Winter Build Off 2022 - Get Ready

[turindev]

Nice! I have a build I’ve been thinking about for a while I would like to squeeze in here, although I need to figure out how to tie it in with the theme. This will give me an excuse to finally start it!

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Jeesh. I'm still working on my August 2020 refinish. Burned through the clear coat on a problem area while level sanding. Not a big deal by any means, but it definitely tacked on about 2 months of spraying & curing.

I like the theme, however.

 

[Beej]

All right! Glad to hear there's some interest and enthusiasm.

Hey Beej, thanks for taking the initiative to get this organized. I'm sure it will be another awesome build-off.

I'd love to enter, but unfortunately, the "Winter" build-offs pretty much rule me out due to climate. Trying to apply a finish in my garage in Northern Indiana in late February to early March just doesn't work. I'd love to see the time frame of the build-off shifted to begin in September, wrapping up before Thanksgiving. I understand that can't happen this year; but I'm sure there are others that are impeded by the weather as well... might be worth a poll at some point.

I’ve never done one of these, but I am definitely interested. Finish would also take some creativity for me here in upstate NY, but it is a cool incentive to follow through.

Maybe we can do both a winter and summer build-off every year(?)@Beej

I hear you on the summer versus winter build off, it does make a big difference for many. We've talked in the past about also holding a summer build off, and I will probably take that on for 2022 so that we can look at 2x annually to capture different builder groups. They do take a while to plan, so around the time we are finishing up the Winter 2022 build off, we'll discuss the upcoming Summer 2022 build off.

Are the themes fairly loose and open to interpretation, or did you have something a little more specific in mind?

Very loose and open - the point is to see how everyone tackles the theme in their own unique way. The Walnut build off back in 2018 was more specific, but we also learned that those who could not get a hold of walnut (anyone outside of NA or Europe) couldn't participate and so we lost out having some additional entrants.

I have a previous WBO that still needs to be finished. Neck and body are complete, needs to be finished and assembled... guess it would be an assembly build?

Also have an idea for the scratch build, something long out of production, with a twist (of course )

Sounds like it could go under Partial Build or Assembly? We can pick that apart as needed haha

I'm really hoping to participate in a partial build this year.

Just to clarify, we are allowed to start dimensioning rough lumber? (Not shaping or routing)

Yes, feel free to start dimensioning things. In the past, I have taken all my lumber from rough sawn down to final dimensioned pieces that are ready for glue up. So, I've bookmatched and planed my top, cut and planed body pieces, made up the neck stringers, etc. What is not permitted though, would be tapering your middle laminate for a tapered neck for example. I do this on most builds these days so this rule irritates me a little, but it's fair.

 

[Gary_M]

I hear you on the summer versus winter build off, it does make a big difference for many. We've talked in the past about also holding a summer build off, and I will probably take that on for 2022 so that we can look at 2x annually to capture different builder groups. They do take a while to plan, so around the time we are finishing up the Winter 2022 build off, we'll discuss the upcoming Summer 2022 build off.

That would be awesome. I will try to figure out some way that I can still participate this winter; I'm not trying to be a Debby Downer, here.

By the way, I understand how much work it is to organize and manage something like this, so please let me now if I can help in any way (whether I'm actively participating or not). Thanks again for taking this on, Beej!

 

[AudioTaper]

All right! Glad to hear there's some interest and enthusiasm.


I hear you on the summer versus winter build off, it does make a big difference for many. We've talked in the past about also holding a summer build off, and I will probably take that on for 2022 so that we can look at 2x annually to capture different builder groups. They do take a while to plan, so around the time we are finishing up the Winter 2022 build off, we'll discuss the upcoming Summer 2022 build off.

Very loose and open - the point is to see how everyone tackles the theme in their own unique way. The Walnut build off back in 2018 was more specific, but we also learned that those who could not get a hold of walnut (anyone outside of NA or Europe) couldn't participate and so we lost out having some additional entrants.

Sounds like it could go under Partial Build or Assembly? We can pick that apart as needed haha

Yes, feel free to start dimensioning things. In the past, I have taken all my lumber from rough sawn down to final dimensioned pieces that are ready for glue up. So, I've bookmatched and planed my top, cut and planed body pieces, made up the neck stringers, etc. What is not permitted though, would be tapering your middle laminate for a tapered neck for example. I do this on most builds these days so this rule irritates me a little, but it's fair.

Cool. I just checked, it's still rough sawn!

 

[TerribleTim68]

Hmm, so I'll chime in with my thoughts.

First of all, super happy to see some sort of build off return to TB. So props @Beej for stepping up. As a Project Manager myself, I know the extent of commitment you're taking on and I don't envy you. But I appreciate you. I love watching these build offs because they are very inspiring, it's probably what got me to take the plunge of bass building myself. So I'll be looking forward to the return of these amazing builds without having to go outside the TB world. I just couldn't bring myself to commit to yet another forum, lol.

That being said, I don't think I'll participate this year. I'm not even done with my virgin build yet, and while I've acquired several machines and tools and gained a ton of experience (mostly by error, not so much trial) I just don't know that I'm set up yet to build that quickly. This virgin build has taken me about 14 months so far and I have a ton left to do. So I'm just not sure I'm ready to move that quickly yet.

Also, the only thing I've got ready as far as any sort of "plan" is my Diva build, which I already glued up my neck blank and surfaced the top side to get ready to route the truss rod slot. I've also already cut the body wing layers to size, but not final shape. They have not been glued though, so I'd consider that "dimensional lumber", others may not. I'd have to look at the budget and see how to gather all the other "things" I still need too, I'm fairly confident any waiting on deliveries would kill the time crunch.

So, all of that being said, I'm scared and I'm not sure I'm ready to participate just yet. But I will be watching and I'm excited to see it return! Good luck to everyone!

 

[StereoPlayer]

Sub’d, Thanks! @Beej

 

[RichterScale]

I'm not even done with my virgin build yet

 

[postalflunkie]

Well I must say I was wondering what would be made of a build off this year
Thanks @Beej for getting things to what looks like a exciting rebirth.
I've got the pickups and plenty of hard maple already. Looks like I'll be shopping for hardware and some pretty wood, then I'll have to come up with some sort of a plan.

 

[AudioTaper]

Looks like I'll be shopping for hardware and some pretty wood, then I'll have to come up with some sort of a plan.

Oh crap, were supposed to have a plan? Ha! I better get thinking!

 

[Beej]

Plan, shman. This is art. Or wait a minute, is it science? Isn't art+science=engineering? Or is it all of it? Sometimes I do a lot of thinking, drawing, measuring, trial & error and careful forethought and other times I just take wood and keep cutting and gluing it until it looks like a bass.

 

[Beej]

So how does one "get ready" for one's build off entry? Like any build!

A prominent aspect of the winter build off and probably any "seasonal" build off, is working within the constraints. The theme is one thing, one's "building ability" (materials, tools, experience, workspace, funds) is another, but I think the real crucible that tests your mettle in a pool of 5000 degree molten steel is the time aspect. I have to say that my own building has been roasted there and my ability to predictably get a build done in a shorter timeframe has been honed a bit.

A good way to lessen the impact of time is to get everything together in advance. Plans, parts, templates, materials, supplies, tools and workspace. The further along each is, the quicker the overall build will go. We've seen over and again that complexity can be done in a short time frame with planning. And there has been some stellar work produced as I'm sure you can see from all the entry threads in each of the voting threads over the years.

Nobody has to share their plans until their build off entry thread, but actually creating plans at this point is definitely encouraged.

 

[AudioTaper]

The theme is one thing, one's "building ability" (materials, tools, experience, workspace, funds) is another, but I think the real crucible that tests your mettle in a pool of 5000 degree molten steel is the time aspect.

I sometimes have a hard time differentiating between the figurative and literal. So I'll take this as permission to build a blast furnace to produce the steel in the bridge.

Or maybe not.

Are we supposed to list what materials cost? Are there any budget limitations?

 

[dwizum]

We've never included financial info or budget limits in the past, that I'm aware of. People do list the parts or materials they use but not the money they cost. I feel like a budget would be extremely hard to implement. I would have a hard time with it myself since I'm going to use materials that I've had sitting in my shop for years, and I have no idea what they cost at this point. Plus, what would stop someone from buying a $200 bookmatched top and then claiming that they resawed it themselves from a piece of wood they got it for free from the burn pile at their friend's sawmill?

For me, the whole point of this is the community aspect, the actual "competition" is a distant afterthought. It's really awesome to have a group of people all building at the same time, and all commenting on each other's threads. In the buildoffs I have participated in here, I've spent more time reading and writing on threads than I have actually building. It really pulls this group together and it's a lot of fun. I've done a lot of other "build competition" type things in other hobby communities and none of them have the consistently great atmosphere and positive experience that these buildoffs have.

 

[TFM94]

Awesome stuff. I hope I can shift some things around so that I can participate.

Question: Is it allowed to prepare special jigs/fixtures for the build-off project beforehand?

 

[postalflunkie]

I just take wood and keep cutting and gluing it until it looks like a bass.

Isn't that what we do, find some nice wood and cut away everything that doesn't look like a guitar?

 

[postalflunkie]

Oh and by the way, you all have me shopping for hardware already... Ordered tuners last night

 

[ctmullins]

Way back in winter 2015 there was a $100 Bass Challenge. I didn’t participate, because I’m lavish and extravagant….

But yeah, budget is usually not a constraint.

 

[dwizum]

Question: Is it allowed to prepare special jigs/fixtures for the build-off project beforehand?

I'm not the decider of rules by any means, but I would have to assume the answer is that it's OK to do this, since many of us are likely to be re-using jigs and tooling that we already have.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

I'm not the decider of rules by any means, but I would have to assume the answer is that it's OK to do this, since many of us are likely to be re-using jigs and tooling that we already have.

Jigs, patterns, CNC code, entire test builds that you are not entering, etc. are all fair game for do-ahead, at least in prior years. Applying them to the pile of wood before the pile of wood start picture is not cool.