Another bitza build

[Hellzero]

Thanks for the link @Ralf1e: it opened my eyes too and the last sentence about the flat fingerboard used for centuries on acoustic guitars says it all.

 

My newly acquired JPBAsses Zia Hollowbody 5 Piezo Fretless has a flat (or infinite as they now like to say) radius fingerboard and I can get an insanely low action without any buzzing at all: now I know why.

 

It's now obvious, but wasn't before and will avoid me now all these micro adjustments after levelling frets or fingerboards: I'll do an hourglass levelling.

 

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Ralf1e]

On 06/05/2023 at 07:26, Ralf1e said:

Progress Report

The neck is defretted and slots filled with plasticard as recommended by Manson guitars in another thread.

I found the top 3 inches of the neck was falling away on the E string side making a level neck for fretless impossible.

So much for me thinking it was a nice neck just shows how wrong you can be. (Wipes egg off face and moves on)

From a Google search I found a thread on Talkbass about neck levelling which included input from Bruce Johnson amongst others explaining the need and processes for conical levelling and hour glass levelling.

Enter the need for a levelling beam.

Ebay alloy rectangular tube 20mm x 50mm by 50cm long collected in person for less than £10 from a supplier about 19 miles from me. 

Wicks on the way home. Oakley Superflex cloth backed sandpaper Fine 120 grit. Shockingly more than the alloy tube but necessary.

Cut the tape to fit the tube one length for 20mm one for 50mm.

Upholstery spray contact adhesive and carefully apply the tape to the beam job done.

Follow the methods and advice from Bruce Johnson.

Neck is now sorted and very accurate..

Smoothed off with 240 sanding followed by 2000, 2500, 5000, wet and dry the last 3 with finishing oil applied a few drops at a time with an industrial syringe.

Neck is now nice and smooth and shiny.

 

Alloy tube for the levelling beam came from here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/alumuk

Just £9.70

[bloke_zero]

On 26/04/2023 at 14:49, Ralf1e said:

Absolutely. The ones on their page look somewhat better than the much used photo of stuff on ebay etc so I am looking forward to seeing if it compares favorably to the photos they use or otherwise.

I got the 'mahogany' version. Was very easy to work with. It was very light and resonant and seemed well finished especially for the money.

[Ralf1e]

3 hours ago, bloke_zero said:

I got the 'mahogany' version. Was very easy to work with. It was very light and resonant and seemed well finished especially for the money.

Ooo Maybe I should have gone for one if they are lighter. Maybe next time

[bloke_zero]

1 hour ago, Ralf1e said:

Ooo Maybe I should have gone for one if they are lighter. Maybe next time

Let me know if you do and want a deal - I went with a cheap alder body I got off ebay in the end so it's sat here waiting for a new home!