Winter Build-Off 2020 - Semi-Hollow Six String

[dmarino]

It's been a quiet weekend with decent weather and I've managed to get a lot done on this build.

Today, I rough cut the body wings on the bandsaw. Always a fun step to see it start looking like a bass.

I went ahead and installed these white side markers

Then I went ahead and created the control access hole on the rear of the treble wing

I also routed out the recess for the control access cover.

Ready to glue up the body wings

And here is the glue up.

Next, I'll start to prepare the top, and think about the fretwork. I also need to do the battery box rout.
Getting the body glued up is a nice milestone. I'm optimistic that I'll get this one done on time now.

 

[dmarino]

Yesterday I started preparing the top

I did some careful measuring and drawing and hacked it out rough on the bandsaw.

Then I got out the files to try to make the neck hole match the shape of the end of the fretboard. Painstaking work, I just removed material very slowly and kept the centerline in mind the whole time. It came out pretty well, hope when I mount the top it looks tight

I made the rear cover from the same wood as the wing, but I didn't really make any special effort to match the grain up. I'll fine-tune the fit, but not bad for now.

I've been waiting for this part, making the f-holes! I didn't really have a good method worked out.
I just drilled 3 holes in the head, middle, and foot of each f-hole and went at with various files, taking my time.
I may fine-tune the shapes a little now that I've slept on it. But you can start to see what it'll look like now.
Forgot to take a pic, but I stained the inside of the chambers brown.

Looks like warm and sunny today, I'm going to get the top glued up and see what else I can do

 

[Beej]

Nice work overall, but I really like the f-holes and the fine work fitting the top around the neck pocket

 

[dmarino]

I had a couple of super busy weeks and didn't get any work done on this bass for a while. The weather has been pretty cold and snowy, too. I finally got some time last weekend and this weekend to get this build back on the rails.

Did the fretwork last weekend

I glued the top yesterday and it went ok. I forgot to get the mega-clampy shot of it. I was rushing around.
It was time to make a template for the pickup routs. Both pickups are the same size luckily.

Masking tape and super glued the template on and routed them out. It did not go bad.

Who can resist a mockup once you get to this point?

Pushed on a little bit and made the battery box template

Hogged out the box with a forstner bit on the press and did the template and router thing

I took out the extra-long bit and drilled the channels from the battery box and pickup routs into the cavity. Ready to shape the body up and carve up the heel.

Good to be back on track!

 

[Fat Freddy]

At first glance, I PRAYED that this would be the final look on the neck......

...

Then I saw the tape..........

Then I saw the rest!!!.....

 

[dmarino]

haha thanks, Freddy! That would be a wild look!

 

[postalflunkie]

Makes me want to do a United Colors of Benetton build

 

[dmarino]

Did shaping work on the body and heel with chisels, files, and 80-grit. For the most part, the body is ready for touch-up work and a good surface sanding.

I'm re-working the headstock a little bit, I didn't like where it was going and it wasn't too late to change the plan. I'll have to take some pics of that process

Rounding third, headed for home plate!

 

[postalflunkie]

That heel on the neck is beautiful

 

[Beej]

So cool.

How wide is the body at the lower bouts?

 

[dmarino]

Thanks, guys!

@Beej at its widest spot it's right around 13"

 

[dmarino]

Worked on this bass a little bit.

I painted the cavities with Stew-mac shielding paint since copper tape would be visible through the F-hole.

Time to work on the headstock redesign. Chopped off the sides of the headstock so I could glue on some new pieces.

On with some walnut headstock wings to match the top wood combo

We're breaking in a new shop attendant around here. He's a mix of Anatolian Shepherd Dog and a Kuvasz.
Somehow he's 65 pounds at 6 months. He's going to be an absolutely giant dog.
Good thing he's a sweet little boy!

Here's the new headstock design. I used the little bump feature at the bridge end of the fretboard as a motif and worked it into a little bit of a 30's art-deco type of design for the headstock and truss-rod cover setup

Did a little cutting, shaping, and sanding. Might need some shape fine-tuning, but basically ready to drill out the tuner holes.

Hopefully tomorrow I can drill out the holes, expose the truss rod end, and get the truss-rod cover made

 

[Lackey]

Very impressive dude!

 

[postalflunkie]

That is cool I love art-deco!

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Dude, you're going to be a METAL Warlord with that monster! All the best with the completion of the build.

 

[dmarino]

I didn't have a lot of time after work, but I feel like it's getting to be crunch time if I'm going to finish strong on this build by the 22nd (or a little before so I can shoot photos and record a demo), so I grabbed an hour or so.
The weather looks like it may improve for the next week or so, which makes a lot of difference in my building.
This is because when it's cold, I have to invest some decent amount of time and propane to heat the garage. When it's cold, I can't just pop out to the garage for a quick task or two like I do when its pleasantly warm.

Anyway, I sanded the headstock flat and clean, taped up my template and went about drilling the tuner holes.

Looks like I may need to shave a little off the treble side near the C tuner to make it a little more even.

Test fitting the tuners

Time to expose the truss-rod end, I drilled a little hole and got out the dremel to grind out the access.

Not bad for a quick session. Next, I'll create a truss rod cover and fit that up.
Not much left after that in terms of building, it'll be onto sanding, finish work and then assembly.
I still have to make a nut, too. I was thinking I might make it out of ebony, but I do have some cow bone which is all I've tried so far on the previous builds. I think the ebony would look better, but is it really durable enough to be the nut?
I bought some of the penetrating oil and some high-build oil finish from Crimson Guitars after @MPU mentioned it was low odor and fast-drying. Plus his build turned out gorgeous with it.
I've tested a little on some scraps from the top and I think it'll look really nice, so that's the finish of choice this time.

Gonna be a busy week, may not get back to it until the weekend.

 

[Slidlow]

Ebony is fine as a nut. Very common on upright basses.

 

[dmarino]

thanks, @Slidlow I'm gonna give it a try!

 

[2groggy]

It's not too late for a zero fret.

 

[dmarino]

Thanks @2groggy! You know, I have actually given it some thought. I've tried out a bunch of new (to me) techniques so far on this build, maybe I could try to pull it off.

I worked on this one a little today after work. Drilled the jack access hole, and the bridge ground wire hole, and spent a while with the preamp and controls working through the positioning of things in the cavity. There's room in there, but it's sure going to be tight!