Andyjr1515

Before I start drilling any holes, a quick check of the break angles at the nut. Does ANYONE use cocktail sticks for cocktails?

The thing I've been pondering is the bridge saddle. I'm going to be fitting an acoustic-style saddle with a piezo element underneath it - this is just a scrap 6-string acoustic saddle, but it illustrates the kind of thing: Having built a couple of acoustics in my past, I am acutely aware that the saddle intonation angle has to be accurately predetermined - it's pretty non-adjustable once the slot for it is cut. Because the intonation varies from bass to bass from a number of factors, I need to be pretty certain what this needs to be before I cut the slot. The starting point is usually "G string at 1/2mm behind scale length, bottom E at 3mm behind scale length" but I want to be more certain than that. So what I am planning is this:[list] [*]Drill the string exit holes in the headstock [*]Fit the underside headstock clamp [*]Fit the tuner block [*]String it up with a temporary loose saddle, tuned to normal pitch, fully set-up truss-rod wise, etc [*]Sort the intonation as you would with a floating bridge (like on Hofner Violin Basses) [*]Mark the position [*]Cut the saddle slot [/list] I did consider making a low profile semi-floating bridge, but I think it would detract from the clean lines.... Gosh...there's a lot of sit-and-ponder-while-sitting-on-hands time involved in this project!

Got a bit distracted with exciting stuff through the post (bone for acoustic saddle, battery clips, electrical stuff) and planning the final steps Cover should be cut tomorrow (today's tomorrow rather than yesterday's tomorow... )

Bit of progress on this. I've lengthened the chamber to allow for a bit more space between the knobs and also to allow a comfortable distance between the last knob and the jack. I've also done the cover rebate - the wider areas are to give me room to fit the magnets. After a final tidying up of the rebate shape, I will see if I can cut a nice tight-fitting cover. Probably a 'tomorrow job'

I agree with the others - lovely bit of timber...I look forward to seeing this progress

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1497793643' post='3320576'] Most of that was Japanese to me but it's good to read that the vital organs are starting to go in.... [/quote] Yes - finishing the control chamber shape and its cover means the final sanding can be done and then the finishing started. It's one of the last big steps..the remaining stuff is more routine

Thanks, folks Next big task is the control chamber and cover. This is a bit chicken and egg and will need me to make up some routing templates. Looking at the John East pre-amp circuit that Jez (Jabba_the_gut) sent to me, there are optional connection points for master vol, piezo / magnetic blend, piezo tone and magnetic tone. So hang it - may as well try to get ALL of those in, if I can To get the above in full, I need one more pot - Artec do a mini concentric pot that I could use for the two tones, but in terms of footprint, this is basically how it would fit (and also these are not the final knobs): If the concentric tones is a no go, actually the above would work with a dual gang pot, one wired to the piezo and one to the magnetic and then just use the blend to get the right vibe... Either way, with a bit of squaring off of the two chambers, it will fit. The usability is also OK - you would just reach down and roll the knobs from their sides. I do need to get the dividing wall quite a bit thinner - the two pots John recommends for the blend and master volume are only available in short thread. With care, though, it should be fine. Once the shape of the chamber has been tweaked, I can then rout the rebate for the cover... Oh - and ignore the ragged corner of the tuner block chamber - haven't got there yet!

Now it really IS starting to look like a bass These are with a brass nut. I tried black, but for the front, it clashed:

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1497658695' post='3319926'] And dare I say this but I love the Flock of Seagulls headstock inlays haha. It does remind me of said bands album covers (in a good way). [/quote] Seagulls? Hmmm....they're OK, I suppose. They are superlative gliders and remind us all of the seaside...and rubbish tips But Swifts - now then, they are MUCH more classy... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd3NlfbA7yQ

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1497653556' post='3319896'] so one of the nine will be... what kinda finish is it going to have? [/quote] As natural as I can make it. Probably truoil slurry and buff. I think the silky smooth organic feel will be just right. It will darken the wood a touch, but not much.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1497642633' post='3319793'] Feels like the end is in sight....here's to sleepless nights between now and then. [/quote] Nine and a half 'to-do's' left on my list. I have to say that I'm extremely pleased how this is starting to look and feel. The final carves and shaping always does pull the whole thing together - and it certainly is doing with this one. I know I say this every time - but I've got a feeling in my water that this is going to be one of my best yet

First dozen frets installed : In the 'hammer them or caul them' debate, I do a bit of both. I put them in 4 at a time, using the 'fret radiused tighter than the fretboard, tiny bead of titebond on the tangs, then tap one side, tap the other side, tap the middle' method to make sure the tangs are properly locked in. I then clamp the appropriate radius block on the four I've just done for half an hour or so. Note I've finished the ends on the bass side before installing. I will do that also on the upper frets where the slots are blind due to the upper horn.

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1497621048' post='3319583'] With all the complicated shapes and unusual features I'd have been fretting from day #1 [/quote] also

[quote name='Jakester' timestamp='1497621024' post='3319582'] You mean you're only going to start worrying about it now? [/quote]

Today is sanding and final-ish shaping day. Things like the body / neck joins: I'll see how it goes, but I might be able to start fretting very soon

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1497541995' post='3318999'] That looks good enough to eat. S.P. [/quote] Done. Now what's for pudding? *burp*

[quote name='stearstree1304' timestamp='1497541877' post='3318995'] I like the way the surrounds for the luminlay and accent line come together as one - very classy!! [/quote] Thanks ! Turned out as good as I'd hoped and better than I expected

That's looking like a very special bit of wood . This one will be well worth the wait for - don't rush it Andy

Luminlay fretmarkers installed: By the way, Mick - don't panic. That's the garden chair it was on and not the lower horn!

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1497529802' post='3318891'] Unfortunately nobody's checked to see if I'm cack-handed... [/quote] Oh, but I did...I did

[quote name='Daz39' timestamp='1497525623' post='3318847'] How many times did you check you hadn't made it left-handed? [/quote] Constantly! Then had to check that Mick wasn't....

[quote name='RichardH' timestamp='1497453284' post='3318303'] Love the way the dark neck stringer laminate shows through on the bottom of the headstock. [/quote] Thanks, Richard Still loads and loads to do, but I like it when I get to the 'final list of tasks' stage. 17 items on it, two of which I've been able to cross off yesterday evening. The 'most careful' one of the day was drilling the string exit holes in the fretboard. Not easy! Because the angles and exit points are pretty critical, the pilot holes (drilled from the top) had to be in EXACTLY the right place. Not at all easy when there is almost nothing you can get a ruler against. It was back to schoolboy geometry to work out exactly where I needed to drill, and then exactly the angle to twist to to end up with a hole that was in the right place and at the right angle for both the saddle and the tuner positions. It was another one of this 'check 14 times and drill once' jobs . It paid off, though. These are in the right place and are at the right angle:

Starting to get there. Still quite a bit of final shaping to do but this is starting to get to the vibe we are looking at. Other than the top 'horn', the shape is a pretty close copy of the body shape: It's curved, radiused and rounded on the top: It's definitely stripy on the back: It will end up a little more curvy at the back, but this again is the basic vibe: And the truss rod cover, cut out of the headstock plate itself, will be retained by a single neo-magnet:

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1497450500' post='3318282'] [/quote]

The next day or so will be the 'creeping up on' the headstock. The concept is that is should pretty much reflect the shape of the body. Here it is with the initial rounding of the top (which has already been radiused) and then I will do a subtle concave curve at the back ending with fully-rounded edges. There's lots of sand a bit, step back a bit and think a bit going on on the basis that you can always take away but you can't add stuff back on!