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Foo Bass
- Thread starter Elias Graves
- Start date
Experiments in scale length. My brother wanted to see how much difference it made with different scales so I put some notches in.
They're off to the side and will get clipped when I trim the board to the neck. He ultimately went with 34".
As usual, just about the time I get a good marking and cutting technique figured out, I'm done. Lol. That went pretty good and didn't take as long as I anticipated. The new burl block is at my brother's. I'll be there in a bit and we'll check it out.
Check out the burl block. It'll take some sawing to make inlays but I see some good stuff in there.
And the first slice is done! Looks good but I can see this is going to take some time. There's a lot of hand fitting to get it tight.
I did a little ebony detail for the 12th fret.
Thanks! I'm a complete newb to fine inlay. It's tedious.
Right now I'm on version 3 of the 12th fret marker. I broke one and made the second one a little too small. Like .01" off and it's noticeable.
My slot is .51" and the block is presently at .57". I have to keep shaving off a sliver at a time until it hits .51.
And pray I don't go to .50"...
Alright, we have an almost complete set of inlays that fit. I say almost because my brother decided he wants a first fret marker as well, so I will work on that tonight.
Next, I will trim them, epoxy in place then level them with the fretboard.
In other news, we picked up some lumber with which I can build templates for the body. Wait til you see our plans for the top. I hope I can pull it off.
Next, I will trim them, epoxy in place then level them with the fretboard.
In other news, we picked up some lumber with which I can build templates for the body. Wait til you see our plans for the top. I hope I can pull it off.
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First inlay is glued up and I'm very pleased with it. Good tight fit with no visible gaps.
Up to four of em now. I could only get to 3 before the epoxy started setting. Looking good, though.
Thanks. I'm really happy with it, too.
The last ones clamped up. I'm leaving 12 out and I won't glue 1 in, either. I'll put my registry pins in those slots, then remove and glue in the last two blocks.
Up next, I have to cut the slot and block for the first fret inlay, then do some things to the headstock and fretboard in preparation for gluing it in place.
Thanks! I told myself I'd take some pics of how I made the inlays, so here goes. I caught myself part way into the last one but I got all the steps.
I started with this block of burl. I've already cut away some of the plain bits but I have to excise just the pieces I want from it.
Step one is slicing off a wafer, slightly thicker than my finished need. I need .16" so I've cut to just a little over .20". Not the straightest cuts, either, just ripped off with a hand saw.
Then I make the first straight cut at the top edge of the grain I'm after. This particular piece of grain, I've used on two of the other inlays, but from the last couple of slices off the block.
And then clipping the other side. I've left it .02" oversized and now I'll trim to fit.
Not much to it, really. It's mainly just a matter of accuracy. With these inlays, any discrepancy is too much. Tolerances at pretty much zero.
