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Winter Build Off 2025 Tele

#141
sanding1.jpg

I guess the above picture answers the question as to whether I'll start sanding the existing finish down or not.

scratches.jpg

Why I couldn't see these scratches before I started putting the finish on is beyond my comprehension.

sanding2.jpg

I clamped down a couple of scrap boards to hold the body in place while I went at it.

sanding3.jpg

Almost there, but I ran out of steam. It's amazing to me how not-level this body is. What was I thinking? In any event, there's plenty of time before the Build-off ends. so I can take my time level sanding, finishing, and assembling this build.
 
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#142
Finally finished level sanding the front.

front sanded.jpg

That's about as good as I can get it with 120 grit. I'll have to go back to the store to get some more 220. Started on the back.

started back.jpg

There's some pretty deep scratches here as well, though I think the back is a bit more level than the front. Once again, my strength has given out. so I'll continue this tomorrow. I'll also have to re-do the round over at least on the front. I sanded far enough to cut it in half. Anyway. once I finished the back. I'll have to start on the sides. Ugh. Maybe I'll use the oscillating sander for that. I think I have some 120 grit sanding drums.
 
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#145
mapleglo said:
I finished level sanding the back.

View attachment 7147255

I started on the sides but ran out of steam. Besides, we have errands to run. It looks like I took down a bit of thickness. This may be the thinnest bass I've made. It looks just over and inch. Yikes!
Click to expand...
This late '60s Egmond is an inch thick -

1739159636363.jpeg
 
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#148
Flamingo21 said:
I love how the strap matches the body here 😍


I hope this doesn't make it neck divey.

But maybe you prefer a bit of neck dive to a bit of extra weight? That's up to you as a user, of course.
Click to expand...
It may be an issue as that body style doesn't have an upper horn but maybe the body is heavy enough to balance. The Egmond (Rambler) has a semi-hollow-body and is very light so it does dive a bit. But the whole bass is 5lbs/9oz so it's not really an issue.
 
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#149
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#155
My delivery from Amazon just arrived with the tuner screws, so I installed the tuners.

Tuners Installed.jpg

And I also took the time to condition the fretboard.

Fretboard conditioned.jpg

The body is still slightly off-gassing, so I'll probably wait until tomorrow or Saturday to start working on that. Pickups, control panel, wiring, pickguard, and bridge. I also need to make some adjustments to the nut. It's way high at this point, so I'll wait until I'm further along to start on that.
 
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#156
So I started assembling the body this morning.

Started Assembly.jpg

Ran all the wires, shielded the pickup routes, ran the bridge ground, and mounted the bridge.

Pickguard.jpg

I realized that I never routed the 45 degree angle on the pickguard, and I wasn't liking it without it, so I started on that. It took a lot of filing and sanding after I did the initial rout. The router picks up every little imperfection in the template, so all that had to be filed and sanded out. But I think it came out OK, I still need to shield the control cavity and do the wiring, though that will have to wait until tomorrow.
 
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#157
I started the wiring this morning.

wiring test.jpg

Volume, blend, and output jack. Two controls, to fit with the theme of the build-off. After the wiring was done, I started shielding the control cavity.

Shielding control cavity.jpg

I did a few continuity tests to make sure things were not shorting out, and the bridge was connected to ground.

Testing Continuity.jpg

Then I attached the neck to the body.

Neck meet Body.jpg

It's starting to look like a bass guitar!

I knew that the nut was too high, so I started filing it to size.

Nut work.jpg

The "G" string looks OK, but the "B" side is still too high.

E side too high.jpg

I'll probably start to file down the individual slots at this point, but I'm taking a break for now.

I did put it on the scale just out of curiosity, and it weighs in at 8 lbs, 10 oz.

8lbs10oz.jpg

And then I couldn't resist taking a family pic.

first family pic.jpg
 
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#159
#160
JIO said:
It's relatively light.., so how does it balance on the shoulder Nex?
Click to expand...
It is surprisingly "un-neck-divey". I thought for sure it would be a neck diver, but it balances just about parallel to the floor with my wide 4" strap. so I'm pretty happy about that. It may be due to the neck being pretty light, and the body being relatively heavy compared to the neck. It balances perfectly resting on my knee.

I didn't get to do any more work on this today as we again went to the Renaissance Festival.

Nex&Rob Ren Fair 2-17.jpg
 
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