First Build - "Lucifer"

[TerribleTim68]

... My first build, I made a full size/thickness plywood mockup. Not a perfect analog, but it gave me a rough idea how it would balance.

Yeah, that's certainly gonna happen! I see no way around it. I think I may even do a cardboard cutout just to hold it and get a sense of size, length, etc. Then do a plywood version after I think the drawing is done from what I learn on the cardboard one.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I actually asked on TB if there was a way to predict how a bass would balance, once you get beyond the “top horn at the 12th fret” rule of thumb, the word CENTROID was bandied about, that’s where my tiny brain began to shrivel. Plywood! And plenty of it! Great practice bed for cutting stuff like pup routes too.

 

[Rôckhewer]

It's also hard to tell in AutoCAD because all the lines are the same thickness and we know the strings are not

So.... I draw the strings in at their correct guage. Just to get a better "picture"
( .125", .090", .080"... etc...)
Or whatever guage you plan to use.
Easier to "see" what needs to happen for nut spacing and fb overhang.

looks cool!...only thought ...that one "point" on the body, above the pickup location, might be uncomfortable for your forearm...if you took it out it would still look good

This point?

It's on a steep bevel on those... & not really an issue.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Yeah, I plan on doing some sort of bevel similar to that. May not be as steep, I need to sort of feel it out. I want to expose some of the sandwich of the body wings like Rock tends to do on his, but I don't want to get too crazy because I feel like it tends to make the shape "look" different if it exposes too much. So yeah, gonna have to play with that. But at the end of the day, I'm not worried about the tiny point. It is Lucifer after all.

 

[Rôckhewer]

expose some of the sandwich

Yup.. limitations on body contour is kind of a drawback to the whole hippie sammich thing.
It can be done... to a pleasant extent.
But with too stark/ unflattering contrast.. or overdone?
For example, ... these Keisels? ....
I'm not diggin it.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Exactly! That's what I want to avoid!

 

[charlie monroe]

Yup.. limitations on body contour is kind of a drawback to the whole hippie sammich thing.
It can be done... to a pleasant extent.
But with too stark/ unflattering contrast.. or overdone?
For example, ... these Keisels? ....
I'm not diggin it.
View attachment 3554744

Agreed. Don’t they have some unflattering 360° bevels also?

Edit: here we go.

 

[BigBear77]

With a name and shape like that: this may turn out to be the best bass for metal. Of course you’ll have to paint it black and have it ooze blood on every note below a low E

 

[Rôckhewer]

I try to be brave ... sometimes.
But really, this is as far in as I've taken an accent laminate ...
(And on the back only)
And that took a whole day to get happy with it.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Oh man, you do the rear cover out of the same wood too. I'm gonna be tapping you when I get there for sure.

 

[TerribleTim68]

...This point? View attachment 3554736
...

I have to ask. What you doing with that body?

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Okay, so after a lot of forum questions, stalking, drooling and wishing, I'm gonna post this as my official build thread for this. So pray for me! The way I see it, it might take me 2 years to complete this, but what the heck, right?

I like the ambition! I have an abundance of that myself.

Brave man! Using my superior Google-Fu by laboriously and bravely typing "CNC Multiscale Fingerboards" and hitting ENTER, I managed to answer my own question.

I am planning my own multiscale build but my google had "wenge" added and that seems to be too crazy. I have resigned myself to doing my own. Just one more tool to buy, one more thing to learn, right? Sigh.

Yeah, that's certainly gonna happen! I see no way around it. I think I may even do a cardboard cutout just to hold it and get a sense of size, length, etc. Then do a plywood version after I think the drawing is done from what I learn on the cardboard one.

I actually asked on TB if there was a way to predict how a bass would balance, once you get beyond the “top horn at the 12th fret” rule of thumb, the word CENTROID was bandied about, that’s where my tiny brain began to shrivel. Plywood! And plenty of it! Great practice bed for cutting stuff like pup routes too.

I know there is no way I can put the strap anywhere near the 12th fret on my build so I am contemplating this as well. My idea is to build the neck through part and then hang weights at suitable locations along the neck to simulate tuners, body wings etc and just see how it hangs. Full disclaimer: I have no idea how well this will work but I plan to try.

 

[Rôckhewer]

I have to ask. What you doing with that body?

This.... is kinda the plan... as it currently resides cranially.
Chop it in half, harvest the wings...
Build two (through) necks.
5 string... but it's gonna be multiscale *now*... thanks a lot
And a 4 string... piccolo.....but fretless.

Its name shall be.... "Orthrus"

 

[Rôckhewer]

I have to ask. What you doing with that body?

That's the plan anyway.
Will I ever get around to it?.... probably not.

You want it? And actually have a "use" for it?
PayPal me $150 today ...and it's yours.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Hahaha, mostly I just dig the body shape. I found this one on the local CL for $5 -

And turned it into this -

Love the name! Ambitious project, but if anyone can pull it off it's you sir.

 

[Rôckhewer]

Hahaha, mostly I just dig the body shape. I found this one on the local CL for $5 -
View attachment 3555399
And turned it into this -
View attachment 3555401
Love the name! Ambitious project, but if anyone can pull it off it's you sir.

I bought it from a buddy for $200 years ago...because he needed cash....and it was in good shape & just needed a neck.
Loaded with EMG Hz...
Now it's a bit scratched up... but still has purpose... so I valued it accordingly

 

[TerribleTim68]

...
Loaded with EMG Hz...
Now it's a bit scratched up... but still has purpose... so I valued it accordingly

Fully loaded I would agree it's a good price. You'll spend more than that on the pups alone (don't ask me how I know).

 

[Rôckhewer]

more than that on the pups alone

(....psssttt.... .... shhhh.......)
...Yeah... about that.....here's at little tip.
Do you "like" EMG...?
AND...do you have a federal EIN# and reseller license?
...and are willing to call yourself.... a Luthier?

The folks at EMG are fantastic.
I'm not a "dealer"... I'm a manufacturer w/ wholesale pricing.
Download & submit a few forms...
..... 50% off retail.

 

[TerribleTim68]

OMFG! There's some info I wish I knew two years ago! To date I've purchased 4 sets from them through the website. I've always been an EMG guy, because my second bass ever (from back in 1990) had active EMGs in it and I just kind of stuck with that through my life. Having gotten into rebuilding/refinishing guitars, I turned to EMG every time. It's probably the biggest expense on each of my builds, and often becomes the hangup when trying to sell because the average buyer just doesn't understand aftermarket pickups and the associated cost. My last build I just stuck super cheap pickups I found on Amazon in it and moved on. Buyers were much quicker to talk to me about that one because the price didn't have to reflect the expense of the EMGs.

 

[Rôckhewer]

I also have "builder" accounts with:
Hipshot, Sperzel, GraphTech & Delano....
....all at roughly the same price break.
I'm emailing Fishman soon... to see if they play ball.... because I'm recently digging the Fluence soapbars... they're pricey too.