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New build - a cathartic experience

SDB Guitars

SDB Guitars

Commercial User
Jul 2, 2007
2,002
21
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Disclosures
Shawn Ball - Owner, SDB Guitars
#1
On 07/29/2009, my father lost his battle with bone cancer. In the wake of this highly emotional time, I decided to build a bass, as a means of channeling that energy into something creative and positive. I've found that working with my hands allows my mind to wander to times when, as a child, I did woodworking and carpentry with my father, and I've been able to process my feelings about my life as it sits.

Not sure if I'll keep this one, or sell it, but this will likely be the last body I make in my old body style.

So, here is what I've got, so far... the body is alder, with a quilted maple cap, and a bloodwood "accent line".

Front view:

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Edge view:

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I have a set of Nordstrand Big Singles that I've decided to use on this bass. However, somewhere along the line, I managed to misplace the plastic "Bart-style" covers. I don't remember why I had them out of the covers, exactly, but this gives me the opportunity to make some wooden covers.

So, here's one of the pickups sans cover, on the block of maple that I'm going to use to make the covers.

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I decided to use a scrap of Pergo flooring to make the template to route the inside of the pickup covers. This way, I can repeat the process for the second cover, with very little setup.

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I'm starting the route using a brass inlay routing collar that I got at Woodcraft. This thing is just so darned handy. :)

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I started by routing the edge of the cavity with the template collar setup, to a depth of almost 1/2"...

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...then finished up with a shallow 1/2" template follower bit, to the depth of the pickup including the pole pieces.

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I used my miter saw to trim the cover to width...

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...leaving enough room on either end for the holes for the mounting screws, which I proceeded to drill.

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I rounded over the edges with my random orbit sander, sanding to 400 grit...

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...then applied a light coat of Waterlox tung oil varnish, to seal it, and make it look pudry :)

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Here's a shot of the cover with the pickup in it. It's a pretty snug fit, so it stays in the cover tightly.

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More to come in the next few days...
 
#2
Jeez Shawn, I'm really sorry to hear that - my condolences for your loss. With my therapist hat on, I have to say well done on your choice of processing the change, it sounds like its an excellent therapeutic fit...
 
#4
Very similar to how I make them. I find pickup covers to be one of the more rewarding woodworking jobs when building. I think I'm going to switch now to making one piece ramp/pickup assemblies. The only thing I have to solve is the different pickup heights (depths) and whether to leave room for slapping or not.

I hear you on letting one's mind wander while focussing on woodwork. I used to surprise myself at 2 in the morning in the shop, thinking it was maybe about 10. . .

Condolences on your loss. I hope your wood work continues to help with it. The stuff is looking good!
 
#5
Really sorry about your loss, mate. I really consider yout choice to turn that experience into a build extremely positive... and the bass is really going to look awesome. I like the body shape!
Pickups covers are usually made with several pieces glued together... in 1 piece is waaaay harder but it's worth it.
 
#8
Sorry for your loss, man.

Regarding the pickup covers, you should made them using the exact wood taken out off the top. Like seen here

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You know, if it's a ball, let it be a masquerade :smug:
 
#10
building is very cathartic for me as well, I don't have the experience in life that you do, but when I've got stuff on my mind i just like to head to the basement in the utility room and just start working on something, just sorta play around with something and see if something good comes out of it. That's kinda how my first uke came about, the body is a cigar box, a couple of the frets are off, and the neck is square, but it works. I found out my girlfriend was cheating on me a couple weeks ago, and now I'm working on a second, the fretboard is being planed down, and the neck is being shaped. It's kinda weird, but it's interesting how the projects just randomly happen, and also how calming woodworking can be. That's a really interesting bass design, is it comfortable? I really like the scroll, makes me think of an f5 mandolin, except modified.
 
#12
Bocete said:
Sorry for your loss, man.

Regarding the pickup covers, you should made them using the exact wood taken out off the top.
Click to expand...

I may end up capping the covers with a quilted maple veneer with a bloodwood accent line, so it matches the body, but the figure is less prominent in the center of the body, which is why I was thinking of just the plain maple.

Planning to work on the neck today, should have some pics up later.

Thank you guys, both for the encouragement, and for your kind words.
 
#15
Thanks much for the kind thoughts and words. Please don't misunderstand, however... I'm not posting this so you'll feel sorry for me, but rather to provide a walkthrough on the build, while trying to illustrate how theraputic the work can be...
 
#16
So, I got some more work done on the bass today... got the neck laminated, the headstock angle glued up (~13 degrees), and the basic taper roughed out. I will do the final taper, truss rod, etc. probably tomorrow.

Here's a picture of the rough neck blank, fingerboard, and truss rod. The neck is a 9-piece laminate of bloodwood and flame maple. The fingerboard is bloodwood, slotted to 32" scale (LMII). The truss rod is a standard Stew-mac Hot Rod. normally, I'd make my own single action truss rod (and I'm keeping that option open, for now... see my tutorial elsewhere on Talkbass :)), but I have this, and it will work well for the short scale neck.

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Here's a better angle on the neck, but it was taken with my cell phone camera, so the image quality is still kinda crappy...

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As an aside, UPS delivered dad's urn this afternoon. A friend in TX turned this for me. He does good work, and I love the walnut that he picked out...

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#18
So, today I got a bit more done on the neck...

I routed for and installed the truss rod...

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...then I rough tapered the fingerboard.

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Then, I glued the fingerboard onto the neck...

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I'll install the birch lines in the fingerboard once it's done gluing...

I'm thinking about binding the neck with flame maple. Thoughts?
 

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