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Finished 1st build (pics)

gbarcus

gbarcus

Commercial User
Jul 20, 2008
398
12
Minneapolis & St.Paul, MN
barcusbasses.com
Disclosures
Owner of Barcus Basses barcusbasses.com
#1
Here are some pics of my first build.
Took me about 6 months to put it all together. Considering all the tools I purchased along the way(jointer, belt sander, router bits...), it cost way more than I ever thought it would.
I guess that makes my second one a lot cheaper... :)

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#4
John Ruiz said:
I LOVE everything about it... Except that headstock.

GREAT first build.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's not my favorite either. I couldn't make up my mind on a headstock design, so I left it with little imagination put into it till I can come up with something that looks good. Once I get a good design(that doesn't look like others that are out there) I plan on shaping it.
As for the piece of walnut inlayed at the top, that was an attempt to cover up a drill press accident. The support that was holding the body end while drilling out the tuner holes slipped and forced the headstock into the bit...lesson learned...
Still debating whether to cover the whole head with the leftover curly walnut from the body top.
 
#6
The bod shape is KILLER, very Tobias-esque.

This is what I would do if it were my bass.
-Add the walnut veneer to the headstock
-Give it some shape, maybe something like Roscoe or Elrick with more curve.
-Add the standard rubber knobs MTD, Elrick, Lakland, etc use. I have just never liked wood knobs, I think they look good but take away from some potential contrast. Maybe even some aluminum Sadowsky type knobs.

After those changes I believe it would look like a professionally built boutique bass.

Great first build, I would certainly play it!

~B
 
#7
Love the body; very sexy and well done.
A few critiques:

The square head does not flow with the graceful curves of the body.

The neck heel is flat and also detracts from the aesthetic; a point in the style of Alembic or a curve in the style of B.C. Rich would aide the elegant curves.

The volute is too square for a neck.

A very good initial build and I look forward to seeing your next. :)
 
#10
Slappingpopping said:
Im pretty sure theres something against the rules posting a finished build in this sub-forum... but its so nice hopefully they wont mind
Click to expand...

True. There were a rash of the LookyWhatIDid posts a while back, but gbarcus has become more active here and has posted progress in other threads; hopefully Paul et al will be okay with this one ;)
 
#12
Something that people may be missing: the restriction against finished-only pics, requiring full builds instead, applies to commercial users, and is part of the CUP (per the sticky at the top of the LC sub-forum). AFAIK, hobbyists have no such restriction, as the rule is intended to prevent the use of the forum for what is little more than advertising.

Paul, please correct if thats not right.

The last time there was a major dust-up on this it was was due to a combination of a user posting finished pics, and at the same time misrepresenting his commercial status.



gbarcus, nice bass! It'll be really great once you bring the headstock more in line stylistically with the body. Whats the fingerboard wood? in the one shot where it can be made out, it looks nice.
 
#15
I used Wenge for the fingerboard; looks nice, but what a pain in the neck to work with...groan...
Next time, I won't put a coat on it. The finish I put on hides the beautiful contrasting tones of this wood. I've used wenge on other projects and went up to a 3600 grit sandpaper and that really brought out the natural beauty.
 

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