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SBO: Thunderchicken MMXXIV
- Thread starter Dark Horse
- Start date
#1 looks better IMO, but I've done 3 similar builds and used 2 PUPs, I never just run the neck PUP, also doing 100% neck and 80% bridge.
I vote for number 2, because...more chrome
Your wish is my command… MORE CHROME !!!
(I forgot the control plate in the previous mockups …oops)
Well if more chrome is what ya want, then it needs a chrome kickass bridge too... 
I have an omega bridge here, lots of chrome….. but that AND the control plate adds a fair amount of weight. Since I have tumors in my spine, more weight = no buenoWell if more chrome is what ya want, then it needs a chrome kickass bridge too...
Ok, feeling reasonably capable today, so I got some actual work done.
first up… fitting the neck.
so, square neck heel, round body pocket . No bueno. Could just bolt it in and structurally it’d be ok, but the little gap would bug me every time I’d see it…..
how do you fit a square peg into a round hole ?
there are a couple ways to do this….one involves routing the body a little and possibly having to move the bridge, and I don’t want to do that….
so….. we fit a square peg into a round hole by making the square “round” !
I Started by taking a Pickguard and making sure the neck pocket curvature matches. Once confirmed, I used a pencil to transfer the curve of the Pickguard to the neck heel so I had a good visual representation of the curve.
Once I had that, it’s off to the oscillating spindle sander. Sand off to just outside the line I drew, and work up to it, testing the neck fit into the pocket regularly until I had a good fit.
Pretty much perfect !!! Problem #1 solved !!!
first up… fitting the neck.
so, square neck heel, round body pocket . No bueno. Could just bolt it in and structurally it’d be ok, but the little gap would bug me every time I’d see it…..
how do you fit a square peg into a round hole ?
there are a couple ways to do this….one involves routing the body a little and possibly having to move the bridge, and I don’t want to do that….
so….. we fit a square peg into a round hole by making the square “round” !
I Started by taking a Pickguard and making sure the neck pocket curvature matches. Once confirmed, I used a pencil to transfer the curve of the Pickguard to the neck heel so I had a good visual representation of the curve.
Once I had that, it’s off to the oscillating spindle sander. Sand off to just outside the line I drew, and work up to it, testing the neck fit into the pocket regularly until I had a good fit.
Pretty much perfect !!! Problem #1 solved !!!
Attachments
I’m going to need a Pickguard for it. The Thunderbird pickup trim ring doesn’t quite cover the p bass route in an original p bass guard, so I need to make a new guard. Since I’m making the guard, I can decide whether or not I want to use the trim rings later.
anyway, I started by tracing the Pickguard onto some mdf, plywood, or laminate board. I used laminate board here because A) it was a scrap piece I had, and B) this won’t be the final template… it’ll be USED to make the final, thicker template. The laminate board, being thinner, is easier to work and sand, and gives a better result when you use it to make the master template. I’ll probably make the master template “just the outline, control and screw holes”… and that way I can use the master for various pickup configurations.
anyway,
traced……. cut….. sanded….. drilled.
Next up is to make the master template, but working on those couple things took a lot out of me, so it’s time to rest for now…
anyway, I started by tracing the Pickguard onto some mdf, plywood, or laminate board. I used laminate board here because A) it was a scrap piece I had, and B) this won’t be the final template… it’ll be USED to make the final, thicker template. The laminate board, being thinner, is easier to work and sand, and gives a better result when you use it to make the master template. I’ll probably make the master template “just the outline, control and screw holes”… and that way I can use the master for various pickup configurations.
anyway,
traced……. cut….. sanded….. drilled.
Next up is to make the master template, but working on those couple things took a lot out of me, so it’s time to rest for now…
The neck heel might need some big hardwood dowel pins…………
Otherwise, nice fit altogether !
Yep…..I’ll be checking to see where the screw holes lie, and if needed I’ll use oak dowels
the good thing about fitting the neck like this is that it moves the fret position very little… almost nil. So the bridge can easily compensate without having to move the whole thing.
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It took literally everything out of me tonight to make a simple Thunderbird pickup routing template and then route the body for it. I’m beat and I need a shower and to rest. BUT I GOT IT DONE!
four months ago that would’ve been easy peasy, no worries…. Now it’s a major undertaking. But I’m stoked that I was able to make a bit more progress.
still deciding whether I’ll use a bridge pickup on this. I might just do the neck for now, see how I like it… I can always add a bridge pup later.
Battery cavity was something I router into this body a while back. Tonight was JUST the pickup route.
next up, make a Pickguard.
four months ago that would’ve been easy peasy, no worries…. Now it’s a major undertaking. But I’m stoked that I was able to make a bit more progress.
still deciding whether I’ll use a bridge pickup on this. I might just do the neck for now, see how I like it… I can always add a bridge pup later.
Battery cavity was something I router into this body a while back. Tonight was JUST the pickup route.
next up, make a Pickguard.
Fantastic you pushed through and accomplished it 
Thanks Beej !Fantastic you pushed through and accomplished it
It’s looking really good, nice work on the neck heal fitting and the PG template.
The new site update has me in “get off my lawn” mode !
It's starting to look like that dog'll hunt. Keep trucking along man, it's coming along great.
I got a tiny bit of work done on a double super secret project I’m working on. Started spraying the neck, and made a Pickguard for it…..
But it’s double super secret, so you didn’t see it….
But it’s double super secret, so you didn’t see it….
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