Thanks A Lot!!!

[DaLoCo]

Looking great!

As long as you end up with a good fit on the truss rod you should be fine. My first one had a rattle so I would recommend shimming at least a few places and carving them back with your chisel to get a snug fit on that rod.


Can't wait to see more

When I fixed I kept this in mind, so I still have to lighjtly tap the truss rod to get it in position. I will use some silicone in the middle somewhere to make sure it does not rattle.

 

[DaLoCo]

your friend does work for AMG????!!!!!!!!! tell him to give me an SLS

sorry, big mercedes fan. own an 84 300cd. I'm done hijacking your thread now.

the build looks great btw

I cannot remeber any time in my life that someone in the family did not have a Mercedes....At this point I have a 1977 450 SLC, My dadhas a S320 CDI, my brother has a 500SE, plus a Mitsubishi Double cab Ute, which also distributed and serviced by Mercedes in South Africa....yeah, I'd figure we are sold on it.....back to building basses though

 

[DaLoCo]

Hot girls always make me want to check my tool. ;-)


BTW... that's a really nice build you have going there.

If only I was checking my tool

 

[DaLoCo]

So, after the fiasco with the router grabbing and ripping the neck, I decide to make a nice channel with plywood and scrap strips for the router to run in, so it does not grab and yank. this whole contraption the clamps to the workpiece. The theory was sound, apparently the router not.

I needed to cut the stiffener channels, using a 2mm bit. I started nice and slow, not taking too much at any time. first channel cut fine.

I move the jig to cut the second channel. About 4" into the first cut the router starts groaning and beating itself to death

It is now really sick...

In any case...back to handtools for me. I endup making the slot with a backsaw, and getting it to final depth with my Dremel.

here is the result.



Her is a pic of one alu bar installed, with the other lying in wait. They are 2mm x 9mm, so should help at least a bit.



They almost did not end up in the project...thank fully I can sometimes see a way out.

If anybody wants to know why I have no pics of the blow-ups...it is because I am generally doing a bit of blowing up myself...so grabbing a camera is a rather distant thought.

 

[DaLoCo]

I have made a bridge, acoustic style. the strings will go through the body using the five hole to the front, the back holes are for mounting. It used a store bought bridge as template for the string holes and mounting screws, so if this does not work as planned I can always just screw the stock bridge in place.

 

[dremy2006]

well done

 

[DaLoCo]

So, this weekend I started cutting the neck...loads of "fun".

The first cut, made with a hand jigsaw...which worked well, except the blade snapped about 1 min after this picture.

Both cuts done, the right side was with a hand held jigsaw, the left with a bandsaw....IMO the jigsaw cut straighter, but the bandsaw wins with vertical accuracy.

Tools lying in wait for the shaping....

The heel, with the basic shape done...

Here is how I thickness small bits of wood veneer, using my drillpress and a router bit on high speed. It does carry a lot of risk, but I have no access to a proper thicknesser. This still requires some sanding, but it a easier way to remove extra wood.

The secret is not to hurry, and to only take little chunks at any time. Also remeber...fingers (which are vital for playing bass) are always in close proximity to a very sharp tool. I tend to pause before every movement I make with my hands, so I can be sure I am moving away from the bit.

So, now I am in the process of doing the neck shape, pics will follow soon. I have also decided not to use the leftover laminate from the neck as a fretboard...just too many issues with stability. I will use a nice clean piece of rosewood....somewhere on one of my previous posts.

 

[DaLoCo]

I finally decided on a design I liked and cut the headstock...no turning back now

The way things are moving along I should be sticking the fretboard on and fitting hardware for a test before the end of the weekend....

Am I supposed to be this excited?

 

[DaLoCo]

This weekend was busy one. I finished cutting the fret lines.

I used the template printed from Fretfind-2-D, which is close enough to accurate for me. Here is what is leftover after the cutting.

I do not own one of those fancy Stewmac saws due to shipping costs, but I found this handy little saw at an art shop. It cuts exactly 1mm on the pull stroke and is razor sharp.

I glued on the veneer for the headstock

Here is the headstock glued in and the fretboard placed in position...

I am not happy with the lines, might redo a few of them, but all in all the overall look is starting to become very exciting.

Tonight I am going to do the final sanding before glueing up the fretboard. I was thinking of using cable ties instead of those nice [lastic clamps Stemac sell. I would just start of the process with proper clamps and then use cable ties so I do not warp the neck with overclamping.

I might also do the machine head holes tonight. Basically this week is going to be about the final assembly of the major parts, including bridge, electronics and such. I hope to have a tryout before the weekend, so I can start the finishing....

 

[DaLoCo]

I have glued on the fingerboard

I know it looks like a BTB where the fretboard ends on the body, but I happen to like that on my BTB. The bummer part is that the neck seem to line up about 2-3mm off-centre, which means my bridge will be about 2mm to the low side. I have not started the sanding yet, so I will see what I can recover with the final shaping. It is not obvious, but I will always know.

I also fixed the fretlines that seemed duller. Tonight, I sand, and will also find the final position for the bridge.


Anybody with with no woodworking experience wanting to build a bass....this is what I have done, so you can as well

I just followed advice found here on TB, and asked questions.

 

[DaLoCo]

Last night I fitted the bridge...(temporary screws). You can see where it is slightly off centre, but it is ok to my yey...so not going to brek my head over it anymore. Crooked strings on a fretboard is way more visible.

I also coated the fretboard with superglue...this is after three coats...

It has not been buffed yet...tonight I will do another two coats, and then buff it up.

Here is the view from my workplace...and yes, that is the Indian ocean in the background, about 300m from my house....

I have marked out the holes for the tuners, so that will also get attention tonight. I will fit the stock bridge first so I can make sure of the string lines across the nut first.

 

[DaLoCo]

Just some updates and mockups. The final coat is on the fretboard, now it just needs to be buffed.

I managed to mess up the tuner holes in that I did not equally space them. I was too focussed on getting the holes drilled 90 degrees that I did not even think of double checking the position of the holes. As a result though, the 4th string runs a lot straighter from tuner to nut, so it is not all bad. The tuners will be angled in any case al la Warwick style. Or maybe I will just plug the hole and do another one which means new veneer and such on top

In any case, I did some mockups to get a better idea of look and I am very happy.

Things still to do:
1.Mount the tuners,
2.Electronics and
3.Output jack
4.Holes for stringthrough with fittings, and then string it up
5.Test and play for a while till I am happy with the neck
6.Finishing (this one I fear most)

 

[TomA1234]

I want it.
I think for my next build I will use that body shape.

 

[P_Bass_Manny]

This is looking fantastic, I can't wait to see the finished article.
Will you post some sound clips when this is done?

 

[DaLoCo]

I will try make some sound clips, but not really set up to do that....

I will give it my best shot though.

 

[DaLoCo]

So, I have not been here to post for a while....but I did work on my bass. She is basically finished, except for some little things I need to deal with.

The neck pickup needs to be squared away...not too much of an issue. The fingerboard is also very close to the body, which might bother a slapper, but not me.

I went for a trapezoidal neck, and it is super comfortable. It also has the added bonus of having more wood on the back of the neck, which makes the trussrod almost obsolete. That neck did not move one mm when I tensioned the strings. It lies very comfortable in my hand, and not once during my gig did it feel like an issue.

The headstock needs to be redone. I will plug the holes, sand off the veneer and stick new veneer on. The problem is rather obvious, the B-string is way crooked, and some of the others are also a bit too crooked for my liking.

This bass is a player, I gigged it yesterday morning. It is very comfortable, a bit on the heavy side...similar to my Rockbass. It has a lot of growls, but yet is not over the top. It is my first fretless...and I love the sound. It should become my main player.(Above my Rockbass and my BTB, unless I pull the frets on those)

I know it is a common misconception that your first bass will a player, but, mine is....thanks to a lot of advice gleaned from this forum....

So yeah


Thanks a Lot!!!!

 

[Rob17]

Very well done, looks great.
For a first build it's superb.
If my first build turns out half as good as this one I'm happy.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

You did an excellent job. It's a great looking bass!

Congrats!

Moonshine

 

[pilotjones]

Looks great!

 

[DaLoCo]

Thanks Guys...

I received the parts for the next project yesterday....still thinking though.