The Hossenfeffer IV Build

[StereoPlayer]

Templates CA glued on tape to the neck and headstock and bandsawed to rough line

With all the changing grain on the headstock, I decided to play it safe and Robosand against the headstock template.

I template cut the neck beam with the Infinity sprial cut bit. Nice tool.

Fingerboard registering pins made from 1/16" fretboard dot rod, will keep the board from slipping during glue-up, and it's easy to cut back with a fret saw later.

Into my crude router box to cut the neck beam down to 1-1/4" thick where it meets the body.

Starting to look like a bass.

Next up is doweling the body wings to neck beam and routing the body wings for the checker binding.

Excellent work! Very cool!

I know the Alembic build gave you a hard time…but it’s still very cool too! I’d like to see you complete that one too!

I admire your work! There are many fine woodworkers here on TB!

 

[Beej]

Binding, Checkered Binding.

 

[GKon]

Binding looks extra sharp. I'd say go with binding.

 

[Videojunkie]

Bound headstocks always look classy when there is other binding.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Binding, Checkered Binding.

That's just effing CRUEL. Ok, binding it is, but just one layer of .060" white on the headstock. That's going to be challenging enough. I used .040" on the other walnut bass, and it kicked my ass. I ended up having to use zip-ties through the tuner holes to have something to pull the binding in tight on the "hook". It's an iffy situation, because the amount of heat needed to bend the binding to those curves is about 2 degrees below where the binding self-destructs.

 

[Flamingo21]

Binding, Checkered Binding.

I prefer checkless binding.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Binding with little stars in it to match the neck…

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I prefer checkless binding.

The body is getting this stuff. I might have gotten a little Happy with the checker binding purchase. Don't Judge Me.

 

[Flamingo21]

Don't Judge Me.

I don't judge people. I just read their threads.

 

[Mickey666]

oh, I'm judging... digging the hell out of it, but I'm judging...

 

[Beej]

I still think checkered binding would look amazeballs and be an awesome upgrade to the concept as a whole.

I found another supplier too, but they custom make it, and it's $2.60 per inch.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

The body is getting this stuff. I might have gotten a little Happy with the checker binding purchase. Don't Judge Me.

Hey, you never know if/when you’ll be able to get more checkered binding! Gotta stock up!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I still think checkered binding would look amazeballs and be an awesome upgrade to the concept as a whole.

I found another supplier too, but they custom make it, and it's $2.60 per inch.

Believe me, i thought about it, but bending two layers of .060" celluloid around those headstock curves is beyond my current skillset. I think i still have this bending form kicking around. You can see what happens on the curvy bit to the right, just when you get it hot enough to bend... pfffffffftttttttt. It goes all wonky on you. I was doing this with a heat gun, I've since read most people just use a hair dryer, we'll see how it goes.

 

[Videojunkie]

That's just effing CRUEL. Ok, binding it is, but just one layer of .060" white on the headstock. That's going to be challenging enough. I used .040" on the other walnut bass, and it kicked my ass. I ended up having to use zip-ties through the tuner holes to have something to pull the binding in tight on the "hook". It's an iffy situation, because the amount of heat needed to bend the binding to those curves is about 2 degrees below where the binding self-destructs.

Boiling water is your friend. Won't overheat the binding, and makes it plenty pliable. You'll want a dowel about the diameter of the curve to do several pre-bends.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Believe me, i thought about it, but bending two layers of .060" celluloid around those headstock curves is beyond my current skillset. I think i still have this bending form kicking around. You can see what happens on the curvy bit to the right, just when you get it hot enough to bend... pfffffffftttttttt. It goes all wonky on you. I was doing this with a heat gun, I've since read most people just use a hair dryer, we'll see how it goes.

Matches are always fun with celluloid binding.

 

[Videojunkie]

Matches are always fun with celluloid binding.

Make binding go poof?!

 

[Flamingo21]

Guys, keep it family friendly.

 

[GKon]

I absolutely love how your brother dimpled the wood in the background of the relief. My Chickenbacker Lemmy copy does not have the dimples. I'm wondering if I can add them.
Would you mind telling me how he did the dimples?

 

[ardgedee]

Binding, Checkered Binding.

I prefer checkless binding.

Plaid binding.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The real Lemmy's look like the background dimple is done with a leather punch or a big nail set, so you are effectively crushing the wood fibers around a dome of wood, if that makes sense. He did the opposite, which is just a ball-end cutter in a dremel, in other words "negative" dimples. Must have taken him hours. He did some of the patterning on the acorns with a wood burner. It might not be "correct", but I like how it looks. I don't feel any need to be too slavish to the original Lemmy, I guess only 50 or so were made by Ric, hand carved, so each one is unique. I copied the oak and acorn pattern from the one I found the best resolution photo of, that was the criteria. Most of the ones I've seen have a slightly darker stain in the dimpled area. This one is going to be a Tru Oil finish, so maybe I'll tint that. Anybody know how to tint tru-oil? Transtint?