Headless four string ”Brucefied”

[Bruce Johnson]

That beast eats beer bellies for breakfast. I’m glad I have Atlantic Ocean between me and it.
Back to bass building; I’m leaning towards J bass pickup size. The P2 shape looks too big. It means I have to make pickups too. I’m going to make Lane Poor N’ish sidewinders.
One question about fretting. In order to make the neck as much one solid piece as possible should I glue the frets? Dan Erlewine says gluing the frets really makes a difference. What do you guys think?

I always glue in my frets. I don't think it makes the neck more solid structurally. The main reason is that the glue seals up the bare wood inside the slots, preventing moisture from seeping in and causing swelling and neck movement.

I use LMII Yellow Instrument Maker's Glue with some black pigment added. I use a small plastic syringe to lay down a thin bead in the slot, then press the fret in. Let it cure for a couple of hours before clipping the ends.

 

[MovinTarget]

I'm not completely delusional. Maybe you saw on the other thread that I recently gave a tour of the Secret Underground Lab to the local Cub Scout troop. Well, pictures got in the local Fillmore newspaper. The Fillmore Girl Scout troop saw the pictures and want in on the action. They too want to tour my shop and learn the secrets. So, I actually will have a crowd of teenage girls in my shop soon. Hopefully not jumping and screaming and wanting autographs.

I'm also scheduled to give a talk about Building Things and Craftsmanship to a bunch of kids at the local library in two weeks. That's how Brucification will spread. Start with the local youngsters.

The Cult of Bruce? Better living through Mad Woodworking?

 

[MPU]

I'm not completely delusional. Maybe you saw on the other thread that I recently gave a tour of the Secret Underground Lab to the local Cub Scout troop. Well, pictures got in the local Fillmore newspaper. The Fillmore Girl Scout troop saw the pictures and want in on the action. They too want to tour my shop and learn the secrets. So, I actually will have a crowd of teenage girls in my shop soon. Hopefully not jumping and screaming and wanting autographs.

I'm also scheduled to give a talk about Building Things and Craftsmanship to a bunch of kids at the local library in two weeks. That's how Brucification will spread. Start with the local youngsters.

I try to do my part of spreading your ideas on this side of the pond. I’m planning to take this bass to a Finnish bass player discussion board gathering on April. There’s sure some bassists that are willing to try something else than Fenders.
Oh, I too have my share of teenage girls in my shop. I have around fifteen girls in my classes that have chosen woodwork as their handcraft studies. I hope that they have found my somehow new ideas and way of teaching ( no more similar birdhouses for everybody, instead they plan and design their own ideas and I teach and show how to make them) inspiring.

 

[MPU]

I always glue in my frets. I don't think it makes the neck more solid structurally. The main reason is that the glue seals up the bare wood inside the slots, preventing moisture from seeping in and causing swelling and neck movement.

I use LMII Yellow Instrument Maker's Glue with some black pigment added. I use a small plastic syringe to lay down a thin bead in the slot, then press the fret in. Let it cure for a couple of hours before clipping the ends.

I assume Titebond would work as well, right? Or even epoxy?

 

[mapleglo]

I glue in my frets with CA. Just run a bead down the fret slot and press in the fret. Seems to do the trick of sealing the bare wood and keeping the fret in place.

 

[MPU]

I got the neck tapered and neck pocket routed. Next I’m making the headpiece. It will be somewhat similar to Hipshot headpiece minus the double ball end hole. Strings will be bent and clamped from the end of the clamp instead the top of the clamp. I’ve broken too many strings and had slipping problems with top clamp headpieces. This clamp also has the cut string ends inside the head so no sharp string ends are visible.

 

[Beej]

Beautiful fretboard

 

[MPU]

Headpiece is machined. Width will be trimmed after I’ve mounted the headpiece on the neck.
I have to make the brass mounting plates under the bridges. I have 3mm brass plate that I’m going to use.

 

[Beej]

Looks like a piece of jewelry... drool

 

[Bruce Johnson]

That headstock block looks great! How are you going to attach it to the neck? Just the three screws from the top, or is there something else?

It's too late now, but on the next one you could inset an aluminum block into the end of the neck, with the truss rod end anchoring into it. Then, your head block would attach to the aluminum block with three machine screws. Metal to metal connection between the head block and the truss rod.

I did a batch of custom necks for a client back around 2005, where I made the Brucebars go crosswise across the heel. The end of the truss rod went through the Brucebars and was pinned to them. Solid connection between the truss rod and the neck bolts. They also had an aluminum spine in the center of the body, which the neck bolts went through. Those guitars had some serious clarity. Those were the Rockits. We built 25 of them total.

 

[MPU]

Pickup cavities routed. P2-shape. It’s easier to try different pickups in a bigger than J size.

Fretboard radius planed and sanded. 12” radius.

Neck shaped. Again the same ”sound” as on the first Brucerod-neck I made when sanding. I have to finish sand the fretboard before fretting.

And control cavity routed.

I may have to make another headpiece as I like to attach it different way than first planned.

 

[rojo412]

Pickup cavities routed. P2-shape. It’s easier to try different pickups in a bigger than J size.

You said it! I hate having to deal with the "traditional" eared pickup shapes. And if it's for a bass that you want to experiment with by using different pickups, you're completely stuck with those AND they aren't always standard.
The P2 shape can do so many different types of pickups, including the standard J. So why not use it?!?!

This build is looking great! Keep up the fantastic work.

 

[MovinTarget]

I wish I had the time/resources/experience to do projects like this.

Noob question: The fretboard has beautiful grain character, is that b/c of something you did, or just the luck of the draw in wood cuts?

 

[Jisch]

MPU will answer I'm sure, but you can order that fretboard from LMII.

 

[MPU]

It’s Pao Ferro fretboard, just sanded. I was lazy and ordered a preslotted board from a local luthier.

 

[MovinTarget]

Well it is gorgeous!

What kind of finish are your planning for the body? I'm not often a fan of blonde, but the contrast against that fretboard would be pretty striking!

 

[MPU]

Well it is gorgeous!

What kind of finish are your planning for the body? I'm not often a fan of blonde, but the contrast against that fretboard would be pretty striking!

I’m leaning towards classic sunburst.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

I may have to make another headpiece as I like to attach it different way than first planned.

Yeah, my suggestion is to attach the head block with two screws going horizontally into the end of the neck, right on either side of the truss rod anchor. If you can, drill straight holes and epoxy in short slugs of brass or aluminum round bar stock, with drilled and tapped holes in the center. You could even use some aluminum threaded standoffs, as used in electronics. Then you can attach the head block with machine screws. Is that what you are thinking?

You could save this head block by gluing short flat head machine screws into the three top holes, just to fill them with something. Seriously! Then drill two new horizontal holes from the end.

 

[MPU]

Is that what you are thinking?

Something like that, maybe threaded inserts epoxied into the neck. I may make the new headpiece out of aluminium.

 

[MPU]

Roundovers routed and belly cut and right arm cut made. I sanded the body to 100 grit. Nut end of the neck needs routing, then I’m ready to finish the bass at home. At home I’m working in my garage which is full of vehicles during winter. There’s only one table where I can work so only sanding, drilling and other small things can be done there.