Hey tb, I recently decided to build an instrument (its going to be a 24 fret jazz style bass). Anyone have specific things to keep an eye out for that you only learn about otherwise through experience? All of your guidance would be much appreciated as I go through the wood selecting process and beyond. Thanks!
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First build! Give a kid some advice here!
- Thread starter thebass905
- Start date
Hello, and welcome.
You have come to The right place for building information. I would suggest that you read trough The stickies at this page, there you will find a lot og info.
Good luck and happy building!
Cheers
Tore
You have come to The right place for building information. I would suggest that you read trough The stickies at this page, there you will find a lot og info.
Good luck and happy building!
Cheers
Tore
The first advice is to read all the stickied threads, then all the threads that are referenced in the stickied threads, then generally all the threads on this forum.
However, there were two past threads specifically about this.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/share-your-worst-build-mistakes-362458/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/dont-make-mistakes-i-made-313585/
If anyone wants to share more of their mistakes, it might be useful to resurrect and post into one of these two, rather than starting a new one in this thread.
However, there were two past threads specifically about this.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/share-your-worst-build-mistakes-362458/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/dont-make-mistakes-i-made-313585/
If anyone wants to share more of their mistakes, it might be useful to resurrect and post into one of these two, rather than starting a new one in this thread.
mikeyswood
Inactive
- Aug 25, 2004
- 939
- 1,337
- Disclosures
- Builder: Martin Keith Guitars
I'd generally agree with much of the above advice.
Some of it requires $$ investment, though, so here's my two cents about what's most important, with the least expense:
#1 with a bullet: Draw the whole thing first.
Not just the body shape, but a full-scale drawing, including pickup positions, control locations, bridge placement, everything. Trace in the edge contour (i.e. how far in the roundover will go). Every detail you can think of.
This is really important - it will save you a lot of headaches.
It will also simplify certain things - for example, if you know exactly where all the knobs/pickups/etc. will be, then you know where you can put a screw hole to hold down a different fixture, since it will get routed away later.
Which brings me to #2: Think hard about the order in which you will do things. This always surprises me in some people's workflows.
Example - it can be really fun and rewarding-feeling to cut out the body and do all the shaping (edge contour, waist cut, 3D face curves etc.). I see a lot of guys do that first off. BUT - it's a lot easier to hold, clamp, route, etc. something that is truly flat on both sides, with nice clean corners. Make your routes first, then shape around them.
Likewise, some people taper and fret their fingerboards before gluing them to the neck. I never really got this.
(One person I know of even oils it first, which seems almost nuts to me, since oil is really bad inside glue joints.)
Gluing first, then tapering means they'll always match, every time. It also means you can use wooden locating dowels to index them together, out in the waste area, and just route them away later.
This thinking can (and should) extend to most aspects of the work flow. Fretting is easier, for example, on a neck whose back hasn't been carved yet.
Drill your tuner holes first, then take down the thickness of the back of the headpiece - this way, your drill bit won't blow out big chips of wood of the finished surface when it comes through the back. Also, drill them before shaping the outside shape of the headstock, since it will seriously minimize the chance of splitting, and also make it easier to hold.
Things like that can save a lot of heartache. Really think it through. My sequence, even for a fairly simple instrument, is quite specific.
#3: Read everything you can get your hands on.
This forum is good.
Also, check out:
MIMF.com (free to register).
Frets.com (mostly repair info, but still very educational)
Just remember to think critically about what you're reading. Just because some guy online is doing it, even if his results look good, it may not be a good idea.
#4: Finally: spend your money carefully, and only on what you need. It's really easy to spend too much. Identify the need first, and buy the specific tool for it.
Thinking through all your operations first (see #2) will also give you an idea of what tools you'll need to do them.
Find a local cabinet shop or wood vendor (maybe the lumberyard where you get your material) and see if they'll rough-dimension your lumber for you. Find a local cabinet maker and ask to use his bandsaw. Or, pay him to make a few cuts for you. Always offer to pay, at least. While you're there, ask him questions about everything you can think of. Be respectful and appreciative, and people will almost always help you out.
This probably isn't the specific "what to do first" info you had in mind, but I really think these are the most important places to start when making an instrument.
Best of luck!
Martin
Some of it requires $$ investment, though, so here's my two cents about what's most important, with the least expense:
#1 with a bullet: Draw the whole thing first.
Not just the body shape, but a full-scale drawing, including pickup positions, control locations, bridge placement, everything. Trace in the edge contour (i.e. how far in the roundover will go). Every detail you can think of.
This is really important - it will save you a lot of headaches.
It will also simplify certain things - for example, if you know exactly where all the knobs/pickups/etc. will be, then you know where you can put a screw hole to hold down a different fixture, since it will get routed away later.
Which brings me to #2: Think hard about the order in which you will do things. This always surprises me in some people's workflows.
Example - it can be really fun and rewarding-feeling to cut out the body and do all the shaping (edge contour, waist cut, 3D face curves etc.). I see a lot of guys do that first off. BUT - it's a lot easier to hold, clamp, route, etc. something that is truly flat on both sides, with nice clean corners. Make your routes first, then shape around them.
Likewise, some people taper and fret their fingerboards before gluing them to the neck. I never really got this.
(One person I know of even oils it first, which seems almost nuts to me, since oil is really bad inside glue joints.)
Gluing first, then tapering means they'll always match, every time. It also means you can use wooden locating dowels to index them together, out in the waste area, and just route them away later.
This thinking can (and should) extend to most aspects of the work flow. Fretting is easier, for example, on a neck whose back hasn't been carved yet.
Drill your tuner holes first, then take down the thickness of the back of the headpiece - this way, your drill bit won't blow out big chips of wood of the finished surface when it comes through the back. Also, drill them before shaping the outside shape of the headstock, since it will seriously minimize the chance of splitting, and also make it easier to hold.
Things like that can save a lot of heartache. Really think it through. My sequence, even for a fairly simple instrument, is quite specific.
#3: Read everything you can get your hands on.
This forum is good.
Also, check out:
MIMF.com (free to register).
Frets.com (mostly repair info, but still very educational)
Just remember to think critically about what you're reading. Just because some guy online is doing it, even if his results look good, it may not be a good idea.
#4: Finally: spend your money carefully, and only on what you need. It's really easy to spend too much. Identify the need first, and buy the specific tool for it.
Thinking through all your operations first (see #2) will also give you an idea of what tools you'll need to do them.
Find a local cabinet shop or wood vendor (maybe the lumberyard where you get your material) and see if they'll rough-dimension your lumber for you. Find a local cabinet maker and ask to use his bandsaw. Or, pay him to make a few cuts for you. Always offer to pay, at least. While you're there, ask him questions about everything you can think of. Be respectful and appreciative, and people will almost always help you out.
This probably isn't the specific "what to do first" info you had in mind, but I really think these are the most important places to start when making an instrument.
Best of luck!
Martin
