Winter Build Off 2022 - Get Ready

[JRA]

what you cats do is so amazing! kudos!

 

[AudioTaper]

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.

Perhaps 'limitations' wasnt the word I should have used. Do people usually share what parts cost or comment if they are using the been part because it's in their parts bin and they traded someone for something else in the past? Or is that usually not a thing?
Maybe I should go read more past build threads to get an idea of what kind of details to post.

I didnt see this as an actual competition as much as a fun share your build activity. This is my first time building like this and my first time entering. I know my skills are not even close to some of these guys here, they produce amazing instruments

 

[Jon Clegg]

Perhaps 'limitations' wasnt the word I should have used. Do people usually share what parts cost or comment if they are using the been part because it's in their parts bin and they traded someone for something else in the past? Or is that usually not a thing?
Maybe I should go read more past build threads to get an idea of what kind of details to post.

I didnt see this as an actual competition as much as a fun share your build activity. This is my first time building like this and my first time entering. I know my skills are not even close to some of these guys here, they produce amazing instruments

Sometimes, yes people will share stuff like that, but it's not required.

 

[Beej]

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?

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.

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.

Perhaps 'limitations' wasnt the word I should have used. Do people usually share what parts cost or comment if they are using the been part because it's in their parts bin and they traded someone for something else in the past? Or is that usually not a thing?
Maybe I should go read more past build threads to get an idea of what kind of details to post.

I didnt see this as an actual competition as much as a fun share your build activity. This is my first time building like this and my first time entering. I know my skills are not even close to some of these guys here, they produce amazing instruments

Sometimes, yes people will share stuff like that, but it's not required.

Bingo If you want to share cost and specific supplier details, no problem, if you want to keep some stuff a little more private, that should be no problem either. Everybody just needs to share their work. I don't mind sharing details about the great deals I've gotten but I tend to keep quieter about those details when I've spent the farm.

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?

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.

Yup, go for it! I'm sure I'm not the only one who's designed and prototyped a whole bass in preparation for the buildoff. Am I?

what you cats do is so amazing! kudos!

And don't think your unwavering enthusiasm and support goes unnoticed. We need a "love" emoji on TB. Best I could do was the angel representing you.

 

[Eon Sky]

Regarding the assembly build guidelines, does "parts laying around that when put together theoretically constitutes a bass" count? My 11 year old son and I have been contemplating Frankensteining something together with spare parts lying around and this sounds like a great way to document it/fit into the theme of rebirth.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I want to make sure we're following the rules.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Regarding the assembly build guidelines, does "parts laying around that when put together theoretically constitutes a bass" count? My 11 year old son and I have been contemplating Frankensteining something together with spare parts lying around and this sounds like a great way to document it/fit into the theme of rebirth.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I want to make sure we're following the rules.

Absolutely. Preferably counted by a Vampire Muppet!

Just beware of that "Abby..., Abby.., Abby something ... Abby Normal!" brain.

(I'm sure that there's a sub-rule to watch all the Frankenstein movies while Frankensteining a bass, though reading the book is a whole other thing you might also need to do, and might make you shake your head a bit if you've only seen the movies...)

 

[Jon Clegg]

Regarding the assembly build guidelines, does "parts laying around that when put together theoretically constitutes a bass" count? My 11 year old son and I have been contemplating Frankensteining something together with spare parts lying around and this sounds like a great way to document it/fit into the theme of rebirth.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I want to make sure we're following the rules.

Sure, that would come under the heading of an Assembly build.

 

[Novarocker]

Love the build off! I wonder if I'll have time, doubt it, but don't count me out just yet.

Perfect theme, already know what I'm doing...if I can haha!

 

[RichterScale]

So, where do we stand on parts made by other participants or members, used in a scratch build?
As in, I realize that if you are building a bass and order a neck, either from, say, warmoth or have one made by another luthier, then we're more in the "assembling" a bass territory.
But, if you build a bass from scratch, from raw lumber, yet another member here builds pups or even hardware,... is there really a difference between ordering electronics or hardware online from a large manufacturer and using one-off pups or even something like a bridge made by another member here?

 

[Jon Clegg]

So, where do we stand on parts made by other participants or members, used in a scratch build?
As in, I realize that if you are building a bass and order a neck, either from, say, warmoth or have one made by another luthier, then we're more in the "assembling" a bass territory.
But, if you build a bass from scratch, from raw lumber, yet another member here builds pups or even hardware,... is there really a difference between ordering electronics or hardware online from a large manufacturer and using one-off pups or even something like a bridge made by another member here?

Usually we confine the definition of "scratch" to only apply to wood; getting pups or hardware from another TB'er would be pretty much like buying online for the purposes of the build off.

 

[Beej]

I agree with @Jon Clegg I think we'd look at that as a component but the main crux of the build is the body and neck.

I think it's also worth mentioning that I think there's "honor" in all of the categories and I only ranked them that way because I usually scratch build and to be brutally honest, it probably reflects my secret subconscious prejudices . The reason for the categories really though is like any competition, it makes sense to let people "compete" with other similar approaches to the build process. Plus if we have three or less entrants, everyone's a winner.

I fully expect someone is going to make an absolutely stunning instrument in each category.

 

[A9X]

I was interested in joining the Winter Build Off. But it'll be summer here so I can work in shorts, singlets and NZ safety shoes (see below) whilst you lot all freeze.

Seriously, I won't be ready in time to do much, so can I join as an 'associate' entry and maybe just do my first neck? It'll be attached to an existing manufactured body and some of the hardware.

By the 2023 BO, I should be ready to try my hand at a full build.

@Beej just to clarify, can I order a FB from LMII slotted and radiused and use it?

 

[Jon Clegg]

I was interested in joining the Winter Build Off. But it'll be summer here so I can work in shorts, singlets and NZ safety shoes (see below) whilst you lot all freeze.

Seriously, I won't be ready in time to do much, so can I join as an 'associate' entry and maybe just do my first neck? It'll be attached to an existing manufactured body and some of the hardware.

By the 2023 BO, I should be ready to try my hand at a full build.

@Beej just to clarify, can I order a FB from LMII slotted and radiused and use it?

View attachment 4359243

Using an existing body and doing your first neck would be the Partial Build category that @Beej put in there. And yes, LMII slotted and radiused is what I've used on all my entries.

 

[A9X]

Thanks Jon.

 

[brocket]

I've always loved the build-offs, and I might actually get to participate this year!! I've been slowly getting things in place for redoing a J bass, so the theme and Assembly Build and even the timeframe fit what I was shooting for, and this might be the little extra encouragement to get it done.

 

[Big B.]

Beej, it's awesome that you are taking over for this one. Let's see if I can actually finish my build on time without being sidetracked with other builds or acquiring stitches at my day job.

Not sure what I'm going to build yet but I've been thinking about a semi-acoustic of some sort. Plenty of time for inspiration before Dec.

 

[RichterScale]

I just realized something. It's the beginning of Aug and this build starts in late Dec.
After some rough math and online calculators,...I come up with somewhere close to 5 months between now and late Dec.
That's like the perfect amount of time to where it's not enough to knock out a build and then start a whole new one for the BO, but it's too long to just sit around and wait to start my next build because I want to save it for the BO.
That means I'll have to actually do other real work-type stuff around the house while I wait!
This is really poor planning.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I just realized something. It's the beginning of Aug and this build starts in late Dec.
After some rough math and online calculators,...I come up with somewhere close to 5 months between now and late Dec.
That's like the perfect amount of time to where it's not enough to knock out a build and then start a whole new one for the BO, but it's too long to just sit around and wait to start my next build because I want to save it for the BO.
That means I'll have to actually do other real work-type stuff around the house while I wait!
This is really poor planning.

Hardly… If you do it right 5 months is barely enough time to make templates, new fixtures, test pieces and let's not forget a good hour or two a day just to sit and have a good think about the next build. Why if you plan it out that stuff could easily eat up a year or more!

 

[RichterScale]

This is true.
Sometimes ya just gotta look at it.

 

[dwizum]

let's not forget a good hour or two a day just to sit and have a good think about the next build.

The trick is to do that part between 2 and 4 am because you're not sleeping anyway...