First Build - And May My Mistakes Be Minimal

[Prostheta]

It shouldn't present too much of a problem to you. It's just finding the time and patience to spend finessing everything.

 

[PDX Rich]

Work has been insane the last few weeks! Then it got super hot outside... So I had a few minutes tonight to do some miscellaneous chores.

Before I can glue my body wings on, I needed to glue some wenge to the body wings. When that got clamped up, I took some random scrap and started cutting the basic laminates for some tap handles. My wife and I are starting a hard cider company, so I figured some fancy tap handles would be nice marketing.

Not sure what configuration this wood will be in, but it should be a fun project.

 

[PDX Rich]

While I was at it I decided to take out the high spots and get the neck dialed in. Body wing glue up coming soon!

 

[PDX Rich]

Oh, and I forgot to add (as you can see in the pictures), I went ahead and used most of that purpleheart I had to make some body wings for some future project.

 

[Prostheta]

Looking very tidy. Have you double-checked the neck/body angle yet?

 

[Five String]

Looks cool. Sub'd

 

[scottyd]

Thats the highest dollar and best looking neck vice I've ever seen!

 

[PDX Rich]

Looking very tidy. Have you double-checked the neck/body angle yet?

You mean this sort of thing?
thru-neck bass guitar neck angle | TalkBass.com

 

[PDX Rich]

Thats the highest dollar and best looking neck vice I've ever seen!

With limited shop space, it made for a nice soft neck cradle.

 

[PDX Rich]

It's still in the high 90s, so shop time has been limited, to say the least. I was able to sweat it out tonight for a bit to accomplish a couple things: nut glued in, and control cavity hogged out! Hoping the heat tempers off a bit so I can drill tuner holes and get the body wings glued on.

 

[Will_White]

It's still in the high 90s, so shop time has been limited, to say the least. I was able to sweat it out tonight for a bit to accomplish a couple things: nut glued in, and control cavity hogged out! Hoping the heat tempers off a bit so I can drill tuner holes and get the body wings glued on.

View attachment 646943
View attachment 646944
View attachment 646945

I feel your pain I'm in Salem and I have my 100$ bass challenge bass to finish but its been to hot to do anything

 

[PDX Rich]

I feel your pain I'm in Salem and I have my 100$ bass challenge bass to finish but its been to hot to do anything

It's ridiculous. I am so ready for even slightly less-hot weather.

 

[Will_White]

It's ridiculous. I am so ready for even slightly less-hot weather.

I would be loving even high 80s right now.

 

[GMC]

This is an interesting build, thanks for sharing! I love the 5 piece neck, Purple heart looks so good when it's sandwiched between dark and light wood. I did a similar set with a 6 string I was recently building, although I used wenge (I had it in storage) as my darkwood.

 

[PDX Rich]

Thanks! I really dig the wood combo as well. Despite its tendency to dull blades/bits, and generally takes forever to shape, I really like purpleheart. I think I will do a short scale 4 string soon with it.

 

[PDX Rich]

I just now realized that I cut the control cavity on my upper wing!

Hmmmm...

Well, so I now have two options...

Option 1: Empty cavity or great place to store parts.
Option 2: Make new body wings and repurpose "oops" wing on a future lefty build.

Did I mention how much I dislike working with hickory?

I am thinking new body wings....I have the following on-hand (all in 4/4):

Paduak
Flame maple
Flame birch
Figured Cherry
Peruvian Walnut
Purpleheart

I also have a resawn 4/4 morado board. Would a bookmatch top look weird split by the neck-through?

/facepalm

 

[wraub]

You could put your weed in there...
Leave as is, route the proper wing, and call it weight relief?
Make a future LH build?
Leave as is, as a future F U to potential (but, sadly, unlikely) buyers?
Make a future salad/dip serving bowl?

105 plus here today. My brain may have stopped.

 

[wraub]

Actually, purpleheart wings with maple/cherry/birch top might look nice. Use the padauk if you want to look cool. Solid padauk wings for extra points...

 

[PDX Rich]

Good ideas! I'll take some wood photos in a bit to see what combos look good. I may actually have some purpleheart veneer to sandwich between two 4/4 boards. Will need to plane down a hair but may look good.

 

[PDX Rich]

Going with purpleheart/Peruvian walnut. Goes well thematically at least