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Laguna burger build

#81
It was priced a little higher than the other 2-3 boards that were roughly the same size. I'm guessing that a board that big with that much straight grain is more valuable in their eyes?
Is that desirable and on the rare side to have a board that big with no figure in it?
 
#83
Depends on what you're doing. Honestly, for instrument building, we are kind of the odd guys. You don't really need big pieces of lumber for a bass. Even the "wide" pieces we need for a bookmatched top are not really that wide, and only need to be 21 or 22 inches long. A neck blank needs to be 46 or 47 inches long for neckthrough, but only 2" wide. I don't think it makes sense to pay a premium for boards that are bigger than you need, only to saw them up into tiny pieces, unless there are no smaller boards available.

Compare that to someone trying to make a table, or a set of cabinets. A dining table is like five feet long by two and a half feet wide - you're paying a premium for boards big enough to do that if you want to minimize joints. Meanwhile, cabinet shops are throwing pieces of wood big enough to build basses from on their burn pile!
 
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#84
It could be misguided, but I had a gut wrenching urge to buy it and stash it for future use. I just had the feeling that I probably won't run across a piece like that too many times.
The problem with pricing in a place like that is their small precut hobby sized stuff is very expensive by BF/volume.
For example, a 3/4 x5 x 24 of wenge is $42. I could cut 8 of those out of that big piece. My biggest problem right now is I don't have a way to mill a fatter piece down to get 2-3 fingerboards or 2 tops out of one piece. I definitely don't want to route off and waste all that material.
I just have this feeling that if I wait, go back there in a week and that piece is gone, I'm gonna kick myself.
I need to find a used mill, build one or find one to borrow.
I told you this bass building crap would get out of hand and make me nuts.
 
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#88
Buy:hyper:Buy:hyper:Buy:hyper: says the guy sitting on your left shoulder:bassist:. That's nothing compared to what I dropped on some 2" x 4" x 4' quarter sawn ebony for this.
IMG_7173.JPG
 
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#90
I'll just start with all the excuses and get those outta the way first.
What I thought was a little irritation from a tiny bit of Wenge dust a few days ago, turned out to be a cold coming on. Maybe it was an Egyptian curse. Not sure, But I felt like crap the last 2 days. Not to mention I worked till 6 yesterday and Rocklers closes at 6. So, never made it there. Wife had running around to do today, so I was on dog sitting duty. Hopefully That piece of Wenge is still there on Mon.
Anyway, while I sat around being useless all day, I tried my very best to use a photo from the google of a blonde version of my bass and mock up what it might look like.......now, don't be too hard on me,....all I have is MS paint.
I'm not set up to do much actual work yet (plus my excuses), so this made me feel like I at least did something productive.
I'm thinking about leaving enough of the old wings on that I don't have to route anything for the pups. If that's possible with the existing contours in the old wings. If not, I will just take it down to the neck.
Anyone think it looks odd with the large center section?
0.jpg
 
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#91
Also, I'm still trying to decide if I want to do Wenge top and back with a maple core, or a full 1" maple core with just a wenge top.
And there were some defects in the bridge finish, so I decided I'm going to attempt painting all the hardware black.
Epoxy paint?
 
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#92
RichterScale said:
Also, I'm still trying to decide if I want to do Wenge top and back with a maple core, or a full 1" maple core with just a wenge top.
And there were some defects in the bridge finish, so I decided I'm going to attempt painting all the hardware black.
Epoxy paint?
Click to expand...
In for a penny, in for a pound, I'd grab a new bridge...

(The renderings look good :thumbsup:)
 
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#93
Reedt2000 said:
I'd grab a new bridge...
Click to expand...
No, the way it works is: first I have to spend at least 20 hrs researching how to refinish all my hardware. Eventually I will settle on some ridiculous DIY method that I've never done before and purchase tools, material and equip to do it. After spending 2 weeks, 3 failures and 1.5 times the cost of a new bridge,....
then I'll buy a new one.
 
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#94
All kidding aside, I sanded off some of the paint-like finish and saw that the hardware is plated. Looked like copper and then nickle/chrome under the weird aluminium colored paint layer.
Maybe I could have it all replated, if it's not the same cost as replacing it all.
Maybe a black chrome? Not quite black, but dark.
Let the googles begin....
 
#96
RichterScale said:
I'll just start with all the excuses and get those outta the way first.
What I thought was a little irritation from a tiny bit of Wenge dust a few days ago, turned out to be a cold coming on. Maybe it was an Egyptian curse. Not sure, But I felt like crap the last 2 days. Not to mention I worked till 6 yesterday and Rocklers closes at 6. So, never made it there. Wife had running around to do today, so I was on dog sitting duty. Hopefully That piece of Wenge is still there on Mon.
Anyway, while I sat around being useless all day, I tried my very best to use a photo from the google of a blonde version of my bass and mock up what it might look like.......now, don't be too hard on me,....all I have is MS paint.
I'm not set up to do much actual work yet (plus my excuses), so this made me feel like I at least did something productive.
I'm thinking about leaving enough of the old wings on that I don't have to route anything for the pups. If that's possible with the existing contours in the old wings. If not, I will just take it down to the neck.
Anyone think it looks odd with the large center section?
View attachment 4193635
Click to expand...


The wider center section looks fine to me. The once or twice I had it done rechroming motorcycle parts was a lot more expensive then having new parts chromed. They have to strip off the old plating and start over, or at least that’s what I was looking old at the time.
 
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#99
I checked HipShot's website and the closest spacing for an A style bridge is 16.5 mm. The bridge I have has 5/8" spacing which is just under 16 mm. It appears to be a HipShot knockoff and not actually one of theirs.
Also, the screw hole pattern is completely different. Looks like I'm going to keep my bridge and do my best to rattle can paint it. It will be a process with plugging all the tiny screw holes in the saddles, but I figure I can use a tough epoxy paint and be extra careful when stringing it. I think it will do okay.
I'll save the new hardware for a scratch build.
bridge 3.jpg
bridge.jpg
 
#100
So, there's a chance I may have a tiny bit of black paint left in the pores of the maple. I'm going to sand more and see if I can get it all out, but the neck is already on the narrow/thin side for a 5 string, so I really don't want to go crazy with removing material. I'm not shooting for perfect on this endeavor, so, if there are tiny amounts of black still left in the pores, I'm thinking maybe do something like walnut instead of wenge for the tops and then tint/stain the whole thing to darken up the maple in the neck. I'm hoping that will blend/hide any paint left in pores and I think walnut would be better than wenge. I want dark for the wings, but not stained wenge dark.
So, silver hardware or black? Natural maple middle with wenge tops, or darkened middle with a lighter top wood that will end up dark?
(these pics are terrible, but it gives me something to help visualize)
4-5.jpg
 

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