Winter Build Off 2020 -- K-Space

[Jon Clegg]

Here's my entry for this years buildoff

Based (Bassed?) off of the Model K bass that I'm building for @Fat Freddy but with a hollow body twist:

Specs:

Body: Sapele Body with Curly Maple top
Neck: Roasted Maple (last year's prize!) with Rosewood fingerboard.
Neck Type: Bolt-in with Bruce Bars, CF TOW backstrap, heel adjusted TR
Scale length: 30"
Strings: 4
Pickup: EMG MM-CS
Controls: V-B-T (B & T stacked)
Bridge: HipShot SuperTone
Tuners: Sperzel TrimLock 2+2

Wood Pile:

Design:
Originally tried to fit the f-hole (k-hole?) into the K while retaining the pickguard. Even with some generous help from @JIO, it didn't feel quite right to me, so off came the pickguard. This of course brings other challenges since the heel goes somewhat deep into the body. Here's where I'm at:

The K-hole design is still somewhat in flux; bonus points to the first person who guesses the reason for the long-short-long pattern (BE QUIET @Fat Freddy !)

 

[Fat Freddy]

Here's my entry for this years buildoff

Based (Bassed?) off of the Model K bass that I'm building for @Fat Freddy but with a hollow body twist:

Specs:

Body: Sapele Body with Curly Maple top
Neck: Roasted Maple (last year's prize!) with Rosewood fingerboard.
Neck Type: Bolt-in with Bruce Bars, CF TOW backstrap, heel adjusted TR
Scale length: 30"
Strings: 4
Pickup: EMG MM-CS
Controls: V-B-T (B & T stacked)
Bridge: HipShot SuperTone
Tuners: Sperzel TrimLock 2+2

Wood Pile:
View attachment 3638692
Design:
Originally tried to fit the f-hole (k-hole?) into the K while retaining the pickguard. Even with some generous help from @JIO, it didn't feel quite right to me, so off came the pickguard. This of course brings other challenges since the heel goes somewhat deep into the body. Here's where I'm at:
View attachment 3638702
The K-hole design is still somewhat in flux; bonus points to the first person who guesses the reason for the long-short-long pattern (BE QUIET @Fat Freddy !)

 

[ctmullins]

Nice. I loved the K when I saw it, hated to see the unfolding of that story, but glad FF is getting his built! This should be really nice too; a chambered version will be sweet, and sapele with a maple cap is a favorite of mine.

Long-short-long is Morse code for K!

 

[Jisch]

Nice, lots of great entrants this year!

 

[Jon Clegg]

Nice. I loved the K when I saw it, hated to see the unfolding of that story, but glad FF is getting his built! This should be really nice too; a chambered version will be sweet, and sapele with a maple cap is a favorite of mine.

Long-short-long is Morse code for K!

Winner!

 

[Fat Freddy]

Winner!

 

[IconBasser]

I loved your build from last year Jon, looking forward to this one too

 

[Jon Clegg]

Today I cut the scarf joint and thicknessed the headstock down to about 5/8". I'll take it down about another 1/16" to 9/16" or so. The pieces are taped together here in preparation for planing the face of the scarf joint.

 

[Jon Clegg]

All cleaned up and ready to scarf:

 

[TerribleTim68]

Today I cut the scarf joint and thicknessed the headstock down to about 5/8". I'll take it down about another 1/16" to 9/16" or so. The pieces are taped together here in preparation for planing the face of the scarf joint.
View attachment 3640455

A couple questions here, because I noticed you tend to use this method (saw your other build going this way too). So are you saying that you angle cut the end of the neck, flip it over and tape it down on top of the neck in this position and then plane them both together as one long surface? I'm guessing this is done with a hand planer of some sort? I'm planning on doing a scarf joint at some point and just wondering about the exact method.

 

[Fat Freddy]

A couple questions here, because I noticed you tend to use this method (saw your other build going this way too). So are you saying that you angle cut the end of the neck, flip it over and tape it down on top of the neck in this position and then plane them both together as one long surface? I'm guessing this is done with a hand planer of some sort? I'm planning on doing a scarf joint at some point and just wondering about the exact method.

Have a look here....It may be of help to you....

Drake single cut 6 string bass, Wenge, Burled Maple, Sapele

 

[Beej]

A couple questions here, because I noticed you tend to use this method (saw your other build going this way too). So are you saying that you angle cut the end of the neck, flip it over and tape it down on top of the neck in this position and then plane them both together as one long surface? I'm guessing this is done with a hand planer of some sort? I'm planning on doing a scarf joint at some point and just wondering about the exact method.

There are a few ways you can scarf a cat. I use a similar method to what Jon is showing here. Post #71 in this thread demonstrates another: 5-String Fanned Hybrid Headless (That thread is also generally a master-class in home building as well).

 

[Jon Clegg]

A couple questions here, because I noticed you tend to use this method (saw your other build going this way too). So are you saying that you angle cut the end of the neck, flip it over and tape it down on top of the neck in this position and then plane them both together as one long surface? I'm guessing this is done with a hand planer of some sort? I'm planning on doing a scarf joint at some point and just wondering about the exact method.

Pretty much the method. I cheat and use the router sled to plane it though.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Here's the joint all glued up; As on the Special-K I'm using 4 dowels to hold everything in alignment.

I'll need to get clever on planing it off; the blank is about 1/2" wider than what my usual planing fixture will accomodate

 

[Fat Freddy]

Here's the joint all glued up; As on the Special-K I'm using 4 dowels to hold everything in alignment.
View attachment 3648992
I'll need to get clever on planing it off; the blank is about 1/2" wider than what my usual planing fixture will accomodate

Sorry....

 

[Jon Clegg]

Sorry....

Not your fault.

BTW in the interests of meeting the Feb 18 deadline for the Fat Freddie's Special K, I'll be focusing more on that build for a while. (and working out all the kinks in this one in the process )

 

[Fat Freddy]

Not your fault.

BTW in the interests of meeting the Feb 18 deadline for the Fat Freddie's Special K, I'll be focusing more on that build for a while. (and working out all the kinks in this one in the process )

Great to hear that I'll be seeing more of my build but just remember Jon, I'd rather have a 'late bass' than see you mess up your chances in the build off.......

 

[Jon Clegg]

Took a few moments to look at the top wiped with some naptha: this:

Or this?

Mind this is just a pair of pieces of curly maple from Scroll Saw Woods nothing spectacular.

 

[Reedt2000]

Took a few moments to look at the top wiped with some naptha: this:
View attachment 3663596
Or this?
View attachment 3663597
Mind this is just a pair of pieces of curly maple from Scroll Saw Woods nothing spectacular.

I dig the grain and the figure more in the first pic

 

[Beej]

Took a few moments to look at the top wiped with some naptha: this:
View attachment 3663596
Or this?
View attachment 3663597
Mind this is just a pair of pieces of curly maple from Scroll Saw Woods nothing spectacular.

Mmm ripples...