Special Edition Build Off - SG Bass VI

[2groggy]

My entry is the completion of the stalled 2019 Winter Build entry

Here is my starting point for this entry:

SG Bass VI Inventory

• 2groggy
• Mar 24, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

• 2 piece chambered Walnut body cut to general shape, needing chamfers, cavities
• figured maple neck blank
• all required hardware (black)

I still need to select the fingerboard and thickness it, so clearly, I have to start by building a vertical mount for my handheld bandsaw

 

[2groggy]

The bandsaw excuse is officially crossed off the list.

Bandsaw - Meet Router Table

• 2groggy
• Mar 27, 2020
• bandsaw

Router Table - Meet Bandsaw

• 2groggy
• Mar 27, 2020
• bandsaw

I'll let that settle before making an adjustable bracket to set the blade plumb. This should be good enough to start on the coarser tasks.

 

[2groggy]

I was negligent in the picture taking aspect of the build. Over the weekend I got some stuff done:

• rough carved the body contours for the body and sanded the edges
• repaired some router tear-out on the body with a plug
• sawed and routed the neck width. The head stock is still rough
• cut the fret slots in the finger board
• routed the truss rod slot
• glued the FB on the neck
• took a grand total of one picture

Neck And Fingerboard

• 2groggy
• Mar 30, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

 

[2groggy]

I sanded the front and back of the body to 120 grit in preparation for all the body cavity routing. I'll have to get a template made for the cuts soon.

I un-clamped the neck, radiused and sanded the fingerboard. I need to make a decision about side dots.

Radiused Sanded FB

• 2groggy
• Mar 31, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

 

[2groggy]

I got some work done on the neck. I raided my dad's old hobby supplies and found some walnut dowel to use as side dots. Then I thicknessed and shaped the head stock.

My high tech thicknessing machine...

ThicknessingSaw

• 2groggy
• Apr 4, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

... in action ...

Thicknessing Headstock

• 2groggy
• Apr 4, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

... jumping ahead a few steps involving a bench top belt sander.

Headstock

• 2groggy
• Apr 4, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I like it! I never would have thought of that. Interesting, creative solutions are one of the things I love in the LC.

 

[rwkeating]

high tech thicknessing machine...

What a great idea. I will be using it. Thanks for showing us that!

 

[2groggy]

Not my tightest neck pocket...

Neck Pocket

• 2groggy
• Apr 5, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

... but it looks good from a distance.

 

[2groggy]

This will be the first time that I have had to angle the neck and have a couple of questions:

1. Is it better to cut the angle into the bottom of the neck pocket or to put a taper on the neck heel?
2. Does it matter whether I set the neck or bolt it on?

 

[Beej]

Yes.

 

[2groggy]

Today was drilling and routing day. I started with the control cavity and cover plate. I made the cover plate first, then made a template from it. I used different collars leaving a shallow ledge for the cover.

Control Cavity Cover

• 2groggy
• Apr 11, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

Then I went on to layout and cut the pick-up cavities. I did this by with fostner bits and chisels. I laid it our so I can decide later whether to mount the pick guard.

Mock-up-Pickguard-yes-or-no

• 2groggy
• Apr 11, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

I also drilled a cavity for the pick-up selecter switch.

Once a year, I am glad that I spent the extra money on the floor mount drill press. I use it for the jack hole and wiring channels.

Drill Hole For Jack

• 2groggy
• Apr 11, 2020
• 2020

Drill Wiring Channel 1

• 2groggy
• Apr 11, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

Drill Wiring Channel 2

• 2groggy
• Apr 11, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

Tomorrow, I am taking @Beej 's perfectly accurate yet entirely useless advice in the previous post to set the neck angle.

 

[2groggy]

While @Beej 's advice was intentionally unhelpful, one of his previous posts from the winter build-off was unintentionally helpful.

Okay...finally done the shakes... phew.

shakes are complete

• Beej
• Jan 4, 2020
• cedar

shakes installed

...

Cedar shims have a close enough taper angle to make a neck pocket jig to rout in a slanted bottom.
No pictures. Just take my word for it.

 

[2groggy]

I've tested every stain that I have and narrowed it down to 2. What do people prefer - natural, emerald or raspberry?

Emerald Or Raspberry

• 2groggy
• Apr 16, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

Oh yeah, pick guard or no?

 

[Reedt2000]

I've tested every stain that I have and narrowed it down to 2. What do people prefer - natural, emerald or raspberry?

Emerald Or Raspberry

• 2groggy
• Apr 16, 2020
• 2020 special edition build off

Oh yeah, pick guard or no?

Emerald & no

 

[dwizum]

I dunno. I feel like SGs should pretty much always be red. Aaaand have pickguards.

 

[2groggy]

I know, but I don't have a cherry red stain handy. The raspberry certainly has more of a purple hue than a cherry red SG. There are black SGs too, but my navy and ebony stains are just covering too much grain. The rest of the stains disappear against the walnut.

I'm of the opinion that if you can't match something, then boldly contrast it. Close but not quite is just not right

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I’d vote green and no guard but I’m biased....

 

[2groggy]

Not only are you biased, you are the proud owner of a Count Chocula box mandolin. You don't see that every day.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

No, it’s a guitar and it works. Had to actually get an old box off of eBay because I don’t like the new ones. I had a Froot Loops bass too and I keep threatening to make another one but haven’t yet.

 

[Reedt2000]

What about a burst?