Yeah, I did similar figuring based on 7ender dimensions. When I did my initial calculations, I forgot to account for the recessed ferrules; I was ok at 3/4", but as you said, 1/2" gives me pause.
Not too late to make it a set-neck, I suppose!
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SBO 2022 - Minimalist Medium Scale - Scratch Build
- Thread starter BishopJP
- Start date
Yeah, I did similar figuring based on 7ender dimensions. When I did my initial calculations, I forgot to account for the recessed ferrules; I was ok at 3/4", but as you said, 1/2" gives me pause.
Not too late to make it a set-neck, I suppose!
One of my fave basses has a 1.25" thick body that is 9/16" below the pocket. It's a slightly larger than usual fender sized surface area in the pocket and has 5 countersunk ferrules instead of 4. The body section supporting the neck is about half/half hard maple/poplar and the neck is hard maple. No problems in several years of regular use. 
One of my fave basses has a 1.25" thick body that is 9/16" below the pocket. It's a slightly larger than usual fender sized surface area in the pocket and has 5 countersunk ferrules instead of 4. The body section supporting the neck is about half/half hard maple/poplar and the neck is hard maple. No problems in several years of regular use.
That's good to hear! Poplar is a bit softer than black limba, so that gives me a little bit more confidence. I will need to think on this a bit; my neck pocket, as designed, is approx 3.5" x 2.5".
Is that one you made?
"Beej the Builderer", I can see a whole new TV series thereYou're quite a builderer.
My band saw is still not working so I cut out the bodies the hard way...
Route the perimeter using the template and a pattern bit, stepping down in 1/16" increments...
then, using a very cheap jig saw, cut the body out, following the routed channel...
finishing routing, using the previously routed perimeter as a guide for the pattern bit...
finished.
When gluing the two halves of one of the body blanks, I used clamps at the glue seam to align the halves and when I removed the clamps, a chunk of wood stuck to the clamp!
(one of my bits is not cutting cleanly ^^^^^)
fortunately, I was able to un-stick the chunk, which I then glued back in place...
cleaned up a little, with some sanding, it should be almost invisible.
Routed a neck pocket into one of the bodies...
Per my previous post about body and neck thickness, I have routed 5/8" into the body, leaving 7/8" and incraesed the neck pocket length to approx 3-5/8". I will be reducing the overall thickness of the neck heel from 1-1/8" to 1".
Not sure yet if I will be using 4 or 5 screws, but I will be doing the usual t-nuts in the neck before the fret board goes on.
Route the perimeter using the template and a pattern bit, stepping down in 1/16" increments...
then, using a very cheap jig saw, cut the body out, following the routed channel...
finishing routing, using the previously routed perimeter as a guide for the pattern bit...
finished.
When gluing the two halves of one of the body blanks, I used clamps at the glue seam to align the halves and when I removed the clamps, a chunk of wood stuck to the clamp!
(one of my bits is not cutting cleanly ^^^^^)
fortunately, I was able to un-stick the chunk, which I then glued back in place...
Routed a neck pocket into one of the bodies...
Per my previous post about body and neck thickness, I have routed 5/8" into the body, leaving 7/8" and incraesed the neck pocket length to approx 3-5/8". I will be reducing the overall thickness of the neck heel from 1-1/8" to 1".
That's a good solid process for cutting a body perimeter. And it's preparation for eventually getting a pin router.
I know you're thinking about it.....Nice woodworking technique overall.
That's a good solid process for cutting a body perimeter. And it's preparation for eventually getting a pin router.
Nice woodworking technique overall.
Thanks Bruce!
I definitely want a pin router! For the ways I like to do things, a pin router could really enhance the process and allow me to do things that are not possible with my current set-up.
Sooooo... just as I'm allowing myself a small pat on the back, thinking to myself, "Bishop, you're getting marginally acceptable at this bass-building thing!" and now I have another thing to fix...
Paying the price for my hubris!
I had the depth stop set properly (I thought) at the same depth I used for the previous neck pocket, went in for the final clean-up pass and I guess something slipped? I dunno...
I'm sure it will be fine, I guess this is relatively minor as far as screw-ups go...
Anyway, started out in the usual fashion...
Remove bulk of material with a forstner, attach template and route...
And now I have two bodies with neck pockets...
While I was in the shop this morning, I went ahead and thinned the necks down a touch...
Started out at 7/8", took them down to about 13/16"; I think I'll stick with that for now. That will allow for a total heel thickness of 1-1/16" which will get the top of the fretboard 7/16" above the top of the body and the material beneath the neck pocket at 7/8". I can live with that.
Next up, attaching necks to bodies! And fixing a couple issues...
Paying the price for my hubris!
I'm sure it will be fine, I guess this is relatively minor as far as screw-ups go...
Anyway, started out in the usual fashion...
Remove bulk of material with a forstner, attach template and route...
And now I have two bodies with neck pockets...
While I was in the shop this morning, I went ahead and thinned the necks down a touch...
Started out at 7/8", took them down to about 13/16"; I think I'll stick with that for now. That will allow for a total heel thickness of 1-1/16" which will get the top of the fretboard 7/16" above the top of the body and the material beneath the neck pocket at 7/8". I can live with that.
Next up, attaching necks to bodies! And fixing a couple issues...
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
Paying the price for my hubris!
I had the depth stop set properly (I thought) at the same depth I used for the previous neck pocket, went in for the final clean-up pass and I guess something slipped? I dunno...
Eh - just cut a little matching piece from your cut-off, add a little glue, file it down... no one will ever know!
Looking good!
Thanks!
Yeah, that's what I'll do.
Someday, I'll make it through a build without having to "fix" something!
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
Thanks!
Yeah, that's what I'll do.
Someday, I'll make it through a build without having to "fix" something!
haha - good luck with that! From my experience, I’d say that it’s practically impossible.
