Chuck_Chill-Out Posted December 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 I had a little time today to work The neck is at the final width. On to shaping the neck. One question, should I cut out and shape the headstock prior to shaping the transition, or after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 I'd cut it first, so you can do any clean up work and blending while you are doing the transition. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted December 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 Thanks, Scott. I was thinking it was six of one, half-dozen the other. Hopefully, I'll be back in the shop this weekend. Love The holidays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted December 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 Basic shape of the headstock. The hashed portion will be cut out and the tuners will be on the sides. Now I have a question and would appreciate your honest feedback. As you can see, the bottom of the bass is angled. My question is, should I leave the headstock flat on top or angled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 I always like the headstock to reflect or complement the body shape......so I would vote angled. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 Sorry, it's been awhile since I had time to work on this. I've been thinking of what wood I wanted to use for fretboard. Today, I found a very nice piece of persimmon for $6. I think I can make a number of fretboards out of it. I'll post pics when I can get to my laptop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 4'x6"x1" for $6. Not bad, I think. Now, if I could only get in the shop... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 My wife's birthday was yesterday, so I took some time off and took her to lunch. After she went back to work, I had time to work on this project that seems to be taking as long as my college carreer (I'm a 15 year Non-Trad Senior). I know I am doing this backwards, but I shaped the neck and then will work on shaping the transitions. The lighting is not the best for pictures, but I was surprised how quickly it came into shape. Using a microplane and rasps was a workout, but I had more control instead of using a belt sander (which is a #learnfrommyfail moment from the last neck I attempted to shape. Now, I have a question, and I am pretty sure it will come down to personal preferences, but i would like honest opinions. I placed the persimmon on the neck to get a visual of what it would look like, but are there any positives/negatives for either side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) ScottR, I took your advice on the headstock, and must say it was appreciated: Body Headstock Next stop will be shaping the transitions and cutting out the hollow section of the headstock. Edited January 21, 2015 by Chuck_Chill-Out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hollow section on the headstock? As far as the persimmon goes, I cannot see any problems with either side from the pics, so I'd say pick the one that speaks to you. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hollow section on the headstock? As far as the persimmon goes, I cannot see any problems with either side from the pics, so I'd say pick the one that speaks to you. SR Scott, maybe a bad choice of words. The headstock is marked to cut out the middle section, like this: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I used that same headstock design on a couple of basses I built. It was a bit more work than a traditional headstock, but worth it for the look! That particular picture is off of one of Dave Higham's basses. He provided a PDF file of the design, which is what I used, and that was helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Cool! SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted January 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Matt, I'll look him up. I saw pictures of the headstock in another thread and really liked the look of it. Thanks for the info. On another point, I was surprised at how fast the neck turned out. It took me about 45 minutes to an hour. I am aware that it is not a traditionally shaped neck (trapeziodal), but is this a normal time frame? I was expecting it to take longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Yeah, neck shaping doesn't take very long. But it's a pretty rewarding part of the process. I imagine you're beyond the point of needing it, but I'm pretty sure I've got that PDF of Higham's design somewhere in case you do need it. Just let me know. Here's how mine turned out: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted January 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Very nice. If you wouldn't mind sending it to me, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Matt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 PM sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Well, this is what happens when you are ADD and not paying attention. Shaping the neck and filed it way off the mark. I had to walk away from this for about a week. Cut the section out, and glued in a piece from the cutoff I had (I learned to save everything until I am done). It's not perfect, but I will look at that as a learning experience. At least I don't have to rebuild the whole thing AGAIN! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Yikes! Well, learning experiences are valuable. You can burst each end of the neck and hide that if you need to. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted April 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Scott, I may leave it visible as a "Remember though art mortal" reminder. I also wrote down a checklist of items I need to complete so my mind does not wander and another mistake like this happens again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Installing side markers - 12 GA copper wire. Filed down. Begun work on the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Well, I guess I'll have time to work on this. I was laid off this morning due to restructuring. I'm on paid leave for two months, thEn receive a severance. Looking for a job, but now may get to finish this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Bummer dude. It does sound like they are treating you decently, under the circumstances. Good luck in finding your future employment, and in finishing this. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted May 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 I thought I would have more time to get this done, but the interviews are happening and, oh yeah, the Honey-Do list just got longer. BUT, I have had time to get SOME things done. The issue is that the Dremel-esque tool my friend uses for sanding internal areas, like my headstock, busted and we are waiting on replacement parts, so I've been working on small items. Drilled the positions for the pots, but I found a small issue... The top is too thick. I'm thinking I need to use a forstner bit to thin it. Any other suggestions? While I'm working on the area of the pots, I thought I'd give making my own knobs (insert snarky comments here). This is leftover persimmon from the fretboard. Why not? I turned a scrap section down to 1" diameter, but they look a bit big. I'll take another section down to 3/4". I think that would look better. I'll end the day with my beverage of choice. Oh, one of the job prospects is with a local company that constructs stage sets and lighting rigs for concert tours, like Lady Gaga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 The top is too thick. I'm thinking I need to use a forstner bit to thin it. Any other suggestions? Use a forstener bit to countersink the pots a little deeper inside the control cavity, or as a slightly more fancy option, countersink the top so that the knobs sit in a "crater" just below the surface of the top (kinda what PRS does with their control knobs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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