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My First Build
- Thread starter seesilva
- Start date
Here is the original post with the formatting changed so we can see the embedded pics. I don't know about anyone else, but I was having a hard time matching pics with text in my head! 
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]The neck roughed out with the truss rod channel routed.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Nice shot of the head stock.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Fingerboard mock up.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]The body with a scrap cut from the neck.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Truss rod set and finger board glued and clamped. Good to go.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Ready to cut my first fret slots. I used a guide block clamped to the neck to make sure the saw kerfed straight and square and clean.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]The fretted neck no frets installed yet.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Now it is starting to look good. Fret markers installed. Finger board sanded and ready for fretting.
Let me know what yall think so far. Is there any thing that looks like trouble that i should adress now. Is there anything that I should be looking for or checking any advice for this stage in the game? I feel as if the build is going fairly smothly at this point. No major problems. I have all the parts on hand for referance so that helps.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]I am looking forward to and dreading the installation of the frets. any advice? the body wing glue ups are not far off now and cant wait till it looks like a real bass! thanks
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]The neck roughed out with the truss rod channel routed.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Nice shot of the head stock.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Fingerboard mock up.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]The body with a scrap cut from the neck.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Truss rod set and finger board glued and clamped. Good to go.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Ready to cut my first fret slots. I used a guide block clamped to the neck to make sure the saw kerfed straight and square and clean.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]The fretted neck no frets installed yet.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]Now it is starting to look good. Fret markers installed. Finger board sanded and ready for fretting.
Let me know what yall think so far. Is there any thing that looks like trouble that i should adress now. Is there anything that I should be looking for or checking any advice for this stage in the game? I feel as if the build is going fairly smothly at this point. No major problems. I have all the parts on hand for referance so that helps.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]I am looking forward to and dreading the installation of the frets. any advice? the body wing glue ups are not far off now and cant wait till it looks like a real bass! thanks
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
this looks better, if you copy the link and then when you post, click on the image icon, and paste the url in there 8^)
build looks good for a first one!
this looks better, if you copy the link and then when you post, click on the image icon, and paste the url in there 8^)
build looks good for a first one!
The neck and fret board is bubinga with rock maple stripes. Body is swamp ash. Dose anyone have suggestions on finishes. I am going black with a oil rub but I was debating on trying dye? I have never used it and was wondering if it would come out any better than a stain would. I have a little experience at finishing. I want to start doing some samples so when the time comes I am ready to go. Also what type of oil is used on a guitar and how many coats are applied? Tung, Danish Mineral, I am not sure what the norm is. Thanks.
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
You and me both....... I ordered some alcohol soluble dye powder from LMII, red..blue and yellow, i'll be testing soon.
"Danish" oil, "Tung" oil, tru-oil.....etc.......Anywhere from 4, 6 to way more coats
and if you use just this kind of oil, ("butchers bowling wax" may also be necessary).Dye works well.
Something you may not have thought of is French polish. It is the absolute best finish possible for drawing out the wood grain and having a mirror shine, however it is extremely sensitive to dings and dents (though it is easy to fix the area damaged as needed); I say this to warn you that if the bass is a daily beater, don't use it but if it is a hard case lover you might try something very unique and beautiful.
If it is going to be a daily user, try a poly coating.
Something you may not have thought of is French polish. It is the absolute best finish possible for drawing out the wood grain and having a mirror shine, however it is extremely sensitive to dings and dents (though it is easy to fix the area damaged as needed); I say this to warn you that if the bass is a daily beater, don't use it but if it is a hard case lover you might try something very unique and beautiful.
If it is going to be a daily user, try a poly coating.
You may very well like the French Polish option then. If you do a search online, I'm sure you can find some before/after shots of French Polish on wood; this would give you some idea of how the finish would age in the worn areas...I think it would look stunning. My $0.02!
Thanks for all the input. Today was a good build day. I got all the fretting done so the fret board is complete save finish. The long awaited body wing glue up is curing and all is well. So now it is undeniably a bass. No pics yet but I will get some tomorrow and give posting them another try. this next week is going to be busy. I have a art opening on Tuesday that I was planning on displaying the bass in if I get it far enough along. I am thinking it doesn't have to be finished it just has to look finished. So I have about a week to make it "look" finished.
The build is going well. Had a lot of shop time this weekend. I got all the hardware installed and did as much adjusting as i know how. strung it up mesured for the pu mortises and routed them. everything went well until i got to the output jack. the EMG's came with the switchcraft style output jack and they only have about a quarter inch of thread on them. so im in my shop scratching my head try ing to figure out how to install this without removing an obscene amount of wood. so after a few minuets on the web i found a jack plate that will fit the bill. I have put three coats of ebony stain on the bass and it is looking good. the pics dont do the finish justice due to the stain still being wet and reflecting light and such, but up close i am very happy with the progress.here are some pics and i should have some more within the next week or so of the finished product. I am putting 2 EMG MMCS pickups in the bass and was wondering if any body could give me some tips on the wiring. i have been on the EMG site and not been able to find any diagram using 2 MMCS's. I know little to nothing about the wiring and initial set up of the bass and was considering taking it to get it done. however i have come this far and would hate to send it out for the last steps. It is also something that i should learn to do. I am only using the 2 supplied volume and tone pots per pickup so it should not be tuff. I have got to say putting the strings on for the first time, even just to take measurements, is a pretty cool thing.
peace.
peace.
