Winter Build Off 2022 - Toby-or-not-Toby

[2groggy]

I just glued the top onto the frame. Here is the required clamp shot.

followed by the rare and unusual "hey, those clamps have hooks on the ends and can be hung from the ceiling" shot.

Tomorrow I will trim the top to the wiggle board and then glue on the bottom the same way.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

"hey, those clamps have hooks on the ends

Those clamps look like they happened 9 months after a party for C-clamps and Caulking guns...

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I just glued the top onto the frame. Here is the required clamp shot.
View attachment 4530780

followed by the rare and unusual "hey, those clamps have hooks on the ends and can be hung from the ceiling" shot.
View attachment 4530783

Tomorrow I will trim the top to the wiggle board and then glue on the bottom the same way.

That’s pretty clampy cool!

 

[Beej]

Those clamps look like they happened 9 months after a party for C-clamps and Caulking guns...

I actually laughed out loud at that one and then had to explain myself to my teenage daughter. She asked if all Dads laugh at Dad jokes.

 

[2groggy]

The top is out of the clamps and coarsely trimmed. I will trim top and bottom with a router and flush trim bit when the bottom is ready.

And speaking of the back, it is glued, clamped and swinging in the rafters.

 

[2groggy]

Step 4 is essentially done. Tomorrow I will tidy up the sides and start on end caps for the horns and then the veneer wraps

 

[Flamingo21]

If you don't mind me saying it, it's starting to look like a normal body.

 

[Flying B]

Can't work out if you're a genius or a madman, but I'm enjoying it either way!

 

[Flamingo21]

Can't work out if you're a genius or a madman, but I'm enjoying it either way!

The two are very close, and sometimes overlap.

 

[2groggy]

Now it's time for the unpredictable part of the build - audience participation.

I'm looking for opinions on a few things. First, here is the current mock-up. Sorry if you strain your neck while tilting your heads to the right. Chiropractic expenses will not be reimbursed.

My list of questions, from the top to bottom of the picture:
1) football jack on the side or strat jack on the back to do double duty as a mini cover plate?
2) bridge ideas? I have ruled out string-through because I never get them aligned. There isn't room for a Bigsby. It will be supported by the solid core.
3) I've planned my dimensions for three or four wraps of veneer, alternating colours. Should I use 3, leaving dark on the outside, or four, leaving light on the outermost wrap?
4) do I bother with the switch for single or double coil? If so, do I position it near the knobs or on the upper horn?
5) for the headstock, I can strip it to clear maple or veneer it to match the face birds-eye, the side clear maple or the side dyed maple. The builder of the neck said the headstock was originally pained to cover is some discolouration of the wood.

 

[RichterScale]

1) football jack on the side or strat jack on the back to do double duty as a mini cover plate?

I'm juggling the exact same questions.
For me, it will come down to what position I will be holding the bass 99% of the time. Standing? Sitting with it on my right leg or in my lap? Also, there will be some consideration in chosing a spot that will hold up to the possible accidental yank out. Probably more of a consideration on yours than a 100% solid body.

2) bridge ideas? I have ruled out string-through because I never get them aligned. There isn't room for a Bigsby. It will be supported by the solid core.

I will defer this to the bridge dept.

4) do I bother with the switch for single or double coil? If so, do I position it near the knobs or on the upper horn?

My thoughts are that if it was a lead guitar, the upper horn would be a convenient location. Plus I don't think it looks smooth. I'd have it hang out with the other controls.

5) for the headstock, I can strip it to clear maple or veneer it to match the face birds-eye, the side clear maple or the side dyed maple. The builder of the neck said the headstock was originally pained to cover is some discolouration of the wood.

Are the sides going to be rounded over to expose the layers? Outside layer dark?

 

[2groggy]

Are the sides going to be rounded over to expose the layers? Outside layer dark?

I usually play sitting, so I was planning on a 1/4 or 3/8 round-over. There's nothing stopping me from using multiple veneers on the outside wrap. These two hollow bodies were made from the same batches of veneer.

Edit - it doesn't show in this picture, but these bodies are different colours. tyhe bass VI is clear natural birds-eye maple, like in my avatar. The Harlequin is tinted orange.

 

[RichterScale]

I'm trying to picture it, but now my neck is all outta whack.
I think the dark veneer on the side of the body would look awesome.
I'm trying to picture the headstock.
Can't go wrong with matching the birds eye. Matching the dark on the sides might look good too, but I'd have to see a pic or mock up. What color is the headstock hardware?

 

[Videojunkie]

1) football jack on the side or strat jack on the back to do double duty as a mini cover plate?

I think I would lean towards putting it on the side like a Gretsch.

2) bridge ideas? I have ruled out string-through because I never get them aligned. There isn't room for a Bigsby. It will be supported by the solid core.

I think it needs some kind of trapeze tailpiece to match the look. Then you can just use a blade style bridge.

3) I've planned my dimensions for three or four wraps of veneer, alternating colours. Should I use 3, leaving dark on the outside, or four, leaving light on the outermost wrap?

I vote for 4. This looks fantastic as a light colored instrument.

4) do I bother with the switch for single or double coil? If so, do I position it near the knobs or on the upper horn?

Just do a push/ pull knob. Keep it clean.

5) for the headstock, I can strip it to clear maple or veneer it to match the face birds-eye, the side clear maple or the side dyed maple. The builder of the neck said the headstock was originally pained to cover is some discolouration of the wood.

Birds-eye. Clear maple.

 

[2groggy]

What color is the headstock hardware?

Chrome, like the jack plates & neck plate.

 

[2groggy]

...
I think it needs some kind of trapeze tailpiece to match the look. Then you can just use a blade style bridge.
...
Just do a push/ pull knob. Keep it clean.

Thanks for the ideas.

I'd have to custom fabricate a tailpiece because there isn't much space behind the bridge. I could pull that off.

I hadn't even though of a push/pull. Good idea!

 

[RichterScale]

I think a matching bird's eye headstock would look fantastic.
I you're incorporation the dark veneer into the sides, considering the everything else and the fingerboard is light, the dark veneer in the headstock would be a nice tie-in with the sides and look killer against the chrome hardware.
Or maybe sand down the headstock and do birdseye on top of dark so you have a little dark trim line?

 

[2groggy]

Or maybe sand down the headstock and do birdseye on top of dark so you have a little dark trim line?

Awesome idea!

 

[RichterScale]

Can you do any kind of drawing to help visualize the headstock options?

 

[2groggy]

Hmmm,