Drill press... ooops!

[Engine207]

So I was pre-drilling the pickup screw holes, when I got a little lazy with my bit. I didn't wait for it to stop turning before moving the body to the next hole. I gouged a small, 1/8" deep hole out of the top, right next to the intended hole.

Several choice firehouse expletives later, I gathered up some koa dust, mixed it with glue, and filled it, but it didn't come out nearly as transparent as I'd hoped.

It's less visible when you take the whole body in. But I can still see it...bigger than Texas.

I figure I have three choices:

1. Leave it alone, and call it good. This is my first build, and mistakes happen. Obviously, it's completely cosmetic and it won't effect the sound or playability in the least.
2. Drill out the "repair", make a plug with scrap koa, match the grain direction, glue it in, and sand.
3. Add these pickup rings I found at a music store this afternoon (I realize they're slightly different, so I'll need to go back and get the matching mirrored one for the p-bass pup).

Thoughts...suggestions...experiences...?

 

[Slowgypsy]

My vote is for "leave it alone, and call it good".
Real pretty so far... nice work.

 

[lbridenstine]

Personally, I'd leave it. When you look at the full body (or when I do anyway), you don't even notice it.

 

[nashman]

The start of an "engraved design" perhaps

 

[Hopkins]

The repair looks fine. It looks like a small knot in the wood, it's not even noticeable.

Option #2 could very well show more than what you have now if the grain doesn't match perfectly.

Option #3, well, those pickup rings look pretty terrible, especially with that body wood.

 

[Engine207]

Option #3, well, those pickup rings look pretty terrible, especially with that body wood.

Really...? I honestly prefer the bass without them too, but I guess I needed an objective pair of eyes to get to "pretty terrible". Thanks for the honesty. Do you suppose the 8 coats of TruOil will make it more or less noticeable?

Here's a couple of dry fit photos (I'm using a Babicz FCH bridge instead of the BadAss II)...

 

[1954bassman]

My vote is for "leave it alone, and call it good".
Real pretty so far... nice work.

+1

 

[MrArose13]

Do you suppose the 8 coats of TruOil will make it more or less noticeable?

Here's a couple of dry fit photos (I'm using a Babicz FCH bridge instead of the BadAss II)...

Yeah, I don't even see it in this photo, run with it.

 

[dmac1961]

Yep, those pu rings are seriously ugly and really detract from the look of the bass. It should blend in just fine with the TO.

 

[mgalat]

I mean, I'm no expert, and this is from a guy on a computer screen...but I had to really strain to even see what you are talking about.

Keep calm and carry on.

 

[Engine207]

Yeah, I don't even see it in this photo, run with it.

That photo was taken before I released the expletives. I just added it for some perspective. Still, the general consensus is to "leave it be". In fqct, the more I think about option 2, the less I like it. The plug would be right up against the wall of the route, and I could easily see myself making a minor flaw into a big fubar. I'm just gonna leave it.

You guys have been super helpful. Thanks. I'll post more photos after I rub some oil on it.

 

[Hopkins]

Really...? I honestly prefer the bass without them too, but I guess I needed an objective pair of eyes to get to "pretty terrible". Thanks for the honesty. Do you suppose the 8 coats of TruOil will make it more or less noticeable?

Here's a couple of dry fit photos (I'm using a Babicz FCH bridge instead of the BadAss II)...

I hope I didn't come off as rude with my previous post, but those pickup rings are very squared off with a lot of sharp edges. They don't work at all with your rounded body.

In the last shot I couldn't even see your repair. After you are done with the finish, you will have to really be looking for it to see it.

 

[joeturbodiesel@]

I think you did a real good job of repairing it. It looks great to me.

 

[MrArose13]

That photo was taken before I released the expletives. I just added it for some perspective. Still, the general consensus is to "leave it be". In fqct, the more I think about option 2, the less I like it. The plug would be right up against the wall of the route, and I could easily see myself making a minor flaw into a big fubar. I'm just gonna leave it.

You guys have been super helpful. Thanks. I'll post more photos after I rub some oil on it.

AAHH, gotcha. I agree with Hopkins the rings don't flow and its not that bad, unfortunate, but not that bad. I think the TO will make it even less apparent, you could check with some mineral spirits (or naphtha) on that spot and see how it blends, but I still say move on.

 

[Dean N]

I'll post more photos after I rub some oil on it.

 

[Engine207]

I hope I didn't come off as rude with my previous post, but those pickup rings are very squared off with a lot of sharp edges. They don't work at all with your rounded body.

In the last shot I couldn't even see your repair. After you are done with the finish, you will have to really be looking for it to see it.

No...of course not. I wasn't looking for a gentle pat on the back...but for some objective opinions on how to proceed. I have some similar rings around the pickups on my Yammy BB424X. I think they look great, but they're designed for the bass, are more rounded, and work visually with the chrome control plate.

 

[Smilodon]

No...of course not. I wasn't looking for a gentle pat on the back...but for some objective opinions on how to proceed. I have some similar rings around the pickups on my Yammy BB424X. I think they look great, but they're designed for the bass, are more rounded, and work visually with the chrome control plate.

Yeah, this one looks very nice.

Square pickup rings on a very nicely rounded body doesn't really work. Also, the j-picup ring seems to be cracked.


I say leave the fix alone, but if you want to do something you could try shaving of the "corner'' of the route where the damage is. The patch can be made by shaving thin pieces of wood from a similarly colored piece of scrap. You can then glue the piece in place and sand flush.

This method is very tedious but will leave a less noticeable line than the snarp line of a plug.

 

[Freekmagnet]

Leave it. I get you wanted this bass to be virtually flawless, but a barely noticeable error is much better than a poor design choice IMO.

Looks great. You are doing a really great job.

 

[Hofmann]

If the repair is sanded completely flush with the surrounding wood, then the deft application of correctly mixed artists oil paint would make it disappear completely. If you've an eye for color it should be fairly easy to do it yourself. Otherwise, if you know a painter ask for help. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Munjibunga]

Leave it. Rings ugly.