D&R's build thread

[definenredefine]

Also also, not mentioned before, but I recently decided that I want the Franken-Jazz to have nicer parts than just generic stuff. I took the first step in that direction today - putting on a Gotoh 201B bridge. Next will probably be Gotoh tuners (thinking maybe lollipop instead of clover...but we'll see.)

Said Gotoh bridge -


Instead of lollipop tuners, I decided to put on the heart-shaped tuners from the Ibby RS800 neck. Turned out to be a bit of a process, since the posts on those tuners are smaller than the standard Fender guys. Following some advice I found elsewhere on TB, I used clear vinyl tubing as inserts in the tuner holes. I had to wrap each piece with a little tape for a snug fit, though -


Worked out pretty well -

(that tuning key had to be remounted because it was a little crooked the first time...)

Et voila -


Only problem is I had to use the bushings from the old tuners, so there's a pretty significant gap between them and the posts. As such, when tuned to pitch, the tension of the strings pulls the tuner posts towards the nut. Which seems...less than ideal -


I'm not sure how big of a problem this will ultimately be, but I'm looking around for conversion bushings. Surely it's better not to let it ride like this, at least not long term...

 

[definenredefine]

Quick update - I was able to get the bushings out of the Ibby neck. I think I'm gonna use the same tubing to get those to fit in the holes, and add a washer to ensure they don't fall through said holes. Stay tuned...

 

[definenredefine]

Quick update - I was able to get the bushings out of the Ibby neck. I think I'm gonna use the same tubing to get those to fit in the holes, and add a washer to ensure they don't fall through said holes. Stay tuned...

This is what I ended up doing. I recently bought a set of licensed Hipshot Ultralite 1/2" tuners for an upcoming project (which is to say a project that maybe I'll get to? Maybe?) Turns out the washers for those fit pretty dag close...just put a little tape on the bushings to ensure they stay centered. Then I cut a piece of the vinyl tubing to length from the tuner hole, and cut a little slit so they would fit over the bushing. Then I wrapped the other end of the tubing with tape so they would take up the extra space in the holes.

Et voila -


Yesterday, I put a new string retainer on the pea bass, and added a little bit of paper under the A string on the nut. No more buzz and hopefully no more popping out of the slot -


...and I routed out the cavity for the pickup on the blue Ibby -

 

[definenredefine]

Today, I cut out the pickguard for the Ibby -


And I put the finishing touches on the Pea Bass -

 

[definenredefine]

A brief departure from build progress -

As some of you may know, I'm building these instruments to pass them on to a friend's charity that gifts instruments to kids. As such, I try to source my parts as cheaply as possible...I can't quite afford to give away Fender or Warmoth branded parts, unfortunately. That being the case, this -

Trump Tariffs Cause Chaos on Ebay as Every Hobby Becomes Logistical Minefield

Buying cameras, retro games, board games, skincare, flashlights, sex toys, watches, and anything else from overseas just became far more complicated, slow, and expensive.

www.404media.co

...is pretty crummy news. I hope the used market will continue to treat me well enough that I can still find decent parts for not too much money...

Anyway, departure over.

 

[definenredefine]

Progress so far this week -

For the blue Ibby, I finished the pickguard and wired up the pkcup. There's a little gap between the heel of the neck and the body -


But I strung it up anyway -


...and put the logo on the headstock (changed it up, based on a suggestion from my wife) -

(It's meant to be the play symbol, like from the "play" button on a CD or cassette deck.)

Plays well. Sounds...okay. Maybe not my favorite pickup. Still sounds like a bass, though.

For the P Ray, I cut out the pickguard. Gave me more trouble than usual -


...but third time's the charm -


Mounted the pickguard and pickup -


...and wired it up -


Assembly complete. I don't have another complete set of strings, and I wanna go over the logo once more, so not quite finished yet -

 

[definenredefine]

One other thing I got done this week (on monday morning after work, in fact) was cleaning up the Höfner that was gifted to me recently (see this thread for details - NBD - a Gift with Some History). It was pretty grimey, as you can see here -


So I pulled off all the hardware, and cleaned it as best I could -


I also bought metal cleaner, and used it on the tuners and bridge -


I also found out that the the pickups, which may be humbuckers from what I read, only have 2 wires -


...so no possibility of coil-tapping or series/parallel switching or anything like that...at least not on each pickup... And I discovered the most bent strap button screw I've seen yet -


Anyway, i put it back together, and it looks much better. Now to restring it (probably tomorrow) -

 

[definenredefine]

Today I finished the P-Ray -


And started plotting the next project - a Squier Paranormal Rascal body, a Squier Bronco neck, black/gold lipstick tube pickups, black pearloid pickguard, and black/gold hardware. All I've done so far is start plotting the the pickguard. I'm gonna use a j-bass style control plate -


Also I restrung the Höfner with Rotosound 66s, and I think it sounds better.

 

[definenredefine]

Haven't had a lot of time in the show owing to travels with my wife, but I got a little done in the past week. I reoriented the layout for the Rascal's pickguard -


...and cut it out -


...and started plotting pickup positions -


I was gonna be fancy and use one black and one gold pickup, but I think I'm gonna use the black pickup for another project and use 2 gold ones for this guy. This project has gone fairly quickly so hopefully I can get it finished up when I get more time in the shop in about a week.

 

[definenredefine]

Quick update from my last off week (fall is my busy time of year, apparently). The pickguard for the Rascal is done -

 

[definenredefine]

A small update - I got a bit of time in the shop today.

First, I gave a table saw to a friend because it's big (IE takes up a lot of space, which is a premium for me) and I don't really use it. With the space freed up, I built a little shelf to store the (bass) guitar bodies I've accumulated over the last 18 months or so.


Then, I finally finished the wiring for the crimson Rascal -


I started working on attaching the neck, but it's bitterly cold outside, especially for our area, so my hands were almost numb at that point. As such, after I lined up and drilled for the neck bolts (not pictured), I decided to call it a day. Never the less, this one is almost done.

 

[definenredefine]

Got a bit done today. With the wiring done on the Rascal, I screwed everything to the body. It passed the tap test, but I still gotta attach the bridge ground.


I'm using a Bronco neck for the Rascal, but I decided to reshape it a bit -


I'm...not super stoked on the final result. I think I made the end a little too small, especially with how much I left of the bottom. I may reshape that....but for now, I pressed on and put the first coat of black paint on it -



I mounted the neck and placed the bridge -


...and tried to make sure, as best I could without the tuners mounted, that everything is centered about as well as it could be -


I think that'll do.

Also today, I finally got back around to the Jazz Ray. I sanded the body to 2000 grit -


...and put on the first coat of paint (since, I think, there's still the primer left from the original finish) -


I'm not super into this color, but I have a darker paint that I may try as the next coat.

 

[definenredefine]

I did indeed try the darker paint on the jazz ray. This is after 4 coats -


I think I like that better.

Also put on a few more coats of black on rascal head -


They'll both probably get at least a couple more coats.

 

[definenredefine]

My wife and I have been away for the last few weeks on her big epic birthday trip. I worked until the day we left, and went back to work the day after we returned, hence no updates for the last month.

Going forward, I plan to finish the jazz ray and the red & gold valentine rascal. I have at least 3 more projects planned after that, all basses.

Also, not for nothing, but I finished eight projects last year - six basses and two guitars. All of them (save one which I needed to adjust slightly) were donated to a local charity. Of those, two have gone to new homes - one guitar from the charity I donate to, and one bass that a friend became deeply infatuated with. (Well...also one of the first, or maybe the first, build I did went to a friend as a gift. So three have gone to new homes, but two this past year.)

I realize that I shouldn't focus on quantity so much as quality and learning, but I think I've done a decent job with these builds and learned a good bit in the process. That's thanks in no small part to y'all's encouragement and advice.

Hopefully this year brings more adventures in learning different woodworking, finishing and wiring techniques. Onward.

 

[definenredefine]

Over the past week, I finished the Red Scamp (and just before the BOMB CYCLONE hit!) -


Well...almost. I was concerned that the bridge was off, but turns it was out the pickup cutouts. The strings are pretty well centered on the neck, but not over the pickups. As a result, the E string is pretty weak compared to the rest, specifically over the bridge pickup.


So, while the snow was accumulating outside, I brought the leftover pickguard material into the house and retraced. I'll cut it out next off week.


Also I put another coat of paint on the Jazz Ray. Hopefully start on the neck next off week, then attempt to figure out the wiring...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Over the past week, I finished the Red Scamp (and just before the BOMB CYCLONE hit!) -
View attachment 7423959 View attachment 7423960

Well...almost. I was concerned that the bridge was off, but turns out it was the pickups. The strings are pretty well centered on the neck, but not over the pickups.
View attachment 7423961

So, while the snow was accumulating outside, I brought the leftover pickguard material into the house and retraced. I'll cut it out next off week.
View attachment 7423965

Also I put another coat of pain on the Jazz Ray. Hopefully start on the neck next off week, then attempt to figure out the wiring...

It’s guys like you that should pass a law not to let somebody like me loose with a screwdriver..lol I’m totally envious of your skills.

 

[definenredefine]

It’s guys like you that should pass a law not to let somebody like me loose with a screwdriver..lol I’m totally envious of your skills.

Ha! Skills you say! I'm flattered but if anything I'm proof that anybody can do this!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Over the past week, I finished the Red Scamp (and just before the BOMB CYCLONE hit!) -
View attachment 7423959 View attachment 7423960

Well...almost. I was concerned that the bridge was off, but turns it was out the pickup cutouts. The strings are pretty well centered on the neck, but not over the pickups. As a result, the E string is pretty weak compared to the rest, specifically over the bridge pickup.
View attachment 7423961

So, while the snow was accumulating outside, I brought the leftover pickguard material into the house and retraced. I'll cut it out next off week.
View attachment 7423965

Also I put another coat of pain on the Jazz Ray. Hopefully start on the neck next off week, then attempt to figure out the wiring...

Lipsticks and gold foils are two of the pickups that seem to be particularly sensitive to having a string outside the edge of the pickup. Although I have a longhorn I built where the bridge pickup has the E and G at the very edges of the pickup and it’s ok so obviously not every one.

Go easy on the Jazz Ray! What’d it do that you’re throwing on another coat of pain?!?

 

[definenredefine]

Go easy on the Jazz Ray! What’d it do that you’re throwing on another coat of pain?!?

It knows what it did.

 

[definenredefine]

Lipsticks and gold foils are two of the pickups that seem to be particularly sensitive to having a string outside the edge of the pickup. Although I have a longhorn I built where the bridge pickup has the E and G at the very edges of the pickup and it’s ok so obviously not every one.

The lipsticks I used on the Cort refinish way back when sat right at the edges as well, and I was definitely concerned that it would affect string volume. Fortunately that wasn't the case.