Winter Build Off 2022 - HRP6

[5tring]

This is my entry for the WBO 2022 in the scratch build category

I don’t have the wood for the body yet, but I’m going to make a start on the neck, so here is my wood pile shot for neck construction:

This will be a fairly traditional P bass shape with a humbucker at the bridge, reverse P in the normal place, 6 string - HRP6

The main rebirth aspect will be the body, which I have a couple of options for but will be some sort of reclaimed wood.

the secondary rebirth aspects are this is a combination of 2 projects that I planned a long time ago and never started - a 6 string p bass and a radiused body bass (aerodyne style). To combine the 2 I’ve had to ditch the pickguard I was originally planning on the p, and switch to a solid front, access from the back type arrangement.

Specs:

34” scale 6 string
Sapele neck with 3 maple stringers, oak veneer accent strips
Maybe 2 truss rods
Carbon reinforcement of some description
The rosewood off cut on the right may become a skunk stripe
Fender-style headstock (by which I mean non-angled, not necessarily fender shaped)
Zebrawood fretboard, probably 24 fret but tbc
Either a veneered headstock, or painted depending what I do with the body
EMG passive bridge pickup, warman passive p pickups
Simple VVT controls
Other details tbc

I probably won’t work on this til after Christmas!

 

[Flamingo21]

Subscribed.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Is that a glow in the dark truss rod?

 

[postalflunkie]

So you can adjust it in the dark?

 

[Flamingo21]

That would be cool in a see-through neck!

 

[5tring]

The glow in the dark truss rods are in case you need to do a truss rod replacement, fret levelling and nut re-cut during a set

 

[2groggy]

... You could put the fret dots ON the glow in the dark truss rod in your transparent neck ... mind blown.

 

[5tring]

Snuck in a bit of work on this:

cut up my planks and got 2 pieces of veneer ready:

And glued ‘em up:

I know, I know, not enough clamps but it’s 1am and no way I’m going out to the shed.

seemed to get a decent amount of squeeze out all along so it should be fine.

I should get a decent chunk for time to work on this on Wednesday, hence working in the middle of the night to give the glue chance to dry.

 

[dwizum]

Okay, that's plenty of woodworking photos, we want to to get back to talking about the glow in the dark truss rod!

 

[5tring]

Right, update time!

A combination of work and completely rebuilding my router planing jig has meant a slow start, but I’m up and running now

Marked out the neck and headstock:

Hacked out the basic profile:

Started rough cutting the shape:

Then realised it would be easier to spindle sand the transitions while there was still a straight edge, so I roughed those in:

 

[5tring]

Then I planed the headstock to thickness and spindled the transition:

Drilled the holes for the M5 inserts:

I also routed for the carbon support, went way too deep at first but luckily it’s only in the bit where the body bolts on, so it’s a speed hole

 

[5tring]

Good old facet method on the neck carve:

And it is starting to look like a neck:

This neck is quite thin, and I can’t afford to lose the material of a square truss rod channel, so I went to get my trusty 1/4” cove bit…… I don’t own one. Should arrive tomorrow.

next job is cutting TRCs and planing the fretboard down to thickness, but that brings the thread up-to-date

notes:

I made a last minute change to body-end truss rod access, shouldn’t be a problem but I’ve never done it before…

I realised that I got the maple, sapele and veneers as off-cuts from a furniture maker. Because that’s where I always get my materials from I never thought twice, but that’s extra rebirth points!

 

[5tring]

Bit of water on the neck for grain sneak preview

 

[Bent77]

Cool updates!

 

[TerribleTim68]

I guess I'll be the one that says it -
Every time I see this thread title I think of Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours:


HRP6 = Herpes Simplex 6


That neck looks great @5tring

 

[5tring]

Cool updates!

Thanks! Hopefully more to come tomorrow

 

[5tring]

I guess I'll be the one that says it -
Every time I see this thread title I think of Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours:


HRP6 = Herpes Simplex 6


That neck looks great @5tring

thanks
I think

 

[5tring]

No major woodwork to report, but I did finish off the body design:

Not sure what bridge I’ll be using yet

 

[5tring]

Oh and I finally picked up the wood I’ll be using for the body today, so I’ll do another wood pile shot later

 

[NKBassman]

Interesting! What are you planning on using for the triple-P pickup, and any concerns about humbucking?