engineering is lots of trial & error so i'd rather just do it once & for all. Then i can start painting sometime soon & be done with it for good. It's been coming along nicely & i'm eager to see it in it's definitave form.
 
#328
I've got them joined again & forever. Body's been sanded down so i can start painting if next week isn't hectic. Also, need to get some glitter/flakes for the paint job, any recommendations? The only piece of hardware missing is the bridge which is only arriving in may/june (since it's not ordered yet & cause it's my friends paiement to me in regards of moding his guitars). The bass is great; very well balanced, lightweight & feels much better while standing or sitting, it sits close to the body while playing.
 
#329
Haven't posted in a while, & won't be able to continue with this project until another week has passed (Still finalizing school: cegep & getting info for university, handing back other projects to be paid in full for my work done & other tin bits here & there). The plan is to boot back up on the 18th by having a black baseboat sprinkled with sparkles/flakes, then to cover the whole thing in green. Once that's done, the whole project should come to an end - for good this time, i wont be taking it apart - around june 8th hoping the bridge will arrive then as well.
 
#332
Painting will start next week. Haven't gotten around to it because of minor body repairs (just a few spots of missing wood to be filled). Later on, i can't wait to have my very own ripper bass. Specs down to the original just in a blood red color & lipstick tube humbuckers in black. Unless i can afford the seymour duncan replacements at 320$ the set.
 
#333
So i hope to start painting/covering the body with glitter this week. Most likely friday will be the day since i'm not so busy. So i'll have time to find my green paint & get myself a large enough container to have the body sit on top while i coat it with glitter all around. If i haven't found the green paint by friday, i'll have it next week. this is proving to be a procrastination on my part :D what can you do :) Stay tuned, i'm getting back with this build to finish it once & for all.

In other news, i've recently revised my personal Ripper bass project budget & i've brought it down from 500+ to 430$ total spending. That midrange choke is pretty hard to find. I found curtis novac, bill lawrence qfilter but i wanted something lower priced :D save money is my key. Wanted to make my own but finding 43 awg wire is pretty hard unless it's online, but i'd be spending more than just buying a ready made choke. Luckly for me, kent armstong has one that's inexpensive. I Honestly can't wait to build that bass. It'll be my first set neck build, my only strung through bass, & an overall awesome design back from the dead & much less in costs over the originals on 3Bay.
 
#335
& so today i laid down the black base coat from spray cans i had left over (not much in them, i just did the top and got the sides covered as well) Then f'd the glitter touch. Some spots are massively covered, while others aren't. The good thing is that i can either just get some adhesive spray and cover the rest of the spots as well as some more black spray paint to cover the back portion of the bass. OR i remove the most of the glitter (i've only used about 1/8th of the jar so it's all good), paint the whole thing black (having two layers of it as a base coat), applying the glitter by hand not with the shake jar cause it's pretty useless, repeating the process for the top & back side of the bass, then after having sourced my green paint, apply 3-4 layers of green to cover. Let it dry for a week time, wet sanding lightly to get everything even, & then applying 4-5 coats of polyurethane gloss to protect everything & to have a solid mirror flash finish. Letting that dry for 2 weeks & then wet sand, buff, polish, & once the bridge is in, drill the remaining ground hole along with it's screw holes. & assemble the whole thing. Honestly can't wait til it's done by the end of june the whole painting should be done. Hopefully my friend can order my bridge sometime when his money income arrives. Stay tuned, i'll get around to posting pictures this week.
 
#336
& so yesterday i scrapped off some of the flakes, & I'm quite pleased with how much is still on. A few spots left to cover up on the front, but it's no biggie. Getting a small spray can of black paint, some spray adhesive & i finally found my green color. Today is a good day to paint. Pictures soon guys. It's a long process.
 
#337
ThaCoast said:
& so yesterday i scrapped off some of the flakes, & I'm quite pleased with how much is still on. A few spots left to cover up on the front, but it's no biggie. Getting a small spray can of black paint, some spray adhesive & i finally found my green color. Today is a good day to paint. Pictures soon guys. It's a long process.
Click to expand...

Why are you using spray adhesive? Just lay a coat of clear down and dust your flake over that. It will stick just as well and there is no risk of discoloration from the adhesive, and there is less chance of compatibility issues.
 
#338
In any case, i'm done with the flake. It's been laid down on top of the black base coat. It looks great, now i just have to source the perfect shade of green give this beast to the swamp. As promised, a picture to document. Everything is covered, even the back. Messy living room carpet, but worth it in the end. The blue, is just painters tape, didn't want sparkle to go into the cavities. I'm glad i can still make out the screw holes :D

11390134_10206742086092249_2767778982632764425_n.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: ctmullins and Splods

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back