The HoseDragger - My first custom build

[Engine207]

Nice job!

Sounds like it's time to make your own neck now...

Good job. I'm with StuartV. Making a neck is way harder to do in your head than it is in real life.

I'm glad that you're happy with your new bass. It's very satisfying to play something that you made yourself.

Really...I hadn't considered building one, because it seems like there's not much room for error (like frets, leveling, etc.). I make lots of those. In building the body, the only precision issues were pickup route, bridge, and neck pocket placement. Once I cut the pocket in, the rest was a matter of careful measurement and alignment.

If it really is doable, I'd love to design a nice fat, 1-3/4" nut-width 2+2-headstock in koa. That'd be badass...

Have you boys ever built a neck?

 

[StuartV]

I have not. I "built" a bass from a pre-finished/pre-routed Warmoth body and a used Allparts neck. That's as close as I've come (i.e. nowhere near). I'm definitely looking forward to having room, in the future to add some woodworking tools to my inventory and starting to do just what you've done. Make my own body, first, and buy a neck to put on it. Then, try my hand at making a neck.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

If you want to REALLY save yourself some trouble, try building one using Carvin's neck-through blanks. You just add the wood body "wings" on the sides of it, shape to your tastes and add mechanical/electronic components.

That's how I did this one.

 

[Engine207]

If you want to REALLY save yourself some trouble, try building one using Carvin's neck-through blanks. You just add the wood body "wings" on the sides of it, shape to your tastes and add mechanical/electronic components.

That's how I did this one.

Wow!!! That looks killer! I'm more traditional in my body shape tastes, but the wood and finishing is beautiful. I think if I were to make any changes to my HoseDragger, I'd either do as StuartV suggested and build one from the ground up, or just buy a completely finished 2+2 and just bolt it on. For me, the fun of it was starting a raw material

 

[devo_stevo]

Really...I hadn't considered building one, because it seems like there's not much room for error (like frets, leveling, etc.). I make lots of those. In building the body, the only precision issues were pickup route, bridge, and neck pocket placement. Once I cut the pocket in, the rest was a matter of careful measurement and alignment.

If it really is doable, I'd love to design a nice fat, 1-3/4" nut-width 2+2-headstock in koa. That'd be badass...

Have you boys ever built a neck?

I have built 5 instruments from scratch including the necks. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/new-build-980527/

That is the latest bass that I built. There is a build thread in the Luthiers Corner here on TB too for it.http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/new-build-980527/

It's not too hard to do. Just take your time and think through all the steps and measurements before you cut the wood. Always have a plan and a way to fix mistakes when they are made too. Most of all, have fun with it.

 

[Engine207]

That is the latest bass that I built. There is a build thread in the Luthiers Corner here on TB too for it.http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/new-build-980527/

I love the look of that finish. I'm guessing that building a bolt-on neck is pretty similar? Just cut to length and shape the heel, instead of leaving the plank for the body?