Okay guys,
Time for a massive update! (like you haven't seen this before...)
First, I want to show you guys the damage to the neck...
Not too bad, but, it's okay. Next, I want to show a few shots of the completed body. I am finally happy with the finish.
After the body and neck get checked off, it's time to take off the tape, protecting the fretboard and neck joint, during spraying and buffing. As before...you need to knock the lacquer off of the edges, to keep from pulling any lacquer, as you pull tape. I started with the neck joint area.
First is removing the tape from the fretboard extension, I start by running a razor blade between the tape and wood, then, pull in towards the center
and, although I did not get a picture...you do the same for the heel. In that picture, you see all kinds of glue residue....obviously, clean it up!
After I repeated the process for the fretboard, I cleaned all the residue off, and had to see the completed work:
I had to do a nice little mock-up, with the bridge,
Speaking of the bridge...
This is after sanding a 16" radius in the top, matching the radius of the fretboard
but, you need to sand the treble side 1/32" lower than the bass side, to compensate for the string size.
After sanding the radius, it is necessary to create a roundover on the top, creating the proper string break angle, after the saddle.
and I will say, these pictures are after I had finish-sanded it to 220 grit. Here's a couple more...
Now that you guys are caught up on the bridge, I needed to fit the neck to the body. Now remember, I did this before I sprayed, but, lacquer can change many things.
The way to change these things is to sand between the heel and the shoulder of the acoustic body.
The goal is to have correct pitch, side-to-side and fit. To check two of these things, you need to mark where the scale-length is:
with the neck attached by bolts, you will check the alignment, and pitch with a straightedge:
When it was all said and done, my alignment was good, my pitch was good, and the fit was finally good.
After that was checked off, you need to tape off the edges around the fretboard, to prepare for removing finish from that area of the body.
Then...you make some dust...
The result...
Ready for gluing!
When this was finished, it was almost time to clean up, so, I started a couple of small projects.
First, the frets. I bent a 14" radius, and cut them 1/8" longer than needed. and used my new fret block!
Plus, I prepped my bass body for spray tomorrow. It is now finish sanded, and the edges of the lacquer, were scuffed up. I know it's messy, but...this is the first time that I have done this.
I am going in to the shop today, to glue the neck on, and to put at least 5 coats of clear lacquer on. I will grab some photos, and post more later.
Sorry for the wait, and...
Thanks for watching!
Thumpin_P
Time for a massive update! (like you haven't seen this before...)
First, I want to show you guys the damage to the neck...
Not too bad, but, it's okay. Next, I want to show a few shots of the completed body. I am finally happy with the finish.
After the body and neck get checked off, it's time to take off the tape, protecting the fretboard and neck joint, during spraying and buffing. As before...you need to knock the lacquer off of the edges, to keep from pulling any lacquer, as you pull tape. I started with the neck joint area.
First is removing the tape from the fretboard extension, I start by running a razor blade between the tape and wood, then, pull in towards the center
and, although I did not get a picture...you do the same for the heel. In that picture, you see all kinds of glue residue....obviously, clean it up!
After I repeated the process for the fretboard, I cleaned all the residue off, and had to see the completed work:
I had to do a nice little mock-up, with the bridge,
Speaking of the bridge...
This is after sanding a 16" radius in the top, matching the radius of the fretboard
but, you need to sand the treble side 1/32" lower than the bass side, to compensate for the string size.
After sanding the radius, it is necessary to create a roundover on the top, creating the proper string break angle, after the saddle.
and I will say, these pictures are after I had finish-sanded it to 220 grit. Here's a couple more...
Now that you guys are caught up on the bridge, I needed to fit the neck to the body. Now remember, I did this before I sprayed, but, lacquer can change many things.
The way to change these things is to sand between the heel and the shoulder of the acoustic body.
The goal is to have correct pitch, side-to-side and fit. To check two of these things, you need to mark where the scale-length is:
with the neck attached by bolts, you will check the alignment, and pitch with a straightedge:
When it was all said and done, my alignment was good, my pitch was good, and the fit was finally good.
After that was checked off, you need to tape off the edges around the fretboard, to prepare for removing finish from that area of the body.
Then...you make some dust...
The result...
Ready for gluing!
When this was finished, it was almost time to clean up, so, I started a couple of small projects.
First, the frets. I bent a 14" radius, and cut them 1/8" longer than needed. and used my new fret block!
Plus, I prepped my bass body for spray tomorrow. It is now finish sanded, and the edges of the lacquer, were scuffed up. I know it's messy, but...this is the first time that I have done this.
I am going in to the shop today, to glue the neck on, and to put at least 5 coats of clear lacquer on. I will grab some photos, and post more later.
Sorry for the wait, and...
Thanks for watching!
Thumpin_P
