This thing is beautiful, and when you win I'm gonna cry.
Thanks, Tim! I think you've got this category wrapped up. A purple Diva is the obvious choice!
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Winter Build Off 2022: 5 String Fretless Neck Through
- Thread starter Gary_M
- Start date
Thanks, Tim! I think you've got this category wrapped up. A purple Diva is the obvious choice!
That top is stunning, well the whole build is. Beautiful. 
PS. No problem with the wire color choices...
PS. No problem with the wire color choices...
I messed with that turkey for 5 minutes trying to get to to stay centered over the emojiLOL, please forgive me. I just realized you put an umlaut over the drool emoji.
I need a life
Allow me to have a shot at it.
The trick is to use the alignment function. You can align left (which is default) align center (which I used) or align right.
..
The trick is to use the alignment function. You can align left (which is default) align center (which I used) or align right.
This was a great reply. I'm glad I'm not the only sarcastic old fart in here.
I'm not quite sure where to start, but thanks. I really appreciated the detailed photos and process information, it helped a lot with some builds I've had in mind for a while, but are probably 2y off, maybe WBO24, so I envisage revisiting this thread a few times over the interim. I also finished all of your thread with the ziricote Strat which I liked and will make sense when the mentioned build comes about.
One question re the black detail veneers. I presume it really doesn't matter what wood it is in them; am I right? I can get the dyed poplar you used, but the shipping is 50% more than the cost. I can get hoop pine locally very cheap and can dye it, so I'm hoping that will be fine for such teeny thin strips.
Anyhoo, you got my vote and I'm going to cook some dinner as I'm in information overload and need to process it.
Before I start though, I have to build the workshop.
Edit: Q2: I assume the single bridges you use are the generic ebay ones. Do you think they'll hold up OK in use> ABM ones are a tad expensive for this little black duck.
One question re the black detail veneers. I presume it really doesn't matter what wood it is in them; am I right? I can get the dyed poplar you used, but the shipping is 50% more than the cost. I can get hoop pine locally very cheap and can dye it, so I'm hoping that will be fine for such teeny thin strips.
Anyhoo, you got my vote and I'm going to cook some dinner as I'm in information overload and need to process it.
Before I start though, I have to build the workshop.
Edit: Q2: I assume the single bridges you use are the generic ebay ones. Do you think they'll hold up OK in use> ABM ones are a tad expensive for this little black duck.
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I've had the same idea as I use a lot of Duratex for MI/PA speaker cabinet builds. Once you roller it on, you can use cling wrap briefly applied then removed to create a sort of faux leather look. There are YT videos on it, as well as tinting the white base to various colours, but I have no experience of that.
Given how tough it is, it's probably not best for a relic.
I've been waiting for the voting to end to reply, so forgive the lateness. First of all, thanks a lot for the comments, I'm very glad that you've been able to get some good information from this thread.
As for the veneer, regardless of what species you use, I would certainly look for commercially processed, colored veneer. I'm sure it's possible to dye it yourself, but I would be a little concerned about full penetration of the color as the commercial stuff is dyed while under vacuum.
The bridges that I used are inexpensive units that I purchased from Bitterrootguitars.com. I'm not sure if they are the same units that are sold on eBay or not... presumably they are, but there are a lot of variations of these floating around.
I've played around with these bridges quite extensively and they are really well made and they are consistent from one unit to another.. and I know that is a problem with some bridges that are sold through eBay. If there is one complaint, it's that the plating/coating is relatively fragile... at least on the black colored bridges.
The adjustments are rock solid and they function great. I did, however, replace all of the mounting screws with good quality screws from the hardware store. I just don't trust screws that are that cheap.
Hope this helps! Good luck with your workshop, be sure to start a thread and post updates about that.
Thanks for the tips re the veneer (MrPerkolator also said the same earlier, so confirmation) and the bridges. Bitterroot look like a good source. I also found a distributor of exotic imported timbers fairly close by. But that's for later; tackle the more simple projects first like the Sklar.
The house is small with an older, small, 2 car garage so I'm thinking I might need to make a couple of work benches on casters that I can roll out onto the drive to make space or use in the sun, which we get a lot of. When I get a bandsaw and set up the drill press they can be fixed. It's going to be a space challenge as I have lots of other stuff to build as well, some of it MI related. I'm notoriously awful at taking pics so I'll see what I can do improve that.
Sounds familiar. Many of us don't have a dedicated shop where tools can be set up permanently. All of my stuff is on wheels and gets pushed to the side so that Her Majesty can park in the garage. (Ain't that a kick in the pants?
) But anyway, if you need ideas for that kind of stuff, you've come to the right place.Thanks, I'll post some pics soon once I clean out the space and ask for suggestions. There'll only need to be space for the bike, but that can be rolled out too and my old car can park outside. The very short drive is gravel but job 1 is replacing that with concrete and a friend has suggested an inflatable spray booth to use on the drive when needed; it will be used for other stuff beyond basses.
Congrats on the win, well deserved. This thing was flawless through and through. When I showed my wife the photos she said "Yup, you have no chance." She's my biggest supporter I guess. 
Anyways, beautiful build. Considering this was my second ever build I'm honored to finished 2nd to this.
Enjoy my pedal....and thanks for crushing my dreams......
She's my biggest supporter I guess. Anyways, beautiful build. Considering this was my second ever build I'm honored to finished 2nd to this.
Enjoy my pedal....and thanks for crushing my dreams......
Congrats on the win, well deserved. This thing was flawless through and through. When I showed my wife the photos she said "Yup, you have no chance."
Anyways, beautiful build. Considering this was my second ever build I'm honored to finished 2nd to this.
Enjoy my pedal....and thanks for crushing my dreams......
Well, thanks Tim. Now you're just making me blush.
For what it's worth, I think you killed it, especially considering this was only your second build... plus you completed your first build in that time period as well. Very well done, man! Oh, and I will play the living crap out of your pedal.
Nailed it. I have no idea how @TerribleTim68 can even find time to build basses at all let alone high-complexity ones with all the other hobbies and interests he's got going on. Unless perhaps his wife does it all behind the scenes?Well, thanks Tim. Now you're just making me blush.
Oh, and I will play the living crap out of your pedal.
