Winter Build Off 2019- Guyadanelectrotone LG-200B

[GeraldMcG]

Build One

Guyadanelectrotone LG-200B

Imagine if you will a handsome but utilitarian 6 string from Neptune, NJ had a torrid affair with a flashy little number from Japan and that steamy night of passion produced a beautiful offspring.

A mashup a weird and wonderful Guyatone LG-200T 60s Japanese style

and the quirky low buck build techniques of Danelectro.

Specs-
Poplar frame and masonite body
Masonite (dry erase board) pickguard
Lipstick tube pickups
GFS Factory Buyout 34" neck
Duplicolor GM Metallic Black finish
White tolex binding

 

[GeraldMcG]

The first cuts

Flat sanded the boards for the backbone of the frame and glued them up.

 

[Jon Clegg]

That's one hot little number!

 

[GeraldMcG]

That's one hot little number!

Thanks. It's going to be very cool looking.

 

[GeraldMcG]

To get good glue joints you need flat wood. I use a big piece of Corian with 80 grit sand paper glued to it as a flat sander.
I put some pencil hash marks on the board

And then sand until they are gone. Gets them nice and flat and it's a good upper body workout too.

 

[GeraldMcG]

Gluing up the frame.

I am using 1/2" and 3/4" Home Depot poplar. 3 1/2" for the center block and 2 1/2" for the perimeter.

 

[ctmullins]

Those wacky old Japanese designs are awesome! Subbed for sure!

 

[ReasonablyHappy]

Can’t wait to see how this thing comes out!!!

 

[GeraldMcG]

That should be enough white tolex to bind the body.

 

[GeraldMcG]

It wouldn't have that Dano vibe without truss head screws. Stainless from Mcmasters. Way cheaper than luthier scews.

 

[GeraldMcG]

This bass is going to need lots of funky switches too.
Slider pot knobs that I will rework for switching purposes.
I am putting them below the pickups since they would get in the way of my thumb in the original position.

 

[GeraldMcG]

Sever bridge options in the parts boxes.
Funky import style

Music Man style

Big and heavy. This one has a piezo pickup too. I would just have to find a place to sneak a piezo pre amp onto the pickguard. Fortunately there is a lot of real estate available.

Or go full Danelectro. A bar of stainless from McMasters Carr Loothery Supply.

Something like this but a 2 1/4" string spread and individual rosewood saddles for better intonation.

And maybe two screws at the back like the Dan Armstrong Plexi Bass.

 

[GeraldMcG]

And a sheet of 6061 1/8" thick aluminum for the control plate.

 

[GeraldMcG]

Now to fill in the gaps in the frame. Man that's a lot of angles and not a single one the same.

The protractor square is a huge help.

The angle cuts came out nice and tight. I'm impressed with my considerable skills.

All the blocks taped in so they don't get mixed up before I have a chance to glue them in.

Bridge and neck blocks too. That masonite top wants to be free to let the tone loose.

 

[GeraldMcG]

Looking at this carpenter's nightmare it is hard to believe it is the foundation of what will be a very cool bass.

It just doesn't look like something somebody would ever do on purpose.

 

[GeraldMcG]

More work, fewer pictures today.
Glue day.
Started gluing in the blocks to make the frame flat and solid. Maybe I should have just hacked it out of some scrap plywood but where's the fun in that? Besides I already have one plywood build I am working on.

Probably more clamps than I needed but if you've got it, flaunt it.

After the Titebond on the first couple blocks set up I changed the clamps around to get another block glued up and I need the clamps for my other build too.

 

[GeraldMcG]

Resisting the urge to glue the last four blocks in. It's bloody cold and my fingers about froze last night what with the damp rags to wipe up the squeeze out.

I got some parts in the mail today. Genuine cheezy plastic strap buttons. Just like my old '59 Silvertone has. If you think putting shiney chrome plated strap buttons on your Dano style build is going to be more authentic, sorry, that's not how they did it back then.

In case anybody thinks I broke the bank buying these they were $6.95 for 25 buttons. Other vendors had similar buttons at 2 for $8.95.
The Schnitzelblaster might get some too since the authentic old Hofners were made that way too back then.

 

[GeraldMcG]

I haven't forgotten this build. OK maybe I did this afternoon. I forgot to glue in the last four blocks and I forgot to print out a full size body picture to make a template.

I did make a full sized print for a truss rod cover I need to make for a Silvertone/Kay Vantage I recently acquired.

 

[Reedt2000]

I haven't forgotten this build.

Please don't, this is a really cool concept! Are you gonna do 4 lipstick PUs with the control setup of the Guyatone? Really looking forward to seeing this come together

 

[GeraldMcG]

Please don't, this is a really cool concept! Are you gonna do 4 lipstick PUs with the control setup of the Guyatone? Really looking forward to seeing this come together

Giving serious thought to four lipstick PUs. Still working out the switching but there will be five or six switches. Might even go with the stereo out like the Guyatone.