prototyping new singlecut design

[SDB Guitars]

I have started making my own (single action) truss rods. 3/16" steel rod, threaded on one end, bent by heating over a blowtorch, then I bought a bunch of those spoke-wheel nuts from Stew-Mac... I made a brass "sleeve" for the nut to press on. Basically, it is a small brass block with one hole clear through it, and one only *most* of the way through. The threaded part passes through the open hole, and the unthreaded end sits in the "pocket" hole. Works pretty well, and I can do all sorts of custom lengths.

 

[SDB Guitars]

Still no word form the people who voted that they "Hate it"... come on, guys! What don't you like about it?

 

[Hawaii Islander]

It looks fine for that type of bass (better than some that I've seen). The top horn has more shape to it , which is good. But i generally prefer a single cut with a much smaller top horn. The balance may be an issue, but I prefer its asthetics more.

 

[SDB Guitars]

It looks fine for that type of bass (better than some that I've seen). The top horn has more shape to it , which is good. But i generally prefer a single cut with a much smaller top horn. The balance may be an issue, but I prefer its asthetics more.

Do you mean smaller as in shallower (closer to the neck) or shorter (does not extend as far down the neck)?

Thanks, by the way... those are the kinds of statements I'm looking for - more of this, less of that, this I like, that I don't, etc.

 

[Jonsbasses]

Personally I think a single cut design is odd for a 4-string since it's usually only found for ERB's (to help balance for the wider neck). But really man, I think it flows well.

 

[SDB Guitars]

Personally I think a single cut design is odd for a 4-string since it's usually only found for ERB's (to help balance for the wider neck).

Well, then I'm proud to be shaking things up a bit

But really man, I think it flows well.

Thanks, Jon... I appreciate it!

 

[SDB Guitars]

Wow! Has it been a month since I posted to this thread?

Here's a picture (taken with my cell phone (yeah, I know, it's all I had on hand) of me contouring the edges with my trusty Microplane... please pardon the poor exposure. More (and better) pictures are forthcoming...

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[SDB Guitars]

Here's a better picture of the body, after I sanded the Microplane scratches out, and wiped on one coat of Tru-Oil...

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[SDB Guitars]

Here's the neck... with fretboard glued on.

First, the back:

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Here's a (not great) close-up, so you can (maybe) see the figure better:

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And the fingerboard:

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The lines are birch veneer, sealed with CA so they don't turn ugly...

 

[SDB Guitars]

Here's the body with the neck dry-fit...

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I *love* the way bloodwood shines up, and the touch of tru-oil just made it more reflective, and almost translucent.

 

[SDB Guitars]

Another angle... bloodwood is my favorite fingerboard wood

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[SDB Guitars]

And another "top view"...

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Anyone else have thoughts on this? Do's and don't's? Suggestions? Likes? Dislikes?

Please vote! I wanna know!

 

[bassteban]

I prefer simplified 'F-holes' on BG, but at least yours are something different. Overall, very nicely executed so far. I voted 'I like it'.

 

[eleonn]

I'm a bit curious about hte little horn(??) at the end of the fingerboard.

 

[bassteban]

I'm a bit curious about hte little horn(??) at the end of the fingerboard.

My guess is it's a thumb rest, & probably mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[asad137]

I'm a bit curious about hte little horn(??) at the end of the fingerboard.

My guess: thumbrest.

I like the overall shape, but I think the top bout (horn) is a bit too bulky.

Asad

 

[SDB Guitars]

I'm a bit curious about hte little horn(??) at the end of the fingerboard.

Thumbrest... if I decide I don't like it, I can always take it off... I saw something similar on a Rob Allen Mouse 30 a while back, and thought I'd try it.

 

[SDB Guitars]

I like the overall shape, but I think the top bout (horn) is a bit too bulky.

Asad

Yeah, I based this on my other design, which has a longer horn to account for the 37" of my multi-scale neck design, and whereas it doesn't look out of place with the longer neck, the shorter neck makes the body look a bit long...

I'm thinking that if this ever makes it into production, I will "shorten" the horn (move it closer to the butt end) and add some bulk to the waist area, at least where it comes off of the upper horn. I kinda like the lines of the "waist" as it comes into the lower horn...

 

[abarson]

I don't know anything about Microplanes, but I've got a parmesan cheese grater that looks exactly the same! Am I on to something?

Wow! Has it been a month since I posted to this thread?

Here's a picture (taken with my cell phone (yeah, I know, it's all I had on hand) of me contouring the edges with my trusty Microplane... please pardon the poor exposure. More (and better) pictures are forthcoming...

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[SDB Guitars]

Microplane makes (basically identical) pieces for kitchen applications...

From their website...

The big moment came in 1994, when Lorraine Lee, a homemaker in Ottawa, Canada, was making an Armenian orange cake. Out of frustration with her old grater, she picked up a new tool her husband, Leonard, had brought home from their hardware store, Lee Valley Tools. She slid the orange across its blades and was amazed. Lacy shards of zest fell from its surface like snowflakes. The Lees marveled at the tool, ate the cake, then promptly changed the product description in their catalogue. The Microplane® grater had earned permanent space in the kitchen.

It works like a charm for many different applicaitons. I love these things!