Winter Build off 2020 - The Bubble Wand.

[Englishman]

So this is going to be a skeletal build, probably 34".

Body wood is Black Limba with a one piece mahogany chunk for the neck.
Plans are for an eight string setup.
Body shape will be Ric influenced but I'll extend the horn a little in order to combat the neck dive of super light bodies, especially with eight tuners.
Thinking soap bar EMGs.

 

[Jisch]

Nice! I love my skeletal build BassVI. I extended beyond the 12th fret and there's no neck dive on that one

 

[Jon Clegg]

Oooh this will be a fun one.

 

[Englishman]

I did this Tele this year as a prototype of what I wanted to do here. Nothing symmetrical, kind of an organic feel.

Long term WBO peeps will recognize the roasted birdseye maple fretboard I won last WBO

 

[ctmullins]

Cool! I wouldn’t want to sand the inside of those cavities though....

 

[Englishman]

Cool! I wouldn’t want to sand the inside of those cavities though....

That is the downside. That and I can’t figure out how to spray the cavities evenly, so it’s down to Tru Oil.

 

[Englishman]

Ok then. Shape roughed out and spindle-sanded. Quick drop of Naptha to bring the grain out. I picked this wood because it has a cool side grain look and the cavities will look neat.

 

[Englishman]

Got a few minutes in today. Did some contours..

Started adding 'airspace'...

Started smoothing the holes, I'm waiting until I have the controls before I tackle that part of the body.

 

[Beej]

"The Bubble Wand"...

NOW I get it...

 

[Englishman]

Padauk fingerboard arrived today... also in the shot, way cool kala U Bass the missus got me for xmas!

 

[Englishman]

It’s about now when I start dreaming of a CNC...

 

[Englishman]

Slots and dots. This is my first time making the dots with a plug cutter. Simple stuff, dots are ebony.

 

[Englishman]

Holeage so far.

 

[ctmullins]

Nice. Looks very hole-listic.

 

[Englishman]

Neck roughed out, frets on, neck pocket routed.
I believe it will be amusing as I demonstrate 24th fret playing though the holes.

 

[ctmullins]

 

[Jon Clegg]

Just got to be holier than thou, don't you?

 

[Fat Freddy]

Neck roughed out, frets on, neck pocket routed.
I believe it will be amusing as I demonstrate 24th fret playing though the holes.

View attachment 3656267

You could lose a finger if you play anything too fast.........

 

[Englishman]

So I've pretty much completed the holes. I originally had a fairly large part left for the controls but then said to heck with it and I'll put the controls on clear plastic. Lots (and lots) of sanding to do.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

I like it! Maybe mount the controls in an aluminum plate, and then give the plate the random holes treatment?

This is where you need an electric die grinder to quickly blend and smooth all those holes. Otherwise, big round and half-round files.