Winter Build Off 2018 - Idle Hands are the Devil's Walnut

[Bruce Johnson]

Well, pressing in the frets will usually make them more consistently seated down against the fingerboard. And with fewer lumps. But, how true down the string paths was your fingerboard surface before you pressed in the frets? And how much did it change shape once all those tangs are pressed in?

If you are having to take off more metal than you'd like during leveling, where is it happening? Is there a general low area along the neck? Or are there low spots on particular frets? That is, are you pushing the neck out of shape, or are you distorting particular frets?

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Well.... "She" in this case... but still....

I believe it's not exactly a secret that a wallet-crowbar and Stewmac are the answer for She. I presume Bat-Mart for He, though "Alfred has to do something to while away the time" is an additional possibility. I'm reasonably sure that if Robin helps it takes three times as long.

 

[mapleglo]

Well, pressing in the frets will usually make them more consistently seated down against the fingerboard. And with fewer lumps. But, how true down the string paths was your fingerboard surface before you pressed in the frets? And how much did it change shape once all those tangs are pressed in?

If you are having to take off more metal than you'd like during leveling, where is it happening? Is there a general low area along the neck? Or are there low spots on particular frets? That is, are you pushing the neck out of shape, or are you distorting particular frets?

While most of the frets were pretty close, there were still just a little lower than the others. Which of course means that all the frets need to come down a bit.

The fretboard was pretty true before pressing in the frets, according to my straight edge. It was better than when I hammered them in though.

 

[mapleglo]

Fretwork is almost done.

Fretwork Almost Done

• mapleglo
• Mar 1, 2018
• fretting

fretwork almost done

Still plenty of "meat" left on the frets. Perhaps I exaggerated with the amount of material I had to remove. I'm close to trying Bruce's technique with the scotch-brite wheel.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I got a little spooked leveling my frets, chasing low spots on the fret ends, but in the end they look average height, plenty of meat for more future leveling. Glad I used medium jumbo though, I don’t get the mandolin fret idea for a bass. Curious to hear how the flap sander works out.

 

[Jon Clegg]

I got a little spooked leveling my frets, chasing low spots on the fret ends, but in the end they look average height, plenty of meat for more future leveling. Glad I used medium jumbo though, I don’t get the mandolin fret idea for a bass. Curious to hear how the flap sander works out.

The idea behind mandolin frets is to give a near-fretless feel, while retaining the advantages of frets.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

You lose one big advantage of bigger frets, the ability to level them more than once. But I guess that’s the trade off.

 

[ctmullins]

You lose one big advantage of bigger frets, the ability to level them more than once. But I guess that’s the trade off.

Sure you can. The only difference is, after you level them the second time, Presto! New fretless!

 

[BassHappy]

The idea behind mandolin frets is to give a near-fretless feel, while retaining the advantages of frets.

Love mandolin frets. Will never use anything else moving forward.

 

[mapleglo]

Rounded over the body wings this morning.

Roundover

• mapleglo
• Mar 3, 2018

rounded over the body wing edges

It will be tight finishing this build before the deadline, but I'll give it my best shot.

 

[mapleglo]

Routed the surface of the body level a bit lower to allow for proper bridge height.

Lower Body Level

• mapleglo
• Mar 5, 2018
• rout

routed the level of the body lower to allow for proper bridge height

And glued on the headstock wings.

Headstock Wings

• mapleglo
• Mar 5, 2018
• headstock

glued on the headstock wings

Once cured, I'll rough cut the headstock, and then I can start profiling the neck.

 

[mapleglo]

Rough shaped the headstock and worked a bit on the volute.

Headstock Rough Shaped

• mapleglo
• Mar 7, 2018
• headstock

Rough shaped there headstock and worked a bit on the volute

I haven't been spending a lot of time on this build because I have an audition tomorrow, and have been working on learning some songs. If I get the gig, it's likely I won't finish this on time, so I'll just submit the first build for the contest. I decided to play my 5 string Ric, though I'll bring my snowglo 4004 build as a backup. I think bringing a Devil bass might scare them off. Plenty of time for that if I get the gig.

 

[Jisch]

Good luck!

 

[Jon Clegg]

Good luck! Gonna wow them with the Ric builds, eh?

 

[mapleglo]

Good luck! Gonna wow them with the Ric builds, eh?

Well I'll bring the actual 5 string Ric

4003S/5

• mapleglo
• Jan 15, 2018
• rickenbacker

Rickenbacker 4003S/5

and my 4004 build as a back up

Snowglo

• mapleglo
• Nov 19, 2017
• 4004 build copy

4004 copy

 

[Englishman]

Best of luck with it!

 

[postalflunkie]

Wow them! And let us know how it goes

 

[Fat Freddy]

Knock 'em dead Mapes.....

 

[Bruce Johnson]

I think bringing a Devil bass might scare them off.

I think you should take one of the Devil Basses as the backup. And leave the case open behind you. Just so they know that they'd better not mess with you...

 

[Scoops]

Good Luck!