RichardH Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 That sounds like a good idea to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 1 minute ago, Christine said: Pink duck tape? .... off before I hit you with my bag!! Hows about using a 50mm x 1mm panel pin, drill a 1mm hole and insert the pin with a strap button help onto it. As long as I drill into end grain I can insert a sliver of wood to fully hide? That's probably a good method but for the need to cover your tracks when you've done. If you only have to do it on one of the triplets it's less of a problem but will they all balance the same? I was thinking of an elastic net bag that would behave as a cargo net. Then you could try hooking at different positions relative to the bass therein. It's not the best idea I've ever had, sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intime-nick Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) If it were me, I’d cut a strip of thin, flexible wood or plastic and drill a series of holes with which to attach the strap button in different positions. Bend and affix the strip to the curve of the base of the body and then try the strap button in the various hole positions to see which balances as you’d like it. Fix the strip with some thin pins as you’ve already suggested or use a strong acrylic double-sided tape that won’t leave a residue if you don’t leave it on for too long. Or, use the cutout you’ve already routed for the bridge to attach it to as that’d hide any holes. Edited September 7, 2018 by intime-nick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 With intime-nick's suggestion, how about attaching it with the doubled up masking tape trick? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Hi @Christine I'm away from my October at the moment but in brief I usually attach the back button, then put a strap on and hold the front end in various possible places to feel how the balance feels (obviously with all the hardware already in place) Generally you can feel what is going to work and what isn't. For all my own guitars nowadays I put the button at the 3/4 position at the side of the bottom heel but I need to attach a photo to explain why - and that may be a few days away! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) I may be talking out my hat (if I was wearing one) but surely the most obvious place to put the front strap button is as close to the headstock as possible while still on the body, and move the rear strap button away from the bottom edge to change the pivot point? See Dingwall Dbird as an example: I suppose it depends on where/how you want the bass to hang though. The only experience I have with anything vaguely thunderbird esque is my Tokai Thunderbird. First fret position feels MILES away so I'll be trying this if I ever get round to refurbing the beast... Edited September 7, 2018 by Bigwan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 1 minute ago, Andyjr1515 said: Hi @Christine I'm away from my October at the moment but in brief I usually attach the back button, then put a strap on and hold the front end in various possible places to feel how the balance feels (obviously with all the hardware already in place) Generally you can feel what is going to work and what isn't. For all my own guitars nowadays I put the button at the 3/4 position at the side of the bottom heel but I need to attach a photo to explain why - and that may be a few days away! Thanks everyone, all these ideas are a great help I seem to have incapacitated my back this morning just bending slightly, the joys of getting old :( @Andyjr1515 I have seen pictures on the Orange Telecaster thread of your strap locations under the heel of the neck, it's on my list of places to try. I'm not certain where the back button is going either; I'm considering putting it high up on the back rather than centre, the idea behind my thinking is to create a line between the two buttons that will naturally bring the neck up. Of course that may be completely wishful thinking but it is a position that can be used on Thunderbird type bodies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 3 minutes ago, Bigwan said: I may be talking out my hat (if I was wearing one) but surely the most obvious place to put the front strap button is as close to the headstock as possible while still on the body, and move the rear strap button away from the bottom edge to change the pivot point? See Dingwall Dbird as an example: Crossed posts! Yes this is what is on my mind, well sort of. I do like the back of that body, I've never seen the back of a Dingwall before, I like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 Bass building aside, something that always worries me is how my writing is perceived when I try to say something. I'm badly dyslexic (thank goodness for spell checkers) and I really struggle to write naturally. I worry I sound arrogant, I think it reads that way quite often, I hope not but I think it probably does. I'm just a regular person playing around in the workshop and making mistakes just like everyone else, I am a relative newcomer to luthiery despite having made a good few many years ago but those are skills forgotten now. I really appreciate the help I get and ideas and I learn so much from them as I do from all the build threads So that's enough of being nice, back to sounding arrogant 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 2 minutes ago, Christine said: Bass building aside, something that always worries me is how my writing is perceived when I try to say something. I'm badly dyslexic (thank goodness for spell checkers) and I really struggle to write naturally. I worry I sound arrogant, I think it reads that way quite often, I hope not but I think it probably does. I'm just a regular person playing around in the workshop and making mistakes just like everyone else, I am a relative newcomer to luthiery despite having made a good few many years ago but those are skills forgotten now. I really appreciate the help I get and ideas and I learn so much from them as I do from all the build threads So that's enough of being nice, back to sounding arrogant Eh? I didn't get any of that from following your threads at all! All I got was an "I wish I could do that..." sort of burning sensation... 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 1 minute ago, Bigwan said: Eh? I didn't get any of that from following your threads at all! All I got was an "I wish I could do that..." sort of burning sensation... Thanks, it does worry me though, writing isn't a skill of mine so I tend to stick to the point a little too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 5 minutes ago, Bigwan said: Eh? I didn't get any of that from following your threads at all! All I got was an "I wish I could do that..." sort of burning sensation... Quite agree with this!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) 17 minutes ago, Christine said: Thanks, it does worry me though, writing isn't a skill of mine so I tend to stick to the point a little too much Be assured, your writing style is fine. It's nice that you have a personality too. Edited September 7, 2018 by SpondonBassed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Our bass guitarist has a genuine 60's fake Firebird electric. I've played it a number of times and yes, the rear strap does run in an odd direction - I seem to remember it looping behind or round the rear upper bout. Again, when I'm back I will be able to send photos. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 17 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said: Our bass guitarist has a genuine 60's fake Firebird electric. I've played it a number of times and yes, the rear strap does run in an odd direction - I seem to remember it looping behind or round the rear upper bout. Again, when I'm back I will be able to send photos. Or just looking at that Dingwall, maybe I meant strap looped round the rear lower bout... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryer Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 9 hours ago, SpondonBassed said: Yes. I have always used it for working out where I want to put a strap on my duck. If you own a gorilla there is a solution for that too. Sorry. I was being facetious. I'd worry about the residue that Duct tape would leave behind in the wood grain. I have nothing better to offer however so I'll shut up now. very good - I like that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Your writing is faultless @Christine much like your builds. You have nothing to worry about 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) I don't often chip in on this part of the forum, owning as i do the technical skills of a drunk koala, but I feel compelled to say that it's a genuine pleasure following your threads. You really don't need to worry about your writing skills. Edited September 7, 2018 by Cato 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 After yesterday's bad back episode I only did a tiny bit today. I cleaned up the wings, rounded over the edges with a router and sanded them. Before glueing I masked off the top edge on the wings adjacent to the body to stop any glue oozing out contaminating the surfaces, I didn't bother with the back as there is some final shaping to be done there yet, just blending the raised centre section into the curve of the wings so the bass feels comfortable resting on your body. A nice smooth convex curve rather than the more usual flat surface, Why? It's my opinion that players of this type of bass may tend to move it around more aggressively than other shapes, all part of the "bad" image So convex seems to be a good shape to slide easily in any direction needed. We're off on holiday for a month early next week to soak up some sun in the south of France so I'm not sure if this will be the last update until I get back Glueing the first wing on All glued and masking tape removed, I've wetted the surface of the left hand body to give an idea of the finished look Lastly another attempt to show the shaping of the body 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Beautiful! I wish you and yours a cracking holiday, in case this is your last post pre-departure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I love the macassar ebony veneered ones except I prefer the raw state one as you can see the grain colour variations better but they are going to look epic when they are finished 😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Christine said: We're off on holiday for a month early next week to soak up some sun in the south of France so I'm not sure if this will be the last update until I get back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Just now, Bigwan said: 1 hour ago, Christine said: We're off on holiday for a month early next week to soak up some sun in the south of France so I'm not sure if this will be the last update until I get back OK, Luke Skywalker voice, Nooooooooooooooo....!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryer Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 You can't go on holiday - what are we all going to do for a month. Where are you going ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 Not really sure, starting off in the Dordonge area then moving south to Toulouse to see a friend after that who knows, we'll see how the mood takes us. at the time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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