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Winter Build Off 2022 - Explorer Bass
- Thread starter Flamingo21
- Start date
I applaud your 80's vision.
So refreshing to see such passion for a particular style of bass.
I grew up on the bassist of the 80's so this is "floating my boat".
So refreshing to see such passion for a particular style of bass.
I grew up on the bassist of the 80's so this is "floating my boat".
Perfectly clear word choice. More substantial = larger = "coarse threads" in common usage.
Counterintuitively for most people, fine-thread fasteners are stronger than coarse-thread fasteners - though I will freely allow that's primarily established and tested data from metal-to-metal threaded connections, rather than metal-to-wood, where not so much testing data is available, as far as I know. And the different properties of wood and metal will come into play when taken to extremes.
Standard trope when worried about wood screws holding/strength is to use some means of putting metal threads in the wood and using machine screws - inserts, "Bruce bars" or something else. The inserts get you bigger wood to metal threads for more holding power in the wood, and metal-to-metal threads for the part you unscrew. Bruce's bar method goes a step further by laminating the metal with the threads into the neck structure.
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Originally I wasn't sure what this was going to look like, but it looks hawt and I love it! 
Thank you very much.Originally I wasn't sure what this was going to look like, but it looks hawt and I love it!
After I read one of Bruce's explanations of the Bruce Bars, I instantly became a believer.
But I couldn't make them on this bass, because I used a ready-made neck. Chances are I will make Bruce Bars another time.
80's
Well, since I was born in 1968...
It is not clear from the previous photo, but you can see the wood grain through the plexiglass. That's what I wanted.
This is the last day of my two weeks off work, and I'm quite happy about how far I've gotten with this build. The weather was favourable, with mild temperatures and some very sweet spring-ish days. Some days were very rainy, but luckily there's the shed, which at times became rather inaccessible to my housemates.
What remains to be done: firstly I need to work on the pickup cavity. By some foolish miscalculation it's too deep, so the pickup screws don't reach the holes I made for them. So I'm thinking of gluing some bits of wood in.
Then I must mount the string tree. I still need to determine the location for it.
Next, bolt the neck on. (Strictly speaking, that's "screw".) Then I can see if the angle works out as planned. At that moment I'll probably want to strap it on, just to have it on me. Then I'll also know if there's neckdive.
And then of course the strings. Which reminds me, I haven't yet bought any.
Pfooh... I'm glad there's three more weeks.
What remains to be done: firstly I need to work on the pickup cavity. By some foolish miscalculation it's too deep, so the pickup screws don't reach the holes I made for them. So I'm thinking of gluing some bits of wood in.
Then I must mount the string tree. I still need to determine the location for it.
Next, bolt the neck on. (Strictly speaking, that's "screw".) Then I can see if the angle works out as planned. At that moment I'll probably want to strap it on, just to have it on me. Then I'll also know if there's neckdive.
And then of course the strings. Which reminds me, I haven't yet bought any.
Pfooh... I'm glad there's three more weeks.
That pickguard looks great.
But I knew it would because I said it would and I'm always right.
But I knew it would because I said it would and I'm always right.
.
I'm cooking the food today, and came across this potato:
You came across that about 2 weeks too late!
So to appease the gods of the potato field, I guess your next build either has to be a Flying-V or a heart-shaped body.
...with the unique potato-skin finish!
...with the unique potato-skin finish!
Nobody pays attention to the bassist....
...or to his wobbly row of tuners.
On one side of the headstock, it says what it is...
.... and on the other, how it originated.
...or to his wobbly row of tuners.
On one side of the headstock, it says what it is...
.... and on the other, how it originated.
