What's On Your Workbench?

[Dean N]

I'm using Photobucket. I don't use it on the phone though, I use it on the compy. But the interface looks like it should be ok on a phone too.

I was a long time Photobucket user, but the last couple time I uploaded, it froze up.. something like 10min to upload a single pic. (PC, Windows 10.) Maybe it's just me. I'm convinced technology hates me. Sorry about hijacking the thread for my photo rant. Hopefully tonight, I'll be able to try the binding route again.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Photobucket works fine for me, but it's slow, purely the time required to load all the ads attached to the site, but waddya expect for free?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Dean:
What bit are you using for the binding route? I'm a cheapskate, but the Stewmac binding bits are worth the $$, super clean, accurate cuts with shear blades, best $60 I've spent recently. LMI sells them too.

 

[Dean N]

I have an MLCS bit set that has worked very well for me. Maybe the bit is due for a sharpening, but I'm pretty sure the tearout was due to user error..

I use carpet tape to put it on the neck (not a neck blank). I cut the LMII board to rough neck size, and then get the exact fit by routing at the heel with a pattern bit, and hand sanding along the neck.

My bit set has an extra bearing, and luckily, the difference between the flush trim bit and the extra bearing is a wee bit less that the .08" of my binding. I'll use the neck heel as the pattern to route that end of the fretboard, and then a good straightedge to get the long portions of the neck.

I think I eased the bit into the board too close to the endgrain and boom! ... tearout.

 

[JIO]

On two postal scales it came in at 5.125 lbs (5lbs 2 oz.) The wood is unknown, probably basswood or paulownia for the main part and for the control cavity area it's something harder but that area is mostly hollow. It's a standard 34" scale, and it is very comfortable a little bit of neck-dive but still better then my hollow bodies. It plays well, the neck could probably benefit from a fret level but its serviceable. I might tweak the cap value of the South coil treble cut to get it where I want it.

I'll probably put it in the rotation as I played it in the Youth Ministry band at my church Wednesday and it sounded pretty good a little bright and grindey but that's probably the Ken Smith Stainless Steel Metal Masters more then the inherent tone of the bass, the character of the note is very similar to my hollow-bodies and the pickup is in the same position as the D/G coil of a P bass so I think with a mellower set of strings, my standard set of Chromes would probably be great, it would fit better with what I usually play.

In this case a very light body seems to have lead to a more acoustic tone, which is logical. I know there are those who won't accept that the body wood has tonal/sonic input (both in weight and density) but as much as it may be exaggerated at times, I'm one that feels it does. (has affect) Having said this, along with your tone cap - a hot pu and flats will also help fatten tone on a light bass.

 

[Dean N]

Success!

Of course i had another tearout incident. The wood is either brittle, or the bit is dull, or both.

 

[Rodent]

another weekend of pickup goodness

left -> right:

5 sets of medium pole single-coils, 10 sets of J4 split-coils, and 5 sets of J5 split-coils

 

[Rodent]

5 string split-coil set in Padauk covers, ready for finish sanding and a matte epoxy finish

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

The Acme String Maker 5000™!! Make your own silk strings for ancient instruments at home! Impress your Guqin playing friends! Quantities are limited, restrictions apply.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Introducing the Ronco Wood Bendy Thing 5000™! It heats up hotter than you actually need to bend that stubborn wood, and keeps the kids out of the garage for fear of third degree burns! Need to make a ukulele for your kids for XMas - then you need the Ronco Wood Bendy Thing 5000™! Impress your steampunk cosplay friends!

Red Bull not included. Offer not valid in all states. Side effects can include synesthesia, nausea, and spontaneous fibrous combustion. Hazardous if swallowed. Consult your physician if fever persists for more than 3 days of if pain continues for more than 5 days.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Basically, it's a P-bass.

 

[Means2nEnd]

HaMMerHed I LOVE your headstock design. I think with there being so many variants of the good old Fender many look like loose socks falling off of one. Your design is awesome IMO.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Means2nend beat me to it, really nice interpretation on a classic design. Well done, Sir.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

HaMMerHed I LOVE your headstock design. I think with there being so many variants of the good old Fender many look like loose socks falling off of one. Your design is awesome IMO.

Means2nend beat me to it, really nice interpretation on a classic design. Well done, Sir.

Hehe. I'm glad people like it, but I actually hate it. I don't like inline headstocks, and the bulbous Fender is the worst offender to me. But dude asked for an inline headstock, said he likes Fender's, so I came up with a few options. I went through several design iterations. First, these:

He liked the bottom, but we kept going.

Then these:

He liked the bottom, but I didn't.

Then these:

And he chose the top. So we finalized the design and here it is:

I can live with it, but I don't like it. If I was building it for me, I wouldn't do it. I strongly prefer 2+2 headstocks, and my Jumbo option (top of the first) is my preference for these flat-head necks.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Since you hate it, can we steal it?

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Since you hate it, can we steal it?

Fine with me. I'll even send you a PDF of the CAD file if you want.

 

[DaanW]

Maple + wenge veneers + rosewood fretboard + redwood
Maple/wenge/flamed maple + ebony fretbaord + birdseye maple
maple/padouk + padouk fretboard + padouk+ padouk sapwood

 

[pilotjones]

Hehe. I'm glad people like it, but I actually hate it. I don't like inline headstocks, and the bulbous Fender is the worst offender to me. But dude asked for an inline headstock, said he likes Fender's, so I came up with a few options. I went through several design iterations. First, these:

He liked the bottom, but we kept going.

Then these:

He liked the bottom, but I didn't.

Then these:

And he chose the top. So we finalized the design and here it is:

I can live with it, but I don't like it. If I was building it for me, I wouldn't do it. I strongly prefer 2+2 headstocks, and my Jumbo option (top of the first) is my preference for these flat-head necks.

That's funny how the client drove you closer to a Sadowsky headstock with each step. Ends up being Sadowsky out at the end, pretty much original Fender by the nut at the treble side, and your own point (like on most two-rows headstocks) by the nut at the bass side. Not bad for having to do an in-line headstock.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

That's funny how the client drove you closer to a Sadowsky headstock with each step. Ends up being Sadowsky out at the end, pretty much original Fender by the nut at the treble side, and your own point (like on most two-rows headstocks) by the nut at the bass side. Not bad for having to do an in-line headstock.

It certainly takes design cues from lots of places. The radius of the sectioned circle at the end is 1", which I think is quite a bit tighter than Sadowsky's. And I don't like the soft "cheek" of Roger's headstock where the treble side turns back toward the nut. I think Fender's approach works well there, but I really don't like the rounded corner on the bass side close to the nut, so I left my own sharp corner. Granted, I partially did that so I could re-use as much of my existing machined template as possible, but I do think it is a nicely complementary feature.

 

[Means2nEnd]

I'm with you not a big fan of in line headstocks but when I realized that the Fender is actually the profile of an upright bass headstock it hit me like a ton of bricks..Classic design from classic design