The SCP - Single Cut P-Bass

[Videojunkie]

At this point, all of the primary woodworking is complete. From here on out, it's sandpaper all the way until the finish.

A couple of heart stopping moments drilling the wiring channels, but I nailed them on the first try.

And using a series of forstner bits I was able to seat the jack plate.

 

[Videojunkie]

From the back it looks like a totally different instrument...

 

[Videojunkie]

Todays project is: clean up the shop so I can do finish sanding. During the work to get the body completed, many tools were used interchangeably. Now I need to spend some time cleaning up and putting things away.

 

[Videojunkie]

As I'm getting closer to wiring this up, I'm concerned that the 1M pots will be "too bright" so I ordered some 500K ones that Mouser finally had in stock. It'll give me some options when it comes time to wire this up.

Still working on the shop. I've encountered several things that need to be deep cleaned (my paint shelf was one such area). So it's taking more than just shoving things into wherever it fits.

On the plus side, I found about 500 sheets of various grit sanding disks that I forgot about...

 

[TerribleTim68]

...On the plus side, I found about 500 sheets of various grit sanding disks that I forgot about...

"Like" for this part alone ^^

 

[Videojunkie]

A bit of travel, so today's project was finishing the control plate.

As I was drilling the M2 holes for the mounting screws, I screwed up the original plate. So I started again from scratch. Thankfully I had the old one as a model. This time I used my new precision router base to route the slots. It worked much better.

Some blocks to support the plate, and a few more holes, and voila, we have a new control panel!

I need to make new knobs for the sliders, but that will wait for next time.

 

[Videojunkie]

Got the strap-locks installed. Balances very nice. Naturally pulls your hand into position over the pickup. Very comfortable.

The only adjustment I have to make is to round off the backside of the cutout horns, but that's super easy.

 

[Isaac_James]

Got the strap-locks installed. Balances very nice. Naturally pulls your hand into position over the pickup. Very comfortable.
View attachment 5126344

The only adjustment I have to make is to round off the backside of the cutout horns, but that's super easy.

Wow, that looks great on you. Moreover, it really looks like a bass now rather than just a pile of parts!

 

[Videojunkie]

Wow, that looks great on you. Moreover, it really looks like a bass now rather than just a pile of parts!

Thanks! I'm really feeling like progress is happening every time I play in the garage. I'm really close to being able to start the finish.

Let's see if I can put together a list.

Drill out more wiring space behind the control plate. (There's enough room for the sliders and the capacitor, but not quite enough for the wiring)
Verify that the jack (and a cable plug) fit in the recess.
Final finish sanding (most of the bass is already sanded to 220 or better, mostly some spots around the body edges - particularly around the scroll.)
Finish the nut. (Needs slotting and filing to final height. )
Apply Finish! (Current plan is garnet shellac, hand rubbed like a French polish. Debating if I should do a clear coat on top.)
Wire up!
Rock on!

I am optimistic that I can bring this together before the SBO ends!

 

[Videojunkie]

My improvised luthiers clamp.

I can't argue with that for string layout! Good thing too because there is zero play in the neck joint!

 

[Videojunkie]

Very happy with that spacing. Not something I do every day, and I think I pretty much nailed it.

I'll have to play around with the bridge to see if I can get the action a bit lower, but the strings are going to be pretty far off the body.

Even with cheap rounds on the bass, this has a much darker acoustic tone than the Rick-man. I can't wait to get it wired up with a set of flats on it!

 

[Videojunkie]

Let's see if I can put together a list.

Drill out more wiring space behind the control plate. (There's enough room for the sliders and the capacitor, but not quite enough for the wiring)
Verify that the jack (and a cable plug) fit in the recess.
Final finish sanding (most of the bass is already sanded to 220 or better, mostly some spots around the body edges - particularly around the scroll.)
Finish the nut. (Needs slotting and filing to final height. )
Apply Finish! (Current plan is garnet shellac, hand rubbed like a French polish. Debating if I should do a clear coat on top.)
Wire up!
Rock on!

I am optimistic that I can bring this together before the SBO ends!

So today was an extended arm workout. All of the sanding is as done as I can get. All surfaces are sanded with 220, 320, 000 steel wool, green, Grey and white 3M pads. Wet sanding between several of the steps. The bass feels like glass!

Deepening the control and jack cavities was pretty straightforward with chisels and forstner bits.

As you saw, the nut is pretty much finished, I'm sure some minor adjustments will be required when I go to set up the bass for real.

I'm supposed to meet up with my buddy who is going to help me with the French polish tomorrow. Exciting stuff!

 

[Videojunkie]

Spent the evening with my buddy using micro shavers to fix some minor issues with the scroll and corresponding lump on the maple side. Also talking about the finishing process.

He's got a couple of scraps to test the finish on, and we'll probably get together this weekend to start the finish.

 

[Flamingo21]

What are micro shavers?

 

[Videojunkie]

For those interested, these are perfect for intricate detail carving and cleaning up hard to reach places.

Mouldline Remover

 

[Videojunkie]

What are micro shavers?

The biggest tool he brought over that we used was about a 3mm chisel....

 

[Jazzdogg]

You might want to invest in a few carving gouges, riffler rasps, and patternmaker's rasps.

 

[Videojunkie]

You might want to invest in a few carving gouges, riffler rasps, and patternmaker's rasps.

It's in the Amazon wishlist...

 

[TerribleTim68]

...going to help me with the French polish tomorrow. Exciting stuff!

I wasn't aware French people moved to Poland. Are they hard to deal with?

Kidding...kidding. I had another joke about massage parlors, but figured it best to reserve that one. "She gave him the French Polish treatment"

I'll be here all week....tip your waitress!

 

[NKBassman]

Very happy with that spacing. Not something I do every day, and I think I pretty much nailed it.
View attachment 5127293

I'll have to play around with the bridge to see if I can get the action a bit lower, but the strings are going to be pretty far off the body.
View attachment 5127294

Even with cheap rounds on the bass, this has a much darker acoustic tone than the Rick-man. I can't wait to get it wired up with a set of flats on it!

I'm very curious if the string height off the pickup is going to be a problem that needs solving. There's nothing wrong with keeping the pickup further from the strings, it just results in a cleaner tone with a little less low end saturation, but I don't know if I've ever had a pickup set that low before. Looking forward to seeing the results.