Jimothey

42 minutes ago, fleabag said:

I decided to go the straight double flute bit, no bearing at all

 

The template only has to last 2 pickup cavities.

 

It's aslo a bottom cleaning ( ooer ) bit so the floor of the cavity is as nice as the sides

 

I cant see a bearing on the bottom of the cutter is any good at all .  How would that work ?

 

 

 

I still don’t think just using a straight cutter just on the shank will give you a nice accurate clean cut as the cutter could still wander

top bearing cutters do exactly the same thing as straight flute they both bottom clear the only difference is one has a bearing 
 

you use a bottom bearing when you have the workpiece upside down or use a router table so the bearing still runs on the template 👍🏻

4 hours ago, fleabag said:

Not sure about using a 12mm as a routing bit for pickup cavities.  Isnt the radius a bit big for the tight corners ?  I was thinking 6.3mm  bit

 

I am now thinking it might be easier to find a non bearing straight bit. Shank same size as cutting blades, and use the shank to run along the template ?

I’ve never had an issue with using a 1/2” router bit the corners come out fine with the pickups I’ve fitted on my builds but I generally clean up the corners with a chisel if needed but yeah a 1/4” will work just as well 

I wouldn’t recommend not using a bearing as you will knacker your template really quickly and it won’t run true you will end up taking chunks out of your template because the shank will burn the template!

if you want to go down the straight flute cutter then you will need a guide bush on the bottom of your router and enlarge your templates to allow for the difference between the cutter size and the guide bush diameter 👍🏻

I find plunge routers to be better for use with templates so I use a 1/2” router for routing the body with a 50mm top bearing trimmer bit and a 1/4” router for the cavities with a top bearing 12mm trimmer bit and on the rare occasion I used to use a palm router just for rounding over the edges as I found the depth of the plunge on them was a bit poor unless as Jabba said you buy an extra plunge attachment which seems an expensive way of doing it? 👍🏻

I got bored so I did a kinda rendered version of the bass……..👍🏻
 

The more I looked at the latest design the more I didn’t like it so here’s version 3.0 (or is it 1000.0 I can’t remember there’s been so many changes on most of my builds!!)

I can’t decide so these are the 2 headstock choices??

its going to be (probably) Sapele/Pine or Oak laminated back and neck, pallet top with stained Black Oak fretboard and pickup cover/ramp so it’s going to be quite rustic!!……👍🏻

Not that it didn’t look great before but I think I prefer the one big than the two small covers! I’m going to hopefully do that when I get round to doing my singlecut that I’ve been planning to do?……..👍🏻

Just out of interest what’s the price difference between buying an amp head and building one?👍🏻

1 hour ago, MoonBassAlpha said:

Busy fellow!

Being a house husband and the kids at school I get lots of time to get on with the builds and I get bored otherwise there’s only so much hoovering, washing and ironing you can fill your day with!!! 😂

Here’s the offset strat-ish build!

This is scaffold board back with pallet wood top and just Danish oiled 

The neck and electrics are out of a cheap strat copy I picked up the other day

The headstock has been reshaped and I’ve veneered it with a thin piece of pallet wood to match the body….👍🏻

Here’s an updated family portrait!!

1 hour ago, PaulThePlug said:

@Jimothey Thanks, i did get your message and replied. I just thought it a shame to wreck a fretboard just for a bit of wood for cosmetics, Hopefully the fretboard may serve its purpose better with someone maybe making a new or spare neck or for a fretless conversion or some such. Thanks again for your kind offer.

No worries I wasn’t sure if you saw it 👍🏻

Here’s the latest Guitar I’m building its my take on an offset tele-ish type thing…….this is the first time of doing a neck from scratch as well!!

The body is Sapele back with a Poplar pallet top the neck is Sapele with an Oak fretboard, I’m really happy with the way it’s turning out!!…..👍🏻

I’ve started gluing up blanks for my take on a Les Paul, offset strat-ish, a Jack Bruce inspired (a Jazz pickup Warwick SG style) bass and a rear routed Jag bass as well 

5 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

I had put a shout out for a Lightish Rosewood off cut in the Build Diaries, but no reply 😞

I replied to you offering you an old fretboard which is yours if you still want it? 👍🏻

Following with interest!  👍🏻

I’ve got an old rosewood fretboard that’s off a Squier P Bass that you could remove the frets and thickness it, I’ll take a pic tomorrow to see if it’s the right colour if you want? 👍🏻

1 minute ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Generally, 30ml will easily do a bass

Cheers mate I might have to order some different colours and have a little play…….👍🏻

@Andyjr1515 with the Diamine inks how many mls of ink do you normally use to do a couple of coats on a body, I’ve seen them advertised for £1.85 for 30ml which seems really cheap?……..👍🏻

I have changed this build slightly I used an old neck that I had laying about and I’m going to use the oak reverse neck on a new up coming build…….

The chrome hardware just looked a bit boring so I decided to spray it so it looked a bit like brushed Alu for something a bit different?

I also refinished the body Matt black then distressed it a bit as well for good measure

I think I might have to change the name to WarBird now tho………👍🏻

I’m thinking would it look better with a matching headstock???

Pm’d

Finally was able to get back on this one here’s a mock up of how it will look……..

With pickguard

Without pickguard

I think I prefer it without the pickguard, but hopefully this one is going to go up for sale?…..👍🏻

I’m really liking that understated but very cool looking!!! 👍🏻

My only blue bass..... 

I have to be honest I don't really like the colour but I love the bass so it might be in for a refinish soon? 👍🏻 

I'm starting to make my own necks and been looking at truss rods and can't decide which ones are best to get? 

I've seen spoke wheel and hex key nut ones that are the same price but don't know which one to go for? 

Whats everyone's opinions on which are best etc? 

Thanks in advance

1 hour ago, Dom in Dorset said:

As a pallet junkie I'm jealous! That's really quite beautiful.

The top might look a bit like this.... 

I don't know whether to change the orientation of the grain on this build? Maybe diagonal to follow the body shape?

I'm doing a lescaster that I'm going to do the top in a chevron pattern?