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Winter 2019 Build Off - Stratbass/Ric mashup

mapleglo

mapleglo

Warp Engineer
Supporting Member
Sep 7, 2013
13,359
47,663
phoenix, az
#1
Mashup Wood

Mashup Wood

Wood for build off

This will be a mashup of a Fender Stratocaster (body), a Fender Precision (headstock), and a Rickenbacker 4003 (neck-thru). Here's my current template, subject to change.

current template.jpg


Some design elements are pulled out of the air - like a 32" scale length, one humbucker pickup, single truss rod, and perhaps a few other details I haven't thought of yet. I'm thinking of painting this a solid color, TBD, and I'd like to use the shark fin fret markers. I thought to make them from walnut, but with a maple fretboard, that may be more trouble than it's worth, so the epoxy pour type is likely.

I'm going with a 5 string Kahler tremolo for the bridge.

tremolo.jpg


I have a set of 1/2" hipshot ultralite tuners, and a Lace pickup.

I should be able to start making sawdust over the next several days.
 
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#3
ctmullins said:
Another bass whammy build! Does that come in handy with your country band? :roflmao::smug:
Click to expand...

That's funny! Bass singers in country bands (like Tim Faust) are known for doing a low roll-up to the notes. It's a distinct characteristic of the Country sound. Maybe you'll start doing that on the bass. Start a trend.
 
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#5
Made some sawdust this morning. I cut up the neck laminates from maple and walnut. I'm not sure why I went to all the trouble with the maple/walnut strips - I'm planning on painting this a solid color so it won't really be seen. Perhaps it's just force of habit.

Neck Laminates

Neck Laminates

Cut some strips of maple and walnut for the neck

I need to check my epoxy stock. The hardener has been sitting for close to a year - same length as my last build. Jeez, I hope I remember how to build a bass...
 
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#9
Gilmourisgod said:
My epoxy hardener has gone completely pink, so I can't use it for anything transparent, but it seems to harden up just fine. Not sure if it has any real effect on strength, and I hate to waste it, expensive!
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I don't think there's any way to test the actual strength of the hardener once the color starts to change, but I don't trust it. It's been close to a year, and I have to imagine that there's less than half a can left. I'll obsess over it if I use it, so I'll just dump it and buy new. Additionally, I don't want the color coats I apply once this is ready to paint to be altered by a pink or amber undercoat. I'll have to stop by West Marine tomorrow and pick up another can. It's $25 for a can of hardener - I'll have well over $700 or $800 into this build by the time I'm done. I'd hate to have the color be off or reduced strength of joints because I didn't want to spent a lousy $25. Yes, it might be a waste, but it'll be one less thing to obsess over. I really should have checked my stock of staples before I started this build, but like I said, it's been a while, and I seem to have forgotten my usual process.
 
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#10
Gilmourisgod said:
My epoxy hardener has gone completely pink, so I can't use it for anything transparent, but it seems to harden up just fine. Not sure if it has any real effect on strength, and I hate to waste it, expensive!
Click to expand...

Must ... resist ... comment ... :roflmao:
 
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#13
Too late to do you much good, but this is where "more expensive" 207 may actually be "cheaper," as it does not (evidently) go off even in 10 years or more. The 205 resin should also be fine, even when the hardener is shot. I looked up tales of 207 use after a long time online, and use an equivalent which I know to be at least that old.
 
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#14
T_Bone_TL said:
Too late to do you much good, but this is where "more expensive" 207 may actually be "cheaper," as it does not (evidently) go off even in 10 years or more. The 205 resin should also be fine, even when the hardener is shot. I looked up tales of 207 use after a long time online, and use an equivalent which I know to be at least that old.
Click to expand...

Part of the issue is that the hardener "ambers". It may still work fine, but I don't like it when it colors the wood.
 
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#17
Well you'll see the laminated neck on the back of the neck and the headstock, so not really a wasted effort. I'm sure it will draw some comments.

I wish you'd start consulting me before you buy parts; the Bigsby tremblo is so much more attractive. :roflmao:
 
Last edited:
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#19
GAS_Attack said:
Are you bragging or complaining? ;)
Click to expand...

Complaining. I complain in the summer when it goes above 90 degrees, and in the winter when it goes below 60. Though it's been pretty chilly outside - the last few nights it was under 40. Brrrrrr.

In any event, as I suspected, the epoxy is taking its time to cure. After 24 hours, it's dry - no longer sticky - but it's still soft enough to give way under pressure from my fingernail. So I'll let it cure another 24 hours. It should be hard as a rock in another day.

Not cured

Not cured

Epoxy not fully cured after 24 hours
 
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