Gene Simmons LoBue Tribute Build

[Matt Liebenau]

If you're comfortable with just two screws holding the metal cover on I'd take the screws where the "P" pickups will be in the way and cut them off and glue just the heads in the cover then use the other two screws to hold the cover on the body. Hope that makes sense.

 

[bassgod76]

If you're comfortable with just two screws holding the metal cover on I'd take the screws where the "P" pickups will be in the way and cut them off and glue just the heads in the cover then use the other two screws to hold the cover on the body. Hope that makes sense.

Yeah, this may be the answer. Thanks.

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight I drilled out and sanded down the headstock.

One snafu I discovered was that the Gotoh style tuners I had are a 32nd of an inch bigger than these holes. I'm thinking that a metric Forstner bit is in order for my second neck. I will just Dremel these holes a tad wider.

 

[Skarsoul]

I'm not sure about the sizing of the pickup verses the size of the cover, but have you looked at the EMG 35P? a P style pick up in a soapbar style enclosure.

 

[bassgod76]

I'm not sure about the sizing of the pickup verses the size of the cover, but have you looked at the EMG 35P? a P style pick up in a soapbar style enclosure.

Yes I have. These were pickups I had on hand. I may ponder swapping out my P idea for an EMG HB pickup, if I can find a good deal on one.

 

[bassgod76]

Last night I was thinking about this whole EMG thing...

I think one of them will have the active EMG pickup. I'm thinking I'm going to go passive with the other one, but with an active OD rotary knob in 3rd position.

I'm also thinking of making them both set necks as well. Stay tuned.

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight I worked on both necks.

First, I had to re-dowel my first neck, because my 1/2" Forstner bit was smaller than the tuners I'm using.

Once my 14mm Forstner bit arrives on the mail, those extra dowels will be gone.

Next, I used epoxy to fill in the drill damage I made, by stupidly using a hand drill.

Next, I started working on my other neck.
Tuners removed.

Not repeating my first mistake, using a hand drill, I decided to use a drill press to widen and dowel the old holes.

Using the right tool resulted in clean holes.

Time for dowels!

Taking my time results in no damage to fix, and they sanded flush, beautifully.

Last thing I did tonight was prep the second headstock for cutting.

Finding center, and drawing cut lines.

That's all for this week. Stay tuned!

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight I had a bit of time to do some planning and drawing.

On my first LoBue, I never really could find a pic of the underside of the bass, so I guessed. Ofcourse, upon completion, a few pics pop up on the Internet.

My effort was valiant, but not accurate.

First, my neck pocket was too short.
Gene's bass pocket started around the 20th fret.

My old template.

My template had the sides of the pocket starting at the 22nd fret.

So I basically marked where I wanted the sides of my neck pocket to start.

Also, the sides of my pocket were too bulky.

Time to go back to the drawing board.

The old paper template is pulled out of storage.

Traced!

Next, I lined up the neck to see where it would sit in the pocket. I'm liking all that surface area for the neck to glue to.

Looking closer at Gene's bass, I noticed my neck pockets are beveled too much.

Mine.

Revised.

 

[bassgod76]

With more pics, I decided to see if I could get a better neck heel.

I extended the template, and added a slight curve to the pocket edge.

Template pocket area ready!

Stay tuned!

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight, I finished up some of my headstock.
The thing I wanted to change from my last build, was to have a thicker headstock. The Danolectro necks have very thin headstocks. After sanding and finishing, you lose almost a 1/16". To prevent this, and to cover the old holes, I glued maple veneer to the headstock.

I would have to use a routing bit with a top roller. To get a flat working surface, I stuck a block to the headstock.

All was going well until I rounded a corner. I should've backed the routing bit into the piece, but went full board, and lost a chunk of the headstock. Doh!

Fortunately, I kept the piece, and will glue and sand.

Due to the glue residue on the headstock, I had to re-run it with my template.

After cleanup.

With the template affixed, I also pressed pilot holes for my tuners.

Ready for the drill press.

I also glued the bit that tore off.

More to come this weekend. Stay tuned!!!

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight I worked more on my necks.

I had that issue where a corner of my headstock was zipped off in an unfortunate routing incident.
I since glued the piece back on, and covered over with a wood epoxy.

After a trip through the router, with a careful touch, I was able to get it back to new.

Yesterday, I trimmed my second headstock and glued the wings on.

Tonight, I glued the veneer to the headstock.

Glued!

Stay tuned! I may get a few moments tomorrow

 

[HaMMerHeD]

bg76,

This is the bit I use for drilling tuner holes for Gotoh (and hipshot, and all "9/16" post tuners).

Buy FISCH 14mm Chrome-Vanadium Steel Brad Point Drill Bit at Woodcraft.com

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight I didn't finish due to having neighbors and noise, but I hope to have tuners on both my necks by the end of this weekend.

 

[bassgod76]

This weekend I was able to pretty much wrap up the necks.

Holes drilled!

 

[bassgod76]

Holes drilled!

Tonight, I did final positioning of the tuners and pressed pilot holes for mounting screws.

I had one screw up when trimming the headstock. The saw blade knicked my fingerboard.

I ordered some rosewood, and should be able to sand and glue it back to normal. Doh!
I also sanded down, and finished the headstock joints in the back of the neck.

Just some sanding and light joint compound, and these are ready for attachment and paint!

Time for the bodies!

 

[ThaCoast]

Any updates? Curious to see how two other Lobues are coming

 

[bassgod76]

I should have one body cut out on Wed. I thought I would have more time, but it was gobbled up with kids and the holiday.

 

[bassgod76]

I finally got my body cut. Routing to happen tomorrow. Stay tuned...

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight I finally was able to rout my body. Lessons learned from working with this potentially dangerous bit, resulted in a decent outcome.

I had a few mill marks and wood blemishes needing filling before paint.

I'm wondering instead of using wood epoxy I'm trying wood glue and mahogany dust. If it works, cool.

Lastly, I addressed the chip I cut out of my one neck.
I traced out the boo boo, cut out a chip from my mahogany veneer.
Glued in place.

More to come. Stay tuned!

 

[bassgod76]

Tonight was a critical one. The most important part of this build is getting the neck pocket centered and straight.
Due to this bass having a symmetrical body, a crooked neck pocket would be pretty noticeable.
Using two long 2"wide pieces of MDF, these would be the sides of my routing template.

Quickly mocked up and clamped, I'm pretty straight.

A level for good measure.

I used a paper ruler on my crnterline, to make sure the ends of my template are in line.

Measuring 2 5/8" gave me the measurement from my router base to its cutting blade. I used this to fabricate the back part of my template.

A little too much. I will back this off by a 1/16"

After fixing the measurement, I realized I needed to do a string test to see how straight my pocket was.

With everything ready for rout, I added the painters tape, which makes the rout a tiny bit smaller, so the neck pocket is tight. I apply two layers of tape. If two layers is too tight, I pull one layer off and re-rout.

That's it for tonight. If time permits, I will Forstner the pocket out, and rout the remaining wood.

Stay tuned!!