A fruitful day…..

[Silky999]

I spent the day turning this piece of Sapele;

 

into this Precision Bass body;

 

It will be for sale soon on BC probably with EMG pickups and preamp and Wenge neck??? 
 

The body finish will be hand sanded finishing oil to as much of a gloss as I can get. I think it’s going to be a beauty. 

[Beedster]

Lovely 👍

[Hellzero]

😍 Thumb up

[HeadlessBassist]

With the pattern drawn on the original piece of Sapele, I thought you were making a Flying V for a moment!

 

The body shape looks excellent - are you doing it all from templates? The curved edges look really good.

[Silky999]

Yeah, I am using templates for the body shape at the moment until I get my eye in. The curved edges are a 12.7mm round over router bit (no template) and I did the comfort cut by eye and hand with a Shinto and sanding. The comfort cut is not very pronounced as I quite like the more subtle less angled style
 

I have P bass and Jazz bass templates so can do either. I’m not brave enough to try necks yet so will keep using the Chinese ones for the time being until I can get a radius jig, fretting cutting jig, truss rod jig etc. It’s all so bloody expensive!

 

It does mean that I am not limited to pre cut bodies now so in theory can use any wood I can source. 

Edited August 18 by Silky999

[HeadlessBassist]

1 minute ago, Silky999 said:

Yeah, I am using templates for the body shape at the moment until I get my eye in. The curved edges are a 12.7mm round over router bit (no template) and I did the comfort cut by eye and hand with a Shinto and sanding. 
 

I have P bass and Jazz bass templates so can do either. I’m not brave enough to try necks yet so will keep using the Chinese ones for the time being until I can get a radius jig, fretting cutting jig, truss rod jig etc. It’s all so bloody expensive!

 

Not forgetting the CNC cutting machine!

[Silky999]

I would love a CNC machine!!!

[Silky999]

Well that’s the oil sanding finished and just the final coats of Liberon Finishing oil now. The chatoyance on the Sapele is gorgeous and the grain is starting to really come out.  
 

The Liberon is such a joy to work with. 

[Joe Nation]

4 minutes ago, Silky999 said:

chatoyance

New word of the day.

 

That's a beauty, if I needed a P I would be very interested in taking it off your hands.

[Silky999]

8 hours ago, Joe Nation said:

New word of the day.

 

That's a beauty, if I needed a P I would be very interested in taking it off your hands.

Well if you want a J bass……….keep checking in as I have a piece of walnut and some elm with possibly a curly spalted sycamore drop top earmarked for some Js.

[HeadlessBassist]

30 minutes ago, Silky999 said:

Well if you want a J bass……….keep checking in as I have a piece of walnut and some elm with possibly a curly spalted sycamore drop top earmarked for some Js.

 

Eh? Eh? Whaaa..? Did somebody mention Walnut?

[Silky999]

17 minutes ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

Eh? Eh? Whaaa..? Did somebody mention Walnut?

Intrigued???…..

[HeadlessBassist]

Walnut + Jazz + Kiwi's Graphite Neck?? Oh yeeeessss!

 

Would have to be nitro glossed, though... 🤔

Edited August 21 by HeadlessBassist

[Stub Mandrel]

10 hours ago, Silky999 said:

 The chatoyance on the Sapele is gorgeous and the grain is starting to really come out.  

 

 

 

I learned a new word today.

[Silky999]

On 21/08/2025 at 21:14, HeadlessBassist said:

Walnut + Jazz + Kiwi's Graphite Neck?? Oh yeeeessss!

 

Would have to be nitro glossed, though... 🤔

For you, Headless, of course!!!

 

some more oil today….

Edited August 23 by Silky999

[Silky999]

Body all finished and waxed with Liberon Bison Wax. 

[HeadlessBassist]

Beautiful finish @Silky999. That's going to be a really nice bass...

[Silky999]

The wenge neck has arrived. I already rolled the fretboard edges and sanded the back of the neck. The frets have been levelled and dressed. 

 

It is going to have a cream pickguard, chrome USA Hipshot Ultralites (courtesy of Lozz selling some on here) , chrome GOTOH bridge, Schaller strap lock buttons, Tone Emporium TE18 pickups and Bloodstone Guitar Works P bass electronics with .047uF cap. It will be strung with D’adaddario .45 - .105 EXL

 

If you fancy buying this bass, get in touch, it is going to be around £700-750 mark

Edited 5 hours ago by Silky999

[itu]

That wood looks so good, do you think it could be without a pickguard? The screw holes do not look good on that mahogany body top. 

[Silky999]

1 hour ago, itu said:

That wood looks so good, do you think it could be without a pickguard? The screw holes do not look good on that mahogany body top. 

That’s an idea! I will try and make a control plate from an off cut of sapele I have or may some walnut? I was going to use the lower part of a pickguard as a template.