The little rascal!

[Andyjr1515]

2 hours ago, Dosi Y'Anarchy said:

Oh god, this thread is putting my dreams of a rascal build to shame. I've almost given up on mine.  

Never give up. 

Besides, there's still plenty of time for me to f*** it up yet

[Andyjr1515]

You can do a lot with drawings in terms of the geometry and dimensions of basses - especially full-size - but there's nothing that quite substitutes for trying it for real.  So another example, maybe, of my slightly unconventional approach.

It was clear that the heel of the new neck was wider than the pocket of the Rascal by about 3mm.  On the other hand, the nut was narrower - closer to a Jazz at 38mm.  My suspicion was that the whole taper of the fretboard probably needed reducing to start at 38mm at the nut and end at a Fender width at the 21st fret.  But it's a lot easier to confirm that if you can fit the neck into the pocket, and put the real bridge in position and put a straight edge on it.  So it was worth my while to chisel both sides to fit the pocket.  And to prove that my ability to chisel has improved from my early wood-massacre days :

Nice snug fit...

...meant that I could check the straightness and also place the bridge in the correct place and put a straight edge from the nut to the saddle.

And sure enough - to avoid excessive distance between the fretboard edge and the G and E strings at the upper frets, the whole neck wants the taper reducing:

 

You can see here the excess heel area that I will carve to blend with the revised body/neck joint:

At the same time I will be tweaking the profile shape to match @scrumpymike 's present Rascal.  All basses have their own feel but, hopefully there will be a pleasing familiarity when playing.

And aren't I worried that the neck pocket is so much smaller than a 'conventional' bass?

Well not really.

My mod with the curved plate takes only a teeny bit of pocket away from the original Rascal size and is no smaller that a 6 string electric where the total string tension isn't hugely different.  What I will do as a belt and braces, is fit stainless set screws and threaded inserts so it can be bolted up really tight without fear of stripping threads.

So it doesn't worry me about it 'clapping hands' in the middle of a performance.

Especially as I will be probably at least 180 miles away when if it does that   

[Chienmortbb]

How will you taper a fretted neck Andy?

[Andyjr1515]

3 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said:

How will you taper a fretted neck Andy?

A bit the same way at you level fret-ends after a fret job, @Chienmortbb      -  I'll use  a sanding block and emery cloth (80 or 120 grit) and then level it all up with a sanding beam.  It's actually not a bad job.  It's useful that I can use the chiselled rebates as my datum to sand up to. 

[durhamboy]

I'm watching with interest as you reshape this neck Andy. I have a second hand Allparts Strat neck sitting around that I'm planning on tapering down to a thinner width for a project and I've been thinking along the same lines as you,in terms of how to do it, but haven't taken the job on yet. 

Knowing your attention to detail and problem solving abilities, I'll watch how you do it first. I recon that will lessen my chances of stuffing things up considerably.....😉

[Andyjr1515]

Well, it's tipping it down and I still have a few hours to decide the least worst option before having to brave the elements to vote...so what better way to lighten my mood than to hack away at @scrumpymike 's neck  

(yes - bass neck, of course)

I'll go into a bit more detail for @durhamboy 's , or anyone else nervous about tackling necks, benefit just in case there are any tips that help.

First - and this would not normally need to be done - I took off a little of the bulk at the heel.  For this project it needs doing anyway, and the less of the heel I have to sand back when I'm re-tapering the more even the sanding is likely to be.

 

I then used a straight edge to pencil the revised taper - 0mm at the nut up to 1.5mm at the heel. (odd shot because I forgot to photo this!) :

 

To speed up the process a touch and because I have a Shinto rasp file capable of doing this I used the rasp to head towards the line at the heel, where a disproportionate of the bulk lies.  Do NOT do this with a conventional woodworking rasp - the metal of the frets will wreck the file.  This whole process can be done using just a sanding block and emery cloth - just takes 20 mins or so longer:

A couple of tips:

- it is worth removing some of this bulk, because when you are sanding the main taper, running your sanding block up the length of the neck, there will be a tendency to over-sand the lower frets due to the heel area having much more wood to remove and needing many more sanding strokes than the thin strip of binding and fret ends further down

- whether using a (appropriate) file or a sanding block, ALWAYS sand from the frets to the neck (so right to left in this photo) - NEVER the other way round.  That way, the grit of the sandpaper or barbs of the file are always pushing the frets into their slots, not out of them.

With the heel bulk reduced (but still not fully up to the pencil line) I then use a standard sanding block and 120 grit emery cloth to bring the whole taper towards the pencil line.  I use emery cloth rather than paper because it is much more resistant to tearing from the sharp fret ends.  If paper - or standard sandpaper - is all you have, no problem but be prepared to replace it frequently:

Some more tips:

- Press lightly at the nut end and heavier as the wood width increases towards the heel

- check frequently your progress towards the pencil line

- again. as you are running the block up the fretboard, either go absolutely parallel, or move the block from fretside to neck.  Again, avoid inadvertently putting any pressure on the fret-ends that would push them out of their slots

- use pencil or blackboard chalk to mark the areas you DON'T want to sand (in my case the nut and the neck pocket cutaways I'd already chiselled to size above.  If the pencil/chalk starts disappearing, then you are at the limit.

Here you can see I've gone a bit uneven - you see it against the line and by how much of the original fret bevel I've removed:

 

Again, you can do the following by eye with your sanding block, but as I have a levelling beam, I use that just to ensure that the edge is perfectly straight:

 

And all, done (took about 40 minutes overall), a quick line up check that the string runs are evenly spaced from the fretboard sides at the bass side with my straight edge lined up with the nut slot and the E string bridge saddle:

 

 

And at the treble side in the G nut slot and saddle:

 

So now I can get on with finishing the heel reshape and the tweaks to the neck profile.

I'm pleased with the neck, by the way.  When you start sanding and planing to get to see what the timber and frets are like.  Pretty good in both cases is my conclusion

 

 

 

 

 

[Andyjr1515]

I'll tidy up the heel when I finish the re-profiling, but the bulk removal has been done:

 

Don't worry about the ropey finish on the body, by the way.  It's had just a quick rough and ready sealing coat to stop the sanding dust getting into any grain.  Once I've finished messing about, I'll be able to give the body a wipe over with a damp cloth to get it all clean and speck-free before putting the final finish on it.

 

 

[scrumpymike]

"... took about 40 minutes overall ..."

Ah, the joys of doing a job for which you have all the necessary knowledge, tools and experience.  If I'd done this you'd be talking 40 hours - mostly spent thinking and plucking up courage - and it would STILL be wrong 😕

Edited December 12, 2019 by scrumpymike

[Si600]

You sir, are a certified (certifiable? 😉) modding genius.

[Andyjr1515]

24 minutes ago, Si600 said:

You sir, are a certified (certifiable? 😉) modding genius.

Not sure about the genius bit.  Certifiable, certainly 

[durhamboy]

Great detailed description of the process Andy, thank you. Your tip about always working in a direction that doesn't risk pushing out the fret ends is something I hadn't factored into the process. Without your description I probably would have tackled my similar job just like when building a neck and not considered the possibility of unseating frets until it happened. Which would have led to some cursing and a temporary loss of equilibrium and my generally sunny disposition... 🤬

[Andyjr1515]

From the profile gauge measurements that @scrumpymike took of his Rascal neck, I made a plasticard template:

 

I was pretty sure that the new neck was going to be already pretty close to this.  And I was right - 

Difficult to see on the photo, but there is the teeniest bit of asymmetry showing from Mike's measurements from the original Rascal - shallower curve at the treble side - that I will replicate when I sand out the heel-carve marks and sand off the protective finish from the neck and fretboard.

 

[Andyjr1515]

Next pre-sanding job on the neck is the inlays.  I'll be putting dot markers on the board but also a couple of swifts at the 12th fret.

I always think Mother of Pearl on a maple board can look a bit wishy-washy - and abalone, etc, can look a bit cheap on an otherwise undecorated instrument.  So sticking with the all black theme, I've gone for ebony for the inlays:

Now - it does have its own challenges.  Because it has a grain - and because the tips are sharp - then it is very easy to accidentally snap off bits, especially when you are doing the fitting.  We'll see how it goes 

 

There will be a couple of small ones on the board:

 

...and a couple on the headstock:

 

Next job is sorting the outline for the headstock so I can work out where the inlay routes should go

 

 

[Si600]

Half and half black and white swifts covering the headstock like an Escher drawing.

[Andyjr1515]

19 minutes ago, Si600 said:

Half and half black and white swifts covering the headstock like an Escher drawing.

@scrumpymike - look into my eyes.  Concentrate and count to ten backwards. Look into my eyes!

DON'T

EVEN

THINK

ABOUT

IT!

 

 

Now I am going to click my fingers and then you will wake up and not remember anything that has just happened.

 

Sorted

Edited December 14, 2019 by Andyjr1515

[Pea Turgh]

22 minutes ago, Si600 said:

Half and half black and white swifts covering the headstock like an Escher drawing.

Ready for collection in February... 2026

[Andyjr1515]

Ignoring my former friend's helpful suggestion...

Onto the headstock shape.  Mike wants a passing nod to the original Rascal - so a Fenderish vibe - but also wanted a three / one arrangement of the tuners.  He's supplied me with some very nice looking open-gear Hipshots and those, many of you will know, are reversible so that is no problem.

I like to achieve as close to straight as I can with string runs so I always start with a full-size drawing and start with the string runs - which lets me work out the possible positions of the tuners.  This is what I came up with as the optimum:

I also always double check there won't be any clashing of hardware:

 

Looks fine.

That was then transferred to the paddle which let me double check where the swifts will go:

 

And meant I could trace round the ebony ready for routing the chambers when I have decent light again in the morning:

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2019 by Andyjr1515

[Andyjr1515]

Out came the (not actually) Dremel precision router base and the trusty 1mm bit and let the routing begin!

 

Headstock ones done ready to glue:

 

And the 12th fret ones:

 

Edited December 15, 2019 by Andyjr1515

[Andyjr1515]

And now fixed with maple-dust laden epoxy, sanded and headstock shape cut.

 

Although Christmas preps are starting to encroach, will be turning my attention back to the body finishing and pickguard while I wait for the black fretboard dots to battle their way through the festive season postal melee.

[scrumpymike]

Just playing catch-up after a long weekend on the I-o-W to catch Cream of Clapton concert (Paul Ruck was amazing, house band excellent, and bass player so good that I seriously thought about cancelling this build and throwing myself off Yarmouth pier).  Anyway, I'm better now - and considerably cheered up by Andy's progress with Rascal Lyte Mkll ☺️

[Andyjr1515]

26 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

and bass player so good that I seriously thought about cancelling this build and throwing myself off Yarmouth pier).  

I feel the much the same when I see the quality of bass building that come out of Messrs Shuker; ACG; etc,etc workshops  

[scrumpymike]

2 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I feel the much the same when I see the quality of bass building that come out of Messrs Shuker; ACG; etc,etc workshops  

I suspect it's got something to do with the 'rhythm' / 'groove' you get into when you're working against the clock 5 days a week - a bit like bass-playing come to think of it.

[Jimothey]

I feel the same when I see the quality of bass building that come out of your workshop!!! 😁

[Andyjr1515]

Gosh, the weather's been c**p this past few months!  Two pm and all the lights are on in the house while, outside, it tips it down once more.  So forgive the quality of the photos.

The body is almost ready for its final finish coats.  The black dots haven't arrived yet.  BUT - I can start sorting the scratchplate.

@scrumpymike wants to go all black.  Would ebony be possible?  Well, as a solid wood plate I'm afraid it can't.  It's too large an area to be able to get the right thickness (or should I say thinness) of ebony sheet of the right quality.  But, it should be possible to veneer a standard black plastic pickguard.  That's what I'm going to try to do next.

I have the sheet of black plastic and, as a template, there actually won't be much of a change to the original shape - just that area that used to wrap around the slightly unconventional bridge of the original Rascal:

 

Something a bit like this:

 

And so that's going to be the next job

 

 

 

[scrumpymike]

I know it's a bit academic as everything will be black but nice that the curves of the plate still work with the new body outline - even better than the original actually.  Seeing your pic, if the original pearloid plate had matched the new bridge I'd have been tempted to re-use it and go for a bit of retro bling 😎