Is it just me, or did you perfectly grain-match the plywood on the face with that smaller piece in the back behind the big round opening? Showoff... 
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What's On Your Workbench?
- Thread starter HaMMerHeD
- Start date
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,006
- 1
- 31,701
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
After finishing the burl bass and before the winter build off I've decided to take a bass break do another guitar. It'll be curly maple and cherry, neck through. Haven't decided on a fretboard yet (maybe more maple - to keep it 100% "native" hardwoods). Hipshot tuners, my own pickups (probably the fender inspired humbucker design I recently put in the pickup thread), and probably a home made wraparound bridge in either aluminum or brass.
I've made several of this design, but I'm tweaking it a bit before I make this one. It's a great shape but it has a few minor flaws. For one thing, it's about an inch too long to fit in a typical guitar case since they're all seemingly made for strats and teles. The extra length is basically in the body, behind the bridge, which also means that when it's hanging from a strap, the neck is "pushed" a little further away than I'd like. So I'm trimming an inch and a half out of the bottom of the body, and also extending the upper horn about an inch to compensate and keep it balanced.
I drew the changes last night, slept on it, and like it. I need to smooth it out but it's good to go!
I've made several of this design, but I'm tweaking it a bit before I make this one. It's a great shape but it has a few minor flaws. For one thing, it's about an inch too long to fit in a typical guitar case since they're all seemingly made for strats and teles. The extra length is basically in the body, behind the bridge, which also means that when it's hanging from a strap, the neck is "pushed" a little further away than I'd like. So I'm trimming an inch and a half out of the bottom of the body, and also extending the upper horn about an inch to compensate and keep it balanced.
I drew the changes last night, slept on it, and like it. I need to smooth it out but it's good to go!
If I do make it, it'll be the same design as the wraparound uke bridges I've made. Non adjustable. Sort of like the design that PRS uses on a lot of their instruments.
It's really easy to make. Get a chunk of metal, drill a few holes, shape the bevel on the top, polish it up, done deal! The only real hesitation I have is concern that people in the guitar community might turn their noses up at a non-adjustable bridge, even if it's built to get good intonation.
It's really easy to make. Get a chunk of metal, drill a few holes, shape the bevel on the top, polish it up, done deal! The only real hesitation I have is concern that people in the guitar community might turn their noses up at a non-adjustable bridge, even if it's built to get good intonation.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,006
- 1
- 31,701
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
But they are adjustable, at either end. As long as the “lightning bolt” is shaped correctly, what more do you need??
Jeez, you make it sound so easy, I may have to try one….
Jeez, you make it sound so easy, I may have to try one….
Yeah, I have no problem with them myself, but I do hear people make (somewhat illegitimate) statements that the "lack" of adjustment is a problem. But then you see other people talk about how the solid mass (versus an adjustable saddle with multiple parts) helps with sustain or tone or giving each note a sharper attack with an oaky finish or other cork sniffer concepts, so who knows. I guess it's like anything, there are fans and there are people who are not fans and everyone just makes statements that back up their own position.
It really is pretty easy to make these. Everyone should try it! I wouldn't want to bend a bass string around such a sharp angle but some day maybe I'll do a through-body version or a two piece version with a separate tailpiece for bass.
It really is pretty easy to make these. Everyone should try it! I wouldn't want to bend a bass string around such a sharp angle but some day maybe I'll do a through-body version or a two piece version with a separate tailpiece for bass.
Here's a few builds currently near the finish line! First is a fretless with a Blackwood top and Black Limba body
an alder body "Solomon" model, almost ready to go.
A couple of "Gideon" model guitars, waiting for finish to cure.
And their necks... a bit dusty!
an alder body "Solomon" model, almost ready to go.
A couple of "Gideon" model guitars, waiting for finish to cure.
And their necks... a bit dusty!
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,006
- 1
- 31,701
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Thanks @ctmullins @Matt Liebenau
Ye Olde Bible is a great resource for names
Ye Olde Bible is a great resource for names
Trying to get caught up. There's a few "things" on my workbench, but no real action happening. I've been pretty sick the last few days, I hesitate to even post this because instantly a hundred people start in about COVID. If you feel the least bit run down, it must be the dreaded plague. To be honest, I have no clue what I have/had, nor do I care. At this point I'm clearly on the downhill side so there's very little that can be done about it. I'm just kind of hiding in my house for now. I missed a couple days of work at the end of the work week. The work on Lucifer has stalled. I haven't done any wood turning since last weekend. I've got that sheet of plywood sitting there waiting on me to build that hand plane till I talked about. I just don't have much energy.
I'm certainly feeling better today, so I'm hopeful that I'll get moving again. My kitchen is a complete disaster area due to my wife handling the dinners for a couple days. She has this unique program where she cooks and then just walks away, leaving all the dishes just sitting there on the counter/stovetop. So now I have two days worth of dishes/pots/pans laying there waiting on me, all with whatever leftover sauce or food was in them (she puts nothing away or rinses anything out).
I guess my first focus will be reclaiming the kitchen.
Anyways, all this to say, I've missed you guys and your amazing builds. Stay safe, take care of your health and keep posting things that make me smile.
I'll try to get back to working on "stuff" soon. Lucifer is growing impatient.
I'm certainly feeling better today, so I'm hopeful that I'll get moving again. My kitchen is a complete disaster area due to my wife handling the dinners for a couple days. She has this unique program where she cooks and then just walks away, leaving all the dishes just sitting there on the counter/stovetop. So now I have two days worth of dishes/pots/pans laying there waiting on me, all with whatever leftover sauce or food was in them (she puts nothing away or rinses anything out).
I guess my first focus will be reclaiming the kitchen.Anyways, all this to say, I've missed you guys and your amazing builds. Stay safe, take care of your health and keep posting things that make me smile.
I'll try to get back to working on "stuff" soon. Lucifer is growing impatient.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Trying to get caught up. There's a few "things" on my workbench, but no real action happening. I've been pretty sick the last few days, I hesitate to even post this because instantly a hundred people start in about COVID. If you feel the least bit run down, it must be the dreaded plague. To be honest, I have no clue what I have/had, nor do I care. At this point I'm clearly on the downhill side so there's very little that can be done about it. I'm just kind of hiding in my house for now. I missed a couple days of work at the end of the work week. The work on Lucifer has stalled. I haven't done any wood turning since last weekend. I've got that sheet of plywood sitting there waiting on me to build that hand plane till I talked about. I just don't have much energy.
I'm certainly feeling better today, so I'm hopeful that I'll get moving again. My kitchen is a complete disaster area due to my wife handling the dinners for a couple days. She has this unique program where she cooks and then just walks away, leaving all the dishes just sitting there on the counter/stovetop. So now I have two days worth of dishes/pots/pans laying there waiting on me, all with whatever leftover sauce or food was in them (she puts nothing away or rinses anything out).
Anyways, all this to say, I've missed you guys and your amazing builds. Stay safe, take care of your health and keep posting things that make me smile.
I'll try to get back to working on "stuff" soon. Lucifer is growing impatient.
get well soon -
Horizontal fencing was on my work bench today. Florida mug was like 104 degrees!
I did make a fret bender that works nice earlier but too tired to get a pic of it now.
I did make a fret bender that works nice earlier but too tired to get a pic of it now.
@TerribleTim68 I hope you're feeling better soon!
I went to the shop today to cut the neck blank for the guitar I want to build and... well, it was so much fun I just couldn't stop! I ended up cutting 4 necks worth of strips, although I only glued up two of them. And I cut and thicknessed the body wood for two guitars' worth. So I guess I'm building two now.
One is going to be curly maple neck with cherry stripes, cherry body, curly maple top - same recipe I've done a bunch of times. The other one is going to be cherry neck with maple stripes, curly walnut body, and curly maple top. So a little different.
I went to the shop today to cut the neck blank for the guitar I want to build and... well, it was so much fun I just couldn't stop! I ended up cutting 4 necks worth of strips, although I only glued up two of them. And I cut and thicknessed the body wood for two guitars' worth. So I guess I'm building two now.
One is going to be curly maple neck with cherry stripes, cherry body, curly maple top - same recipe I've done a bunch of times. The other one is going to be cherry neck with maple stripes, curly walnut body, and curly maple top. So a little different.
Thanks @ctmullins @Matt Liebenau
Ye Olde Bible is a great resource for names
And the names have character and meaning.
I have a Rikon bandsaw and I absolutely love it. It's easy to set up, powerful, resaw super well, and is generally really nice. Except it eats guide bearings in the front side position on the bottom. There is a little plastic shroud around the blade right above the bearings, and the outer side of it is beveled such that dust coming off that side of the blade gets blasted right at the bearing. I've had the saw for about a year and I'm on my fourth bearing, they keep getting packed full of dust despite using sealed bearings and cleaning the area often.
So I made a little shield. It's a scrap of Brazilian rosewood veneer and a bit of masking tape. Probably the biggest disparity in materials quality/value of anything I've ever made.
It works! A solid hour of sawing this morning and not a spec of dust on or near the bearing.
If I ever get my hands on a 3d printer I'd like to make a replacement for the existing blade shroud with the shield built in. Or maybe I'll find another way to make one that's a little more permanent. But at least now I know the theory is good.
So I made a little shield. It's a scrap of Brazilian rosewood veneer and a bit of masking tape. Probably the biggest disparity in materials quality/value of anything I've ever made.
It works! A solid hour of sawing this morning and not a spec of dust on or near the bearing.
If I ever get my hands on a 3d printer I'd like to make a replacement for the existing blade shroud with the shield built in. Or maybe I'll find another way to make one that's a little more permanent. But at least now I know the theory is good.
Speaking of band saws.....
Everyone likes to talk about how safe a SawStop table saw is and why you should never own anything else, but nobody wants to talk about the fact that we generally have a dozen other items that we use on a regular basis that are just as handy at chopping digits off. So while we're discussing band saws, I urge EVERYONE to watch this recent video from one of the wood turners that I watch where he discusses his injury from his band saw and why you should stop what you're doing and go look at yours....
I don't know about you, but I like my fingers. I kind of need them all to play bass. You can build a cool bass without a finger or two (maybe) but sound testing it is gonna get tough. This freaked me out. Everyone stay vigilant when you are in your "shop", never get complacent no matter how many time you've done a given operation. Slow down and think. This was the second video from a wood worker I subscribe to that featured an injury in the last month, the other being a jointer injury that literally could have taken a finger (jointers scare the living bejeezus out of me, even the one I own). Seriously guys, slow down and think, every time.
I'll link the jointer injury video if anyone wants it, just lemme know.
Everyone likes to talk about how safe a SawStop table saw is and why you should never own anything else, but nobody wants to talk about the fact that we generally have a dozen other items that we use on a regular basis that are just as handy at chopping digits off. So while we're discussing band saws, I urge EVERYONE to watch this recent video from one of the wood turners that I watch where he discusses his injury from his band saw and why you should stop what you're doing and go look at yours....
I don't know about you, but I like my fingers. I kind of need them all to play bass. You can build a cool bass without a finger or two (maybe) but sound testing it is gonna get tough. This freaked me out. Everyone stay vigilant when you are in your "shop", never get complacent no matter how many time you've done a given operation. Slow down and think. This was the second video from a wood worker I subscribe to that featured an injury in the last month, the other being a jointer injury that literally could have taken a finger (jointers scare the living bejeezus out of me, even the one I own). Seriously guys, slow down and think, every time.
I'll link the jointer injury video if anyone wants it, just lemme know.
As I mentioned a few posts back, I made a fret bender - a copy of Rob Mods. This was a temporary setup - I’m thinking of other cheap vises I can use instead.
Speaking of band saws.....
Everyone likes to talk about how safe a SawStop table saw is and why you should never own anything else, but nobody wants to talk about the fact that we generally have a dozen other items that we use on a regular basis that are just as handy at chopping digits off. So while we're discussing band saws, I urge EVERYONE to watch this recent video from one of the wood turners that I watch where he discusses his injury from his band saw and why you should stop what you're doing and go look at yours....
I don't know about you, but I like my fingers. I kind of need them all to play bass. You can build a cool bass without a finger or two (maybe) but sound testing it is gonna get tough. This freaked me out. Everyone stay vigilant when you are in your "shop", never get complacent no matter how many time you've done a given operation. Slow down and think. This was the second video from a wood worker I subscribe to that featured an injury in the last month, the other being a jointer injury that literally could have taken a finger (jointers scare the living bejeezus out of me, even the one I own). Seriously guys, slow down and think, every time.
I'll link the jointer injury video if anyone wants it, just lemme know.
Well, that kind of a band saw would never be allowed to sell here in Finland. That missing blade shield is just plain stupidity. I would never use a bandsaw like that.
