Super-lightweight P bass build

[Flying B]

I've looked at those router bits, but man they freak me out. Might help if I had a real router table, not a benchtop stamped sheet metal wanna-be thing. But still....

They are honestly not scary at all in use, especially only taking small incremental cuts. Tall cutters are fine, it's the super wide ones that are really scary. With larger cutters I always start the router on a slow speed and then gradually build it up, that way you can tell if it's going to start vibrating horribly and you can just back it off a bit.
But yeah you need a s half decent router table, this one was built in house so it doesn't need to be expensive, just solid.

 

[Flying B]

Fretboard routed to neck template.

I put a couple of layers of masking tape round the template to make it slightly oversized so I can rout it flush once I stick it to the neck.

 

[TerribleTim68]

They are honestly not scary at all in use, especially only taking small incremental cuts. Tall cutters are fine, it's the super wide ones that are really scary. With larger cutters I always start the router on a slow speed and then gradually build it up, that way you can tell if it's going to start vibrating horribly and you can just back it off a bit.
But yeah you need a s half decent router table, this one was built in house so it doesn't need to be expensive, just solid.

I think I'd be more comfortable if I had a router with the larger 1/2" shank. But my janky little router table uses a Craftsman router with a 1/4" collet and it doesn't seem to be removable to insert a 1/2" collet. It just kinda freaks me out every time I use a tall router bit with a 1/4" shank.

 

[Flying B]

I think I'd be more comfortable if I had a router with the larger 1/2" shank. But my janky little router table uses a Craftsman router with a 1/4" collet and it doesn't seem to be removable to insert a 1/2" collet. It just kinda freaks me out every time I use a tall router bit with a 1/4" shank.

Yeah you need a half inch router for that for shizzle

 

[T_Bone_TL]

@TerribleTim68 you have a 1/2" router, with fancy adjustable aluminum table. Runs a little slow at 5000 RPM top speed but...

Are you missing the chuck?

 

[Flying B]

Fretboard is glued on.

 

[TerribleTim68]

@TerribleTim68 you have a 1/2" router, with fancy adjustable aluminum table. Runs a little slow at 5000 RPM top speed but...

Are you missing the chuck?

Yeah, I get what you're saying. I just don't ever think to use it as a router because of the relatively slow top speed. I probably have one of those chucks laying around....somewhere.

 

[Flying B]

The fretboard is nicely stuck on now, I quickly cleaned up the edges flush on the router table.

I also received this new tool today, an actual loothery tool for sanding the fretboard.

It takes these inserts which are available in whatever different radii.

The sandpaper gets clamped under those aluminium strips. Didn't have time to actually use it today but it seems like a well made bit of kit.

 

[TerribleTim68]

That is pretty cool! Where did you get it?

 

[Flying B]

That is pretty cool! Where did you get it?

Guitar Neck Radius Sanding Block - Hellfire - The Sandman - Modular - 3 Lengths | eBay

Only available from Hellfire Tools. The Sandman. Guitar Neck Radius Sanding Block. 3 Lengths of Tool available - 100mm, 200mm & 400mm. ALL COMPLETE SYSTEMS COMPRISING OF BLOCK AND RADIUS PLATE.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[JRA]

wow! all of it. wow!

 

[TerribleTim68]

Pretty interesting. If you visit his listings/store, he sells the sanding system you linked in various lengths up to 400mm. But his listing for replacement base plates only goes up to 200mm. So I'm not sure how you'd purchase a 400mm system and then buy other radius base plates for that length. Weird.

 

[Flying B]

Pretty interesting. If you visit his listings/store, he sells the sanding system you linked in various lengths up to 400mm. But his listing for replacement base plates only goes up to 200mm. So I'm not sure how you'd purchase a 400mm system and then buy other radius base plates for that length. Weird.

The 400 length takes two 200mm blocks.

 

[Flying B]

I got some wings glued on the headstock in my break today.

 

[Flying B]

Good news and bad news today. Good news is I got the headstock cleaned up. First I planed the back flat.

Then I thicknessed it. (This is not recommended but it worked very well to get the bulk off!)

Finished it off on the bobbin sander to get the scoop.

Looking good. But the bad news is the truss rod won't turn. Don't know if maybe some epoxy got into the threads. Or maybe looking through the access hole it looks like I didn't cut deep enough around the underside of the rod nut.

Not sure what I can do about that without removing the fret board.
I didn't have a lot of time today to play around with it, I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Slidlow]

Good news and bad news today. Good news is I got the headstock cleaned up. First I planed the back flat.
View attachment 7150899

Then I thicknessed it. (This is not recommended but it worked very well to get the bulk off!)

View attachment 7150900
Finished it off on the bobbin sander to get the scoop.

View attachment 7150902

Looking good. But the bad news is the truss rod won't turn. Don't know if maybe some epoxy got into the threads. Or maybe looking through the access hole it looks like I didn't cut deep enough around the underside of the rod nut.
View attachment 7150904

Not sure what I can do about that without removing the fret board.
I didn't have a lot of time today to play around with it, I'll try again tomorrow.

Looking at the top corners of the access hole I’d say epoxy

 

[Flying B]

Looking at the top corners of the access hold I’d say epoxy

Yeah you're right. And I said to myself at least 3 or 4 times to remember to wax the rod threads and of course I didn't.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Yeah you're right. And I said to myself at least 3 or 4 times to remember to wax the rod threads and of course I didn't.

Oooo.....That could be a problem. Try using an electric impact screwdriver forward and backward. The impact vibration may crack it loose.

 

[Flying B]

Oooo.....That could be a problem. Try using an electric impact screwdriver forward and backward. The impact vibration may crack it loose.

Thanks, that's a clever idea. I'll try that tomorrow

 

[Flying B]

I think it's going to be ok, the truss rod is definitely turning and I managed to put a small amount of back bow in the neck even though it's still uncarved so fingers crossed. We'll have to see how it performs once I've carved the back.
I got on and shaped the headstock.