Jimothey

I'm going to use an 5 string acoustic bass nut as they are 43mm because every other nut I've found is 45mm I worked out that I would need 9mm spacing at the nut and the bridge spacing needs to be 16mm otherwise the strings will be too close to the edge of the fretboard (sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs) 😀

Yeah I just used Halfords own brand primer and I used the Plastikote satin top coat, Are you going to keep the 4 string neck because that's what I'm doing to one of my P basses at the mo and if it comes out OK I'm going to do it to my Jazz bass as well......... 😀

My '72ish P bass body is Paulownia and I didn't seal it as such I sanded it to 240 grit, then I just did 3 coats of under coat, flattening after the second coat then 3 top coats and the body came out flat with no grain sinkage I suppose it depends on how thick the paper is? If its like tissue paper then you might see some grain through it but if it's quite thick then I think you should be go fine 🤔

Its an adjustable height nut and the grub screw goes almost the full width so I thought it would be easier just paring off a couple of mm off the fretboard, it only took 30 secs with a sharp chisel 😀

Got started today on the conversion First job was to remove the nut, the nut I'm replacing it with is 3mm deeper so I had to pare off the nut slot flat Then I marked out for the 5th tuner...... Then the moment of no going back I drilled the hole for the the 5th tuner..... Tomorrow I'll remove the bridge and fill the holes and get started on changing the pickguard 😀

I hope you drove him out of town with torches and pitchforks!! 😁

Totally agree looks amazing!! 😁

It's now all filled and sanded, I like to put a coat of primer on so I can if there's any slumpage (I think that's a word 🤔 if it's not it should be !?!) But it looks like this had come out OK?

Finally got started on this build! I've filled all the old cavity holes just waiting for the glue to go off then I'll fill it with two pack then sand it all down lovely and flat The body is a slab body so I've got to do the belly and arm carves 😀

That's what I've done now a couple of kit builds then jumped in doing a neck thru @Andyjr1515 is right when you carve the neck and then you step back and look at it it's really satisfying 😊

That really makes the poplar come alive! Looks great mate! 😀

That's come out great! , did you just use a coping saw or did you use a scrollsaw aswell?

I kinda agree that putting 'dragon' does make them sound cheap which they certainly aren't! but 'Ddraig' is a very nice touch, just my opinion but I think I would rotate the dragon 90°so it matches the 'Ddraig'

Not much done today I've sorted out the headstock thickness I've taken the edging off from the side of the neck and headstock in the end I felt it just didn't look right?....... I'm definitely going for Black hardware but after @TheGreek's comment about an Ebony fretboard its got me reconsidering the Maple fretboard and going back to my original idea of Ebony? I think both would look good but.......Opinions please Ebony or Maple??? 🤔

Your right the headstock is a bit too thick I need to thin it down as it's about 20mm at present but it needs to be nearer 15mm, I'm going to try sort that out today.........

I just thought its something a bit different you often see headstock bound with black/white ABS but I haven't seen many with wood veneer I'm thinking that I'm going to go gloss haven't decided whether to try tru-oil or just wipe on poly it which ever I choose I think it needs a nice deep lustre......

It's Oak and its about 0.6mm Because it runs down the neck aswell I thought it would look better it continuing on to the headstock....... 😀

+1 they look superb!

Many happy returns! 🎂 Is this build a cheeky little birthday present to yourself? 😁

My first thought was an Ebony fretboard but I think Maple will be a nice contrast, Maybe you should commission a new build with Andy?

I just bound the headstock, I don't know if it was needed but I quite like it?

I'd like to add a good quality chisel makes a hell of a difference too its worth spending a little bit extra and get a 01 high carbon tool steel set as they will keep a much better edge on them!

I think you've done a great job I'd be chuffed if my first one came out like yours! Have you started planning your next one? 😁

Yeah that's what I thought after I said it! It was a balls up ready to happen let's not run before I can walk!! 😁

Just a quick mockup of how the top will look...... but just imagine Zebrano veneer with matching headstock 😀 I'm still not sure about the colour of the hardware chrome or black?? 🤔