Winter Build Off 2022 - Chester

[BelmontBiker]

Here is my entry for the Winter Build off 2022

I have wanted to build a bass for a while now. I went as far as buying a basswood blank and it has sat for months. My plan is to build a copy of a 51 precision with a Crate face. The Hercules crate came from my grandfather (Chester) and has lived in my garage for years with a chain and a come-along in it. Time to put it to use for a more noble cause. Hoping to chamber the body, but we'll see.....First go round here so expect lots of mistakes and just gunning for something playable at the end of this.

Parts:

 

[TFM94]

Looks like a fun project. The crate top reminds me of the Justin Johnson whiskey barrel guitars, very cool. What wood is the crate, oak maybe?

 

[Flamingo21]

First go round here so expect lots of mistakes and just gunning for something playable at the end of this.

Words of wisdom.
I'm the same: participating for the first time, my first ever bass build. And I, too, started with a body blank and a finished neck.
Have fun building yours!

 

[BelmontBiker]

Thanks! I have seen some pictures of beer crates / whiskey crates and there was one of an embalming fluid crate that was pretty cool too! Not sure what type of wood the crate is......I'm about as green as it gets with a decent stash of hand-me-down tools to use......

 

[dwizum]

I love the theme and the idea of re-using the crate!

 

[Flamingo21]

There's a guitar build going on here in Luthier's Corner, with a face from a whisky barrel or something.

Edit: in case anyone's interested, here it is. It's not part of the Build Off.
Baldman Seven String Tele

 

[TFM94]

Thanks! I have seen some pictures of beer crates / whiskey crates and there was one of an embalming fluid crate that was pretty cool too! Not sure what type of wood the crate is......I'm about as green as it gets with a decent stash of hand-me-down tools to use......

I took a closer look at the picture and spotted some knots in the crate that make it look more like pine...either way, it should work as a top!

 

[BelmontBiker]

I took a closer look at the picture and spotted some knots in the crate that make it look more like pine...either way, it should work as a top!

Thanks! It seems softer than oak. Softer is probably safer for this first go round! Appreciate you having a closer look!

 

[BelmontBiker]

1/4” mdf template making. Can anyone tell if the pickup template is too loose? It is sanded back to the line but I’d rather make a new one now than find out later…..The neck template freaked me out the most but I’m pretty happy with how it came out! Hopefully tomorrow I can route the actual 3/4” templates and build a router planing jig.

 

[dwizum]

Pickup template fit to the pickup is really personal preference. I like the gap pretty small - like, half a mm or a mm at most. On a bare pickup like that, it matters less since there's some air space around the perimeter of the pickup anyways.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Find scrap, route a pickup hole in it, insert pickup, decide whether to make a new template or not.

Also get some practice on a thing that's not your final instrument at the same time.

Win/win.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Derek Lenard (Big-D guitars) builds a lot of whiskey barrel guitars too. Look up his YouTube channel, lots of videos of his process.
The crate looks cool, looking forward to seeing it completed.

 

[BelmontBiker]

Derek Lenard (Big-D guitars) builds a lot of whiskey barrel guitars too. Look up his YouTube channel, lots of videos of his process.
The crate looks cool, looking forward to seeing it completed.

Thanks! I'll check him out!

 

[2112]

Sub'd

 

[2groggy]

1/4” mdf template making. Can anyone tell if the pickup template is too loose? It is sanded back to the line but I’d rather make a new one now than find out later…..The neck template freaked me out the most but I’m pretty happy with how it came out! Hopefully tomorrow I can route the actual 3/4” templates and build a router planing jig.

Try making your templates two layers thick. The base layer (no pun intended) is raw stock. Lay your neck heel, pick-up or whatever on the bass layer. Glue and staple, nail or screw the second layer around the neck heel. Let it dry overnight. Then use the second layer to route through the base layer. Voila, a template with no hand cutting filing and sanding.

Here's an example of a neck pocket jig build this way.

 

[Flamingo21]

@2groggy Thanks! I'm totally gonna try this!

 

[El Thumpo]

Fun fact: that Hercules Powder has a city named after it here in Northern California. It’s an explosive that was made here in the Bay Area, and they decided to name the town that sprung up around the factory after its best-selling product.

 

[BelmontBiker]

Fun fact: that Hercules Powder has a city named after it here in Northern California. It’s an explosive that was made here in the Bay Area, and they decided to name the town that sprung up around the factory after its best-selling product.

Super cool!

 

[BelmontBiker]

It’s been a long week but had some time in the garage this afternoon. Initially I was going to buy some 3/4 mdf to make the planing jig/sled but had a buck of scrap out there that I decided to use. Safe to say it will only be as precise as my table saw….which is waaaay more precise than I am. Off to see if I can find a suitable planing bit locally. Then it’s time to make some real sawdust!

 

[BelmontBiker]

Planed down to 1-3/8”. Wide body line drawn and guidelines for chambering. Need to borrow my dads Forster bits tomorrow. Getting more and more fun by the minute!!!!