Special Edition Build Off -- Fenderbird VI

[Jon Clegg]

Here's my second entry: Completion of one of my three entries from the 2019 build off, a mashup of a Thunderbird and a Fender Bass VI. Build stalled when I decided to focus all of my efforts on the Victory 5D.

Originai build thread here: Winter build off 2019 - Fenderbird VI

Here's where we're at:

 

[GMC]

This looks like a nice project. What type of truss rod is that? Is it a box rod? I used to use them all the time and then all of a sudden...it became really hard to source them in the Uk.

 

[Jon Clegg]

This looks like a nice project. What type of truss rod is that? Is it a box rod? I used to use them all the time and then all of a sudden...it became really hard to source them in the Uk.

It's just a typical double action rod I believe I got from Bitterroot Guitars.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Time to start working on the neck a bit more, I'm at the point where I need to start fitting the fretboard to the neck: I have it marked here to bandsaw it to size:

Also made a new headstock plate out of some 1/16" cherry veneer:

My original plan was to keep the neck finish natural with just the color on the headstock. I plan to go to more of a Gibson approach of painting the neck and outer portion of the headstock face aqua and the plate black.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Like the Fusion Bird, I did the headstock transition and end block for the TR channel

And attached the headstock plate

I'm up to my neck in necks...

 

[Jon Clegg]

Fingerboard clamp-o-rama

 

[Jon Clegg]

Out of the clamps and ready to trim and rabbet for the binding

 

[Jon Clegg]

Trimmed flush

In the process, I found a few divots that need to be dealt with before routing the binding channels, since this neck will be painted aqua to match the body a little bondo will do the trick.

I'll bring those patches flush tonight and see if I have time to rout the channels.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Rabbeted for binding:

Now ready to begin the neck carve.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Marked for the first of four sets of facets; I'm using the same assymetrical profile that I used on Fat Freddy's Special-K.

 

[Jon Clegg]

And the first set of facets is carved

 

[Jon Clegg]

Second set of facets done:

 

[Jon Clegg]

Carve mostly complete

 

[Jon Clegg]

Made some fretboard markers to fit the theme; reconstituted turquoise with aluminum rims.

I like these so much, I'm going to do something similar with the abalone markers on the Fusion Bird.

 

[Beej]

What?!
When...
How did you....
Where did they...
What?!

 

[Jon Clegg]

What?!
When...
How did you....
Where did they...
What?!

<Snicker> Stay tuned to the Fusion Bird thread, I'll post the details over there

 

[Jon Clegg]

Getting there... a bit more clean up on these and then the binding.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Ready for binding!

 

[Jon Clegg]

Bound. A little more scraping and some clean up where it broke required.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Ok Mr. Clegg.....

You were, of course correct.........I DID miss yet another one ......

Gonna give this build a group like........

Few extra sploshes....