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Shell Pink Precision

Hopkins

Hopkins

Commercial User
Nov 17, 2010
13,967
7,058
44
Houston Tx
Disclosures
Owner/Builder @Hopkins Guitars
#1
I'm starting a new build

Specs

Alder Bodied Precision, shell pink, or as close to it as my paint guy can get.
Maple neck I got from the TB classifieds, white binding, MOP blocks
Babicz bridge
Fender 62 pickup
Aged pearloid pick guard.

First I reshaped the headstock.
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Body cut out and cleaned up on the sander.
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Next step is to carve the arm relieve and tummy cut. When the pick guard gets here I will rout the pickup cavity.

The neck pocket is a nice tight fit.
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The headstock with the the first coat of finish and label applied. I used a trans tint dye to match the amber tint to the headstock.
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#2
I use my Shinto saw rasp to do the belly cut

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I use my disk sander for the fore arm relief
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Then everything gets cleaned up with the random orbital
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I moved all of the tools I can outside, Its been 107 outside and completely unbearable in my shop which is a metal building with no AC
 
#4
Splods said:
Looking cool. What's the story behind this bass?
Click to expand...

No much of a story really. I don't have a regular P bass at the moment, and I like the color combination of shell pink, maple, and pearl.

It's one of four builds I am starting, two guitars I am building for clients are also going to be shell pink, so I figured I would start a build for my self and kill 3 birds with one spray gun. The other is going to be a short scale, sea foam green, p bass.
 
#6
Bridge position located and installed
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I decided that the tummy cut needed to be deeper so I cut it deeper.
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Next I cut the round over, and routed the body cavities.
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Then I fitted the new pick guard that finally came in. So here is where we are at now.
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I took alot more pictures of my progress up to this point, but for some reason they disappeared from my phone.
 
#7
Got the body in sealer. I used the same two part VOC urethane clear I would use for a natural finish, or clear over a flake finish. In this case I am using a single stage urethane color coat that does not need a clear.

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#8
I wet sanded the body down with 400 grit until there were no shiny spots left. Then applied the color coat. Which is a Nason single stage urethane.

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After spraying I let it set up for about half an hour then I bring it inside out of the humidity to dry.

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Tomorrow I will block sand it down with 400 grit and get it level, and if need be spray one more color coat.

Thanks for watching.
 
#20
SaintMez said:
I dig it! Looking very clean. Would like your opinion on the Babicz bridge when it's all said and done. They look nice and solid.
Click to expand...


Ill let you know how I like it when its time to do the set up, but from looking at it and taking it apart, it is the most solid bridge I have ever seen.

My local Guitar Center had two of them on clearance for $52 each. I bought both of them, thinking I could sell one of them and nearly recoup all of my money, but after looking at how well it is made I decided to keep it for a future project.
 

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