The Wenge/Elm Build

[Silky999]

A bit more progress on this one today, with equal parts satisfaction and quiet concern.

 

The roasted maple neck has had a test fit into the wenge & elm body (dry fit only). Alignment and scale are behaving themselves, centreline is where it should be, and for once nothing has tried to fight back. Always suspicious when that happens.

 

I’ve also been polishing the gloss poly finish, which has reached the stage where it looks finished enough to give you false confidence, but still has plenty of opportunities left to catch you out.

 

This build was started before I’d properly refined my build process, so there are still a couple of jobs left that now feel… character-building. Chief among them is drilling the bridge earth hole, which is one of those operations where you stare at the body for ten minutes, measure it again, stare some more, and then wonder why you ever thought this was a good idea.

 

Still, progress is progress. Next update will either involve a neat earth wire… or a lesson learned.

 

It would be rude not to mention that a worrying amount of today’s progress was made possible by my Narex chisels, which continue to justify their place on the bench every single time I pick them up. Sharp, predictable, and refreshingly uninterested in drama, they’re basically the opposite of most of my builds. Clean cuts, no tearing, no surprises — just quietly getting on with the job while I mutter “that’s lovely” to myself like a man who’s spent far too long in a workshop.

[SpondonBassed]

I am always in awe of your finishing.

 

Great job!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Silky999]

2 hours ago, SpondonBassed said:

I am always in awe of your finishing.

 

Great job!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you…..you don’t see the swearing, sweat and tears.

[80Hz]

Wow that really pops! The wenge is stunning but also wow.. that elm!

 

The dark grain filler really transforms it. Are you using tinted poly or is it the light that has yellowed it a bit? Really nice. Great job 😀

[Silky999]

30 minutes ago, 80Hz said:

Wow that really pops! The wenge is stunning but also wow.. that elm!

 

The dark grain filler really transforms it. Are you using tinted poly or is it the light that has yellowed it a bit? Really nice. Great job 😀

It’s black grain filler then Liberon finishing oil hand sanded in, shellac and finally Blackfriars gloss poly. I wanted to use the Liberon on the wenge and the elm to help blend it together with the ambering.

Edited 1 hour ago by Silky999

[HeadlessBassist]

9 hours ago, Silky999 said:

A bit more progress on this one today, with equal parts satisfaction and quiet concern.

 

The roasted maple neck has had a test fit into the wenge & elm body (dry fit only). Alignment and scale are behaving themselves, centreline is where it should be, and for once nothing has tried to fight back. Always suspicious when that happens.

 

I’ve also been polishing the gloss poly finish, which has reached the stage where it looks finished enough to give you false confidence, but still has plenty of opportunities left to catch you out.

 

This build was started before I’d properly refined my build process, so there are still a couple of jobs left that now feel… character-building. Chief among them is drilling the bridge earth hole, which is one of those operations where you stare at the body for ten minutes, measure it again, stare some more, and then wonder why you ever thought this was a good idea.

 

Still, progress is progress. Next update will either involve a neat earth wire… or a lesson learned.

 

It would be rude not to mention that a worrying amount of today’s progress was made possible by my Narex chisels, which continue to justify their place on the bench every single time I pick them up. Sharp, predictable, and refreshingly uninterested in drama, they’re basically the opposite of most of my builds. Clean cuts, no tearing, no surprises — just quietly getting on with the job while I mutter “that’s lovely” to myself like a man who’s spent far too long in a workshop.

 

Argh! The temptation is strong with this one - luckily, I've already got an MGCS Basses instrument in the works and almost completed. Phew!

 

I need to say to everyone, @Silky999 is getting very good at this game very quickly. His care, attention to detail and careful research are second to none. You'd all best order one of his basses before he hits the BigTime! (... or should that be 'BassTime'? 🤔) 

Edited 37 minutes ago by HeadlessBassist