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Winter Build Off 2018 - Walnut Overload
- Thread starter rojo412
- Start date
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- Tags
- 2018 build winter winter build off
For some reason, I didn't get much done this week. And I'm really starting to feel the end of this creep up on me, so I'm starting to freak out a little. Then again, I was down to the wire last year, too, so maybe pressure works for me.
Today, I bought a new sander. I'd been using a 1/4 sheet finishing sander for years, but was getting sick of how clumsy and dangerous it was. Needless to say, this project is requiring a new level of care and tightness for me, so the new random orbital sander is a welcome change.
I did manage to add some contour to the forearm and belly cut.
The bridge and pickup need to be sorted out for real now... but plenty of neck and body shaping will take place while I noodle those.
On the beer side of things, I managed to score something super special from a good friend of mine who used to be a beer rep, as well as a collector. Behold...
That is a bottle of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine. Not terribly uncommon...
However... this bottle is from 2003. It's a 15 year aged bottle of barleywine. Before you ask, it's safe to drink and still good. In fact, it's better than it has ever been.
This buddy of mine needed a speaker plate soldered up for his stereo speaker. I was happy to help and he asked about payment, I said a 6 pack of IPA would be fine... but he is very generous.
That's a full case, ranging from 2003-2008.
These of course will have to be saved for special occasions, but you can bet that at least one of them will be my reward for finishing this build.
Today, I bought a new sander. I'd been using a 1/4 sheet finishing sander for years, but was getting sick of how clumsy and dangerous it was. Needless to say, this project is requiring a new level of care and tightness for me, so the new random orbital sander is a welcome change.
I did manage to add some contour to the forearm and belly cut.
The bridge and pickup need to be sorted out for real now... but plenty of neck and body shaping will take place while I noodle those.
On the beer side of things, I managed to score something super special from a good friend of mine who used to be a beer rep, as well as a collector. Behold...
That is a bottle of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine. Not terribly uncommon...
However... this bottle is from 2003. It's a 15 year aged bottle of barleywine. Before you ask, it's safe to drink and still good. In fact, it's better than it has ever been.
This buddy of mine needed a speaker plate soldered up for his stereo speaker. I was happy to help and he asked about payment, I said a 6 pack of IPA would be fine... but he is very generous.
That's a full case, ranging from 2003-2008.
These of course will have to be saved for special occasions, but you can bet that at least one of them will be my reward for finishing this build.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,015
- 1
- 31,728
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I don’t need your words, but I do need to know what beer you had!! 
Seriously, glad to see some progress here. Love your designs!
Seriously, glad to see some progress here. Love your designs!
Well, actually, there was a work party last night that I had to attend. There was Sawtooth Ale and some kind of Kolsch from Left Hand Brewing. While I'm not the biggest fan of their beers, "free" and "at work" are 2 things that can change my mind pretty quickly.
Thanks for the compliments, and wish me luck on finishing this one on time. Only 17 days left and I'm starting to panic.
Thanks for the compliments, and wish me luck on finishing this one on time. Only 17 days left and I'm starting to panic.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,015
- 1
- 31,728
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
You should hire @mapleglo.
Heh, I'm all booked up until sometime this summer...
Guys, don't even start talking to me about panic.. i'm speeding for the last few days and believe me, the more I've got, the more I see is left to do. And there is the additional fear that you really don't have time for a screw up. And btw, where are my strings?? 
Today was a knuckle-down day. I hit it hard and did what I could with the time I had.
Not that it was hard to do, but I put the string ferrules into the tailpiece.
Not pictured (well) is the walnut plate under the bridge, which should be close to the right height. But I had to mount that up to properly place the tuners.
With the strings in place, I was able to line up the headstock and get a rough idea where to drill.
Then drill, making the washers flush:
Then drill out for the nuts and mount up the mockup:
And I had to make a truss rod cover, so I used some scrap cutoff from the body:
Hippie finger sandwich?
And with that done, I did the side markers. Using epoxy mixed with walnut dust, I made a paste and smeared it in the side.
They will likely need a bit more and some CA once they are dry. But it's an effective side marker AND it's walnut.
The pickups are due today, but I'm running out of time. Family dinner. (I'll post my beer selection later
)
Strings are ordered, bridge is mostly ready to install, just need to make a PU cover, rout the PU, figure out my wiring needs, then do a dry assemble. After that, it's gonna be ready for finish.
Headstock logo is in limbo. I have ideas, but nothing concrete and I want to come up with some options.
Not that it was hard to do, but I put the string ferrules into the tailpiece.
Not pictured (well) is the walnut plate under the bridge, which should be close to the right height. But I had to mount that up to properly place the tuners.
With the strings in place, I was able to line up the headstock and get a rough idea where to drill.
Then drill, making the washers flush:
Then drill out for the nuts and mount up the mockup:
And I had to make a truss rod cover, so I used some scrap cutoff from the body:
Hippie finger sandwich?
And with that done, I did the side markers. Using epoxy mixed with walnut dust, I made a paste and smeared it in the side.
They will likely need a bit more and some CA once they are dry. But it's an effective side marker AND it's walnut.
The pickups are due today, but I'm running out of time. Family dinner. (I'll post my beer selection later
)Strings are ordered, bridge is mostly ready to install, just need to make a PU cover, rout the PU, figure out my wiring needs, then do a dry assemble. After that, it's gonna be ready for finish.
Headstock logo is in limbo. I have ideas, but nothing concrete and I want to come up with some options.
Attachments
You are killing it, drop-dead beautiful work. Don't worry about the deadline at the expense of the heirloom-quality gorgeous bass you are building here. It will probably outlive you, take the time to do it right, contest be damned. Whatever beer you are currently imbibing seems to be working for you, keep drinking that one.
Thanks for the compliments... and for giving me a legit reason to keep enjoying these beers!
FWIW, I had a Rhinegeist Truth with dinner, then a Founder's Azacca for dessert.
FWIW, I had a Rhinegeist Truth with dinner, then a Founder's Azacca for dessert.
While glue was drying today, I made a couple knobs.
It was leftover cuts from the body wings... now it's volume and tone!
It was leftover cuts from the body wings... now it's volume and tone!
I love me some homemade knobs. I also love me that piece of birdseye maple underneath them!
