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New year, new build


Rexel Matador

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Routed the truss rod cavity today. Not much to see there though so let's talk headstocks...

The open style headstock from my last build got such a good response that I think I pretty much have to make that my signature now. I was worried it wouldn't be strong enough but as the tuners are mounted on the side, it's much thicker than a normal headstock and seems rock solid so far.

I didn't want to just copy the last one so I've been having a good old doodle:

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But then I thought:

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Rather by accident, it echoes both the split-into-three design of the F-holes and the "softly triangular" design of the volume knob - I am a sucker for design aspects that tie things together. This version adds a bit more stock so will add strength, but also adds a challenge as the bits between the holes will have to be carved down to a lower level to allow the longer strings to pass.

I particularly enjoy the bits of a build where I can just carve away and see what happens, rather than having to be super accurate to the nanometre, so I'll probably give it a bash. Potentially, if version B doesn't work, I can just cut those bits out, leaving version A in its place.

This build is getting a bit baroque. I swear, my next one is going to be the simplest bass imaginable.

Except that it'll probably have fanned frets 😆

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Work in progress on the headstock:

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When this is done I'm going to find a decent camera to take pictures of it with. I can only apologise for the photo-butcher that is my phone. I mean really, since when was walnut grey?!

Edited by Rexel Matador
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I'm a bit scared of inlaying, but I've kept it super simple and it's come out ok. The dots are just 6mm walnut plugs and the big one is a 6mm maple plug in a 10mm walnut one. The maple one was a bit undersized, it seems, and I managed to misalign the grain. I haven't decided if it's going to drive me mad yet. I can always drill it out and redo it if necessary. The problem is that I don't have a drill press. The walnut ones I just ended up buying from someone who happened to be selling some on ebay, but the maple one I made myself, using a plug cutter in a hand drill with a little jig to hold it in place - not ideal - and I'm probably not going to do it any better than this using that technique.

Am I going into too much detail here? Short version: dots!

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Real updates coming soon I promise, but I just need to offload my pickup winding woes for a second 😔

After a couple of failed attempts, I sat down to finally wind the second pickup. 2,000 turns in and the spool of wire suddenly developed a tangle of sorts. It somehow has three ends, and a considerable amount of unwinding hasn't unearthed the one which must, surely lead to nowhere. I now have to buy another spool despite the fact that I can absolutely guarantee I will never wind another pickup again as long as I live! 😂😤

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The build is plodding along, life permitting - here is a mock up of sorts - the woodwork is basically done except the neck pocket and lots and lots of sanding. The pickup covers and knob have finish on them already, so hopefully the fretboard will pretty much match them in the end.

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The neck is only very roughly carved, but I'll probably get it done this weekend

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Same goes for the headstock

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I only had white side dot sticks. I could have bought black ones, but I still had a bunch of walnut plugs so...

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I'd hoped they'd match the neck a bit better, but it remains to be seen how it looks once it's sanded and finished. I'm sure it'll look cool, colour match or otherwise. All in all, it's coming together. I just have to wind the second pickup and wait for payday so I can buy all the remaining hardware (tuners, strap locks, neck ferrules and of course, strings)

Edited by Rexel Matador
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Fascinating build, and I can see the Geiger connection!

On magnets for pickups, I'd be tempted to try a plain mild steel bar with a 5mm neodymium magnet on top. Why? I've fitted magnets like that to three Squier jazz pickups and it makes them ridiculously hot, you even have to move them away from the strings as otherwise they make them intermodulate (one string drives the others and they beat!)

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Neck is sanded and fretted. The first attempt at fretting was a bit of a disaster and led to me having to plane down the fretboard (necessitating a redo of the inlays as well) and start again. It all seems ok now and has left me with a slightly shallower neck profile which is a bonus.

I usually do the logo with a branding iron but as this wood will finish up quite dark it's not ideal, so instead, I forced the branding iron into the wood with a vice, making an indent, and put silver leaf in it. It's not perfect but I'm pretty happy with it for an experiment.

I'm now using epoxy putty to try and make an accurate neck pocket template. I've attempted this once before and it worked pretty well, so it should be fine.

I still need to wind that second pickup, but it's getting there!

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Edited by Rexel Matador
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1 hour ago, durhamboy said:

Very pretty. I especially like the sound holes mirroring the headstock.

Thank you! Yeah, I really wish I'd thought that through and made them match a bit better - ie made the sound holes a bit more rounded (or the headstock holes a bit sharper, for that matter). Next time perhaps 

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10 hours ago, Rexel Matador said:

Thank you! Yeah, I really wish I'd thought that through and made them match a bit better - ie made the sound holes a bit more rounded (or the headstock holes a bit sharper, for that matter). Next time perhaps 

Have no regrets.

Your design style is evolving into something more coherent, that's all.  With a couple more under your belt you will have a well refined instrument.

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7 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said:

Have no regrets.

Your design style is evolving into something more coherent, that's all.  With a couple more under your belt you will have a well refined instrument.

Perhaps, although the next one I have planned is completely different 😆

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1 hour ago, Rexel Matador said:

Although I now realise that's immaterial because were talking about coherence within a given instrument

It might be that you will go for a different design.  It will still be a reflection of your own style.  It is that which is evolving and very nicely too if I may say.

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The loud end is all hooked up. One volume and a series/parallel switch for the pickups. I was originally just going to wire them in series like one big humbucker, but I decided this was a neater way to do it and also gives me another tone to play with - which can't be bad as I have no idea what it's going to sound like as yet. I plugged it in just to make sure it actually makes noise and it does, so that's something!

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Edit: I've only just noticed that the grain on the back follows the curve of the lower bout. I'd love to say that was deliberate, but it's a happy accident!

Edited by Rexel Matador
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