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Joiner "Serenade" Build Progress
- Thread starter teej
- Start date
Har har... I walked right into that one.Hambone said:So tell us just how you DO use them?
My first visit to a Woodcraft was filled with both exhillaration and slight disappointment.
THE GOOD:
I saw woods that I've never before seen in person -- bocote, cocobolo, wenge, and olive just to name a few -- but I only came for walnut.
I found a big 8/4 piece measuring 96" x 12.75" for $105, but I didn't need all 8' though, so the guy sold me half, with a bit of hesitation, for $65. I should be able to get 2 sets of body wings out of this. I almost bought some maple for a neck, and some 24" pre-cut pieces for the body stringers, but I didn't want to spend too much today.
I didn't notice it until after I got home, but it looks like there's a bit of curly/flame figure. It's mostly noticeable along the sides, but I think I see it across the whole width. It may just be from planing, but I haven't rubbed on any naptha yet, so I can't tell for sure. I'll take some before and after pics of that tomorrow.
THE BAD:
Their selection was OK. I was hoping to find some 8/4 spanish cedar, and figured woods suitable for tops. In fact, they didn't have much 8/4 at all, unless you want oak, maple, and walnut. Also, a lot of what was in stock was in the wrong spot -- iroko where the birdseye maple was supposed to be, macassar ebony in the cedar, and teak in the wenge.
But overall, it was quite a venture. I think I've found my new favorite store -- if only it wasn't a 2-hour drive away.
Dude, you ought to see Clark's in the Houston Heights. They have some species I've never even heard of, let alone seen in person. They're geared toward antique restoration, and furniture building, not luthierie, but I've been spending time with one of the salesmen, and he's starting to catch on to what luthiers want/need. Now, when I go up there, he usually comes out to show me new things they have ordered. Most of the time, it's stuff I don't particularly need at the time, but I give him props for thinking about it...
Next time you're in Houston, call me and we'll make a run.
Next time you're in Houston, call me and we'll make a run.
teej said:
Oh MAN!
I applaude you for making the journey to Woodcraft! I don't mean this as a way to rub it in your face by any means but there is both a Woodcraft AND a Rockler within 20 minutes of me. I need to stop taking that kind of situation for granted!!
Woodcraft IS my favorite store (besides my local bike shop)!!
Jon
My dad lives in Houston, so I've been wanting to make a trip down there.Bassic83 said:Next time you're in Houston, call me and we'll make a run.
- Jun 6, 2004
- 6,351
- 543
- 66
- Disclosures
- Owner and builder Clementbass
Your wood craft must be a heck of a lot better than mine. The place generally has the most expensive firewood around. The hard maple and walnut is so twisted bowed cupped and warped I am embarrassed for them. I have to go through every piece they have to find something I can use. A real dissapointing place. Glad you have a good one. I have better luck at a local placethat makes moulding for new home construction. ......t
I took the only good piece of walnut they had. The other stuff looked like, as you said, expensive firewood. I'm going to Nashville this weekend (vacation of sorts), and there's a Woodcraft there as well. I may pickup a few of those 3" x 24" sheets they have to use as body stringers.
And for the record, the walnut I got yesterday is not for this bass -- I'm sticking with the claro walnut as a special instrument needs special wood. I'll be using this walnut for a later project.
Oh... and I'm thinking about burl maple for the top, not flamed.
And for the record, the walnut I got yesterday is not for this bass -- I'm sticking with the claro walnut as a special instrument needs special wood. I'll be using this walnut for a later project.
Oh... and I'm thinking about burl maple for the top, not flamed.
Maple burl is a great choice!
My DP has a gorgeous piece of maple burl for the top (the ONLY nice part of the bass)!
My DP has a gorgeous piece of maple burl for the top (the ONLY nice part of the bass)!
Thanks, I got them Target.phil mastro said:I like your shoes
I've attached a sample pic (compliments of Woodcraft's website) of some burl maple. If I could have that figure, spread uniformly across a top, I'd be in heaven.
UPDATE:
I mailed off an order with Warmoth for some hardware and other stuff -- Schaller ultralight tuners, jack, truss rod, strap buttons, and string-thru ferrules. I would have gotten everything from Stew-Mac, but they don't have black bass string ferrules and panel jacks, and the only black Y-tuners they had were Gotoh, which have a chrome ring between knob and post, and that turned me off. Plus, a set of Gotohs from SM cost the same as a set of Schaller ultralights from Warmoth.
I mailed off an order with Warmoth for some hardware and other stuff -- Schaller ultralight tuners, jack, truss rod, strap buttons, and string-thru ferrules. I would have gotten everything from Stew-Mac, but they don't have black bass string ferrules and panel jacks, and the only black Y-tuners they had were Gotoh, which have a chrome ring between knob and post, and that turned me off. Plus, a set of Gotohs from SM cost the same as a set of Schaller ultralights from Warmoth.
you don't buy wood at woodcraft! even tools, if you can find them elsewhere they're usually cheaper!
I was referenced to a local guy who specializes in gun stock. I've only talked to him on the phone, but if everything he claims he's got in stock is true, I've found local wood heaven!!! I'll be visiting him on saturday, I suggest you try to find something similar locally.
I was referenced to a local guy who specializes in gun stock. I've only talked to him on the phone, but if everything he claims he's got in stock is true, I've found local wood heaven!!! I'll be visiting him on saturday, I suggest you try to find something similar locally.
I've looked local, but haven't found anything apart from poplar. I even checked with a local ma and pa lumber mill, and they don't know of anyone that mills hardwoods like walnut or maple. i did find a place that could order it for me, but i wouldn't be able to see the piece before i buy it. i'm still looking, though. there's a cabnitry shop a few miles from here -- i may check with them to see where they get their wood from.
woodcrafts tools were a bit pricey i almost bought a spokeshave, but like I said, i came for wood and wood only.
a lot of the employees and a few customers that i figured were woodcraft regulars complimented me on the board i picked and when i said that i was making a guitar out of it, one guy said "That'll be one nice guitar!"
considering the 5 hour round trip, i think i'll stick with getting wood from Gallery.
woodcrafts tools were a bit pricey i almost bought a spokeshave, but like I said, i came for wood and wood only.
a lot of the employees and a few customers that i figured were woodcraft regulars complimented me on the board i picked and when i said that i was making a guitar out of it, one guy said "That'll be one nice guitar!"
considering the 5 hour round trip, i think i'll stick with getting wood from Gallery.
wilser said:
Hey Wilser, is this guy in Northern VA? If you don't mind sharing I might like to meet this guy myself. PM me if you get a chance. I trust you've been to Vienna and Colonial already, right? I only got to spend about 20 minutes at each place but I plan on getting better acquainted with Colonial this weekend.
For what it's worth, I used to go to Woodcraft when I was just starting out. They get the job done, but there are much better places to buy wood out there. The first thing I do when I'm in a new town is look in the yellow pages and on woodfinder.com Looks like AL is pretty slim pickins but you might have better luck in the yellow pages.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Hey thanks for that link!
The only search return is in a place in Bear Creak, but according to the description, they do/have everything I need: tonewoods and surfacing service. Plus, it's only 35 miles from here - Much better than Woodcraft at 125 miles.
The only search return is in a place in Bear Creak, but according to the description, they do/have everything I need: tonewoods and surfacing service. Plus, it's only 35 miles from here - Much better than Woodcraft at 125 miles.
Some progress, some set-backs.....
I'm still waiting for wood and other bits and pieces, so in the meantime, I've been fishing the interweb for dimensions for the various bits (pickups, knobs, etc.). Today, I cut out cardboard knobs and pickups, to get a general idea of the layout, and after laying them down on the paper template, I realized that option B (magnetic pickups) leaves plenty of space for chambering on the left side, but NONE on the left, and I can't have that. It would probably help against neck dive, but I'm OCD, so I can't have a half-chambered body. I could so solid-body, but since it's a walnut-bodied single-cut, it's bound to be heavy.
So anyway, there's still no major progress YET, but tomorrow, I'm going to ask the head of the art department if I can rent a small workspace. We'll see how that goes.
I'm still waiting for wood and other bits and pieces, so in the meantime, I've been fishing the interweb for dimensions for the various bits (pickups, knobs, etc.). Today, I cut out cardboard knobs and pickups, to get a general idea of the layout, and after laying them down on the paper template, I realized that option B (magnetic pickups) leaves plenty of space for chambering on the left side, but NONE on the left, and I can't have that. It would probably help against neck dive, but I'm OCD, so I can't have a half-chambered body. I could so solid-body, but since it's a walnut-bodied single-cut, it's bound to be heavy.
So anyway, there's still no major progress YET, but tomorrow, I'm going to ask the head of the art department if I can rent a small workspace. We'll see how that goes.
OK, so there's been a potentially fatal set-back. Got my bank statement the other day and found out that I've got less money than I thought, and that could put an end to this project here and now. If I had a steady income, it would be OK, but I don't. So I think I'll order the wood and start shaping, and hopefully, by the time that's finished, I'll have a job and will be able to get the hardware. On the plus side, this bass is mostly wood, except for the tuners and internal components (truss rod, pickups, etc.), so I'll have most of the bass finished by the time I get the rest of the stuff. In the meantime, I think I'll start working on the headstock design. I just realized that I've completely ignored that bit. I've got a rather simple design in my head that I think compliments the body, so it should work.
