Gonna have fun with this build

[bassplayer9512]

Alright so, I got a bunch of free pine from work and I have access to some Formica and WilsonArt laminate sheets through work as well. I have always wanted to do a build using a formica top just because of the options for patterns and no need to top finish. Anyways I want some input from the group on tops. Most of the samples I got in were a retro boomerang pattern because I want to do a very retro MCM kind of design for the body. If I decide to go another route then it's absolutely going to be the grass photo veneer.

I want some input because I am going to make at least 4 bodies and may end up tossing one up for sale at some point.

The shape is going to be a slab top 51 P or Tele (single cut)

FYI YOU CAN VOTE FOR MULTIPLE I DO NOT CARE

 

[NKBassman]

I like either one of the two with the lighter white-ish backgroud.

 

[TyBo]

You should have a "carrots" option in your poll. Personally, I'm not wild about any of them. Say, maybe a carrots veneer!

 

[kodiakblair]

Anyways I want some input from the group on tops.

Reckon if it were me I'd go patterns ending 311, 319, 356 and 223.

 

[bassplayer9512]

You should have a "carrots" option in your poll. Personally, I'm not wild about any of them. Say, maybe a carrots veneer!

these are the options.

 

[bassplayer9512]

Reckon if it were me I'd go patterns ending 311, 319, 356 and 223.

356 and the Turf top are my personal favorites

 

[bassplayer9512]

You should have a "carrots" option in your poll. Personally, I'm not wild about any of them. Say, maybe a carrots veneer!

I actually wish I could find one that looks like a pile of carrots because I want an orange bass but they didn't have any orange veneers I liked

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I made one with this top. It’s Formica brand but I don’t remember the pattern name. Binding helps with the edges although I suppose you could spray a burst or be really clean with the install and route a chamfer as though it was an actual countertop.

 

[mdogs]

You should go to Rick Turner’s website and see what he did over the years with Formica.

 

[Iridescentone]

I like the boomerang ones. If you want it to look pro, maybe use a lamminate trimmer on the edges. Even so, the edges may still feel kinda sharp. Reverend solved the sharp edge issue with a little banjo edge guard dealeo. Works great.

Some bajo arm rests here... Banjo Armrests | Wood Banjo Armrest | Engraved Banjo Armrest |Nickel - BanjoTeacher.com

 

[Iridescentone]

Extra cool-factor points for a matching headstock!

 

[bassplayer9512]

Extra cool-factor points for a matching headstock!

my goal is to find a pre-made neck that I can do exactly that

 

[Iridescentone]

my goal is to find a pre-made neck that I can do exactly that

Your post put ideas in my head for a project with that stuff. I have the lam trimmer and a workshop. But then I started looking for the sheet formica stuff...not exactly cost effective.

I need to maybe look harder for the right supplier. I found some cool faux "granite" material, but $240 for a 2' X 4' section seems kinda cray-cray. Where are you sourcing that stuff from?

 

[bassplayer9512]

Your post put ideas in my head for a project with that stuff. I have the lam trimmer and a workshop. But then I started looking for the sheet formica stuff...not exactly cost effective.

I need to maybe look harder for the right supplier. I found some cool faux "granite" material, but $240 for a 2' X 4' section seems kinda cray-cray. Where are you sourcing that stuff from?

I sell building materials for a living and getbthe stuff under cost. I can get it in 4'x8' and 5'x10' sheets and even have them precut it for me for an additional charge. The most expensive 4x8 for me isn't even $240.

 

[Daveyj]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to do my first build, it's not going to be from scratch as I have no finances for the tools (YET), I've found the body online though, it's missing the nut and all the other hardware, so there's still enough for me to get experience on. However, I noticed something odd with the peg holes, it's a 5-string body with three on top and two at the bottom, but the hold for the D string looks far off the hole for the G string, I've never seen it like that before, will it be a problem? or does it just mean the length of the D string will be longer than normal? I've attached the picture of the headstock for better reference.

 

[Brian Patterson]

Formica? Far out!

A 1960's, futuristic, Jetson-style body shape would be a great direction to take on this design...right down to the head and tuner keys!

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to do my first build, it's not going to be from scratch as I have no finances for the tools (YET), I've found the body online though, it's missing the nut and all the other hardware, so there's still enough for me to get experience on. However, I noticed something odd with the peg holes, it's a 5-string body with three on top and two at the bottom, but the hold for the D string looks far off the hole for the G string, I've never seen it like that before, will it be a problem? or does it just mean the length of the D string will be longer than normal? I've attached the picture of the headstock for better reference. View attachment 7021631

View attachment 7021602

That won't matter. The only concern is whether there's enough clearance around each hole to fit tuners, but I have to assume that there is. More length past the nut (within reason) doesn't change anything.

 

[Daveyj]

That won't matter. The only concern is whether there's enough clearance around each hole to fit tuners, but I have to assume that there is. More length past the nut (within reason) doesn't change anything.

thank you