mr zed Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Not sure if this is the right place to post this, if not mods please move. I have designed a template for a scratchplate that I want to put onto my newly acquired white Harley Benton Progressive 5 string deko. I have had a quote of £55 to have one made to my template (inc p&p & screws etc). This seems expensive for a bass which cost less than this (£46 in total). The plus points are that it will be professionally done and I won't have to lift a finger. The other option is to have a go myself. 3-ply blank material comes in at less than £15. However I don't have a router to be able to cut a nice 45 degree bevelled edge. I would have to adopt a 'bodge it' approach with a coping saw, files and sand paper. I don't mind doing the work myself and think that I could achieve a reasonable finish however it will probably never look as good as a professionally made plate. Anyone made their own scratchplate without a router and how did it turn out? Should I just stump up the cash? Does £55 sound pricy and does anyone have any recommendations for someone who could do a professional job cheaper? Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 £55 is well pricey! I had one made for a Precision and a Blazer and they cost around £25 each from the Doctor of the Bass on this forum. Although they were just 3-ply black. Maybe tort costs more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 That price seems steep - I know some BCers produce them commercially. Try Googling "custom scratchplate" and you'll find a few there straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Thanks for the reply's guys. Decided to have a go myself. Cost £17 for the blank scratchplate material & the screws. I think it came out ok. [url="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/zedsled/media/Harley%20Benton%20B550/Harley%20Benton%20B550%20017_zps0eczs7bu.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/zedsled/media/Harley%20Benton%20B550/Harley%20Benton%20B550%20013_zpshlidowtb.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/zedsled/media/Harley%20Benton%20B550/Harley%20Benton%20B550%20015_zps8sts1mha.jpg.html"][/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 [quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1452593846' post='2951360'] Thanks for the reply's guys. Decided to have a go myself. Cost £17 for the blank scratchplate material & the screws. I think it came out ok. [url="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/zedsled/media/Harley%20Benton%20B550/Harley%20Benton%20B550%20017_zps0eczs7bu.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/zedsled/media/Harley%20Benton%20B550/Harley%20Benton%20B550%20013_zpshlidowtb.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/zedsled/media/Harley%20Benton%20B550/Harley%20Benton%20B550%20015_zps8sts1mha.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] That looks great... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Nice job! I think that looks loads better with the plate - somehow looks classier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) I'm well impressed, especially if that was just with a saw and sandpaper. With regards to the cost justification, I think on a Harley B or any sub-£50 bass you have to do it because you want to do it and yu want it and forget about the price. On that one you may well get your money back though. Edited January 12, 2016 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 That looks great. Superb job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 That looks ace. Proper job. If it had been me I would have used it as an excuse to buy a router (I have two very cheap routers and both are fine) or a router adapt or for my Dremel. It would have come in a little over the quoted price in total, but then you'd have a router for any future jobs! But it turns out you really didn't need one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 That looks great - nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Looks really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 good work there maybe you should start taking commissions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 That looks fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockmanrock Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Looks great, very good job there. I bought a Lidl router to make a scratchplate for a guitar but I've not tried it yet. I was going to get one of those smaller 'trimmer' routers but then I watched this (not for the squeamish!) : [url="https://youtu.be/xseF_8mUIJg?t=262"]https://youtu.be/xseF_8mUIJg?t=262[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 [quote name='rockmanrock' timestamp='1452611832' post='2951643'] Looks great, very good job there. I bought a Lidl router to make a scratchplate for a guitar but I've not tried it yet. I was going to get one of those smaller 'trimmer' routers but then I watched this (not for the squeamish!) : [url="https://youtu.be/xseF_8mUIJg?t=262"]https://youtu.be/xseF_8mUIJg?t=262[/url] [/quote] Yup, power tools can be dangerous, and routers are particularly powerful. You can never be too careful. The router I use for free hand stuff has a switch that cannot be locked on, if you let go it cuts the power. The other router doesn't have that, but I have that mounted in a router table. This year, hopefully (I've been meaning to for a while), I will be getting a dead man's footswitch. I can use it for my router, angle grinder, bench grinder and drill press. It's not only safer, but more convenient, not having to let go of what you're doing to turn stuff on and off, which makes it less likely that I will leave something running while I "just do this thing over here real quick...". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Thanks for all your kind comments. It crossed my mind to buy a router to do this and keep it for future jobs but I ended up winging it. I used a 10mm drill bit for the corners of the pickup hole and neck recess then a jigsaw with a fine blade to cut out the shape which worked a treat. I then used some scotchbrite to smooth off the edges then drilled the screw holes. A countersink drill bit was used to sink in the screws but I also used this in a pillar drill we have at work to create the 45 degree bevelled edge by moving the plate around the fixed countersink drill bit (the scratchplate was on a piece of wood). A quick file around the edges to smooth out the shape then a little more scotchbrite to finish it off and done. It would have been easier and neater using a router however I don't know if I'd ever need a router again. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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