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Winter Build Off 2023 - Acoustic/Electric Short Scale 5 String
- Thread starter mapleglo
- Start date
Not lifting, just never glued down hard enough. I'll flood it with epoxy or superglue at some point.
In other news, I rounded over the body this morning, all over except at the bottom where the tailpiece will sit.
It seems I'll have to get another can of resin, as a few spots of fiberglass mat lifted, and I'll need to cover them with resin to stabilize them.
I also did the "roundunder" on the headstock, since I had the router out anyway.
That cove bit is a monster!
I just placed an order with McMaster-Carr for 2-1/2" and 3" #8 stainless steel oval head screws and some finishing washers. I may countersink the whole deal so that they're flush with the back of the bass, or leave them proud. I'll see how they look proud, and then make a decision. I'll pick up some resin this weekend, unless I can squeeze out one more batch from the pretty-much empty can I have now. I must have spent close to a grand or more on this build. Jeez.
A little more fretwork this morning.
It's almost there.
It's almost there.
I had 2 oz of epoxy left at the bottom of the can, so I mixed in some hardener and coated the entire body, back and front.
It's pretty chilly in the shop this morning, so it may take a little while to cure. If it cures by tomorrow, I may be able to test assemble the whole thing on Monday. The screws and washers for the neck are scheduled to arrive then.
It's pretty chilly in the shop this morning, so it may take a little while to cure. If it cures by tomorrow, I may be able to test assemble the whole thing on Monday. The screws and washers for the neck are scheduled to arrive then.
So the epoxy resin did cure overnight. I guess that hot mix I made up contributed to the fast cure rate. I sanded it a bit.
I also worked a bit on the bridge "carrier". Just a wood block that will raise the bridge slightly off the surface of the top. I'll rout a slight depression in the "carrier" (I'm sure there's some real name for this piece, but I'm too lazy to look it up) using this template:
At least that's the theory...
In other news, my neck screws probably won't be here until much later today, so I'll assemble the whole shebang tomorrow.
I also worked a bit on the bridge "carrier". Just a wood block that will raise the bridge slightly off the surface of the top. I'll rout a slight depression in the "carrier" (I'm sure there's some real name for this piece, but I'm too lazy to look it up) using this template:
At least that's the theory...
In other news, my neck screws probably won't be here until much later today, so I'll assemble the whole shebang tomorrow.
Just call it the new coolness.
So the coolness goes in the jig and how close to the edges you route will be set by collars on the router?
Just call it the new coolness.
I'll be using a pattern bit, so the rout will be the same size as the bridge, which is the same size as the inside of the template.
Here's a pre-assembly pic:
Looks like I'll have to be using full-scale strings on this, due to the position of the tail piece. The short scale string I was using for test fitting had the taper up by the nut.
I think it's called a bridge block, though saying so probably makes me the dull one here.
Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that the bridge block (Thanks @Flamingo21) is done.
The bad news is that the tail piece is way too far back.
I'll have to make a new one that extends an inch or so.
*edit - by the way, those are standard, long scale 34" scale length strings.
The bad news is that the tail piece is way too far back.
I'll have to make a new one that extends an inch or so.
*edit - by the way, those are standard, long scale 34" scale length strings.
Just make a trapeze off of the tailpiece?
You could get extra long scale strings, how long do they need to be?
That's one option.
At least an inch longer, maybe an inch and a half. So this is another option.
So it looks like D'Addario super long scale strings will work.
According to D'Addario's web site, the string length from ball end to taper is 38".
My bass is 37-3/4 from the tailpiece to the back of the nut. Looks like it'll make it with a 1/4" to spare. I ordered a set. They should be here tomorrow.
According to D'Addario's web site, the string length from ball end to taper is 38".
My bass is 37-3/4 from the tailpiece to the back of the nut. Looks like it'll make it with a 1/4" to spare. I ordered a set. They should be here tomorrow.
And the good news is I had a $30 credit on my Amazon account, so the strings cost me nothing out of pocket.
Yep. I use D'Addario Super Longs on most of my Scroll Basses. I designed my AMB-2 model to fit them. It looks like that's what you unintentionally did on this bass. The Super Long size works great when you need 2 1/2" to 3" between the bridge and the tailpiece.
D'Addario Super Longs are produced in quantity and are regularly available online and in the big music stores. For your reference, LaBella Extra Long Scale and GHS Long Scale Plus are the same length. Most of the smaller string companies also make strings of that length.
The crazy thing is that this bass is a short scale, 30-1/2" scale. And I need extra long strings for it. Thinking about this build in retrospect, I think I would have sunk the neck way deeper into the body, and seriously reduced the number of frets. It's currently longer than my Rickenbacker.
Although this may look like the same bridge, it's actually new. When I was attempting to string up the bass yesterday, I noticed that the B and G strings were pretty close to the edge of the fingerboard. So I tightened up the string spacing a tad. Hoping this will work.
