Pariahrob Posted February 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 A bit more done today. Bevel done bar a little scraping and started the tummy cut. Then I moved on the fix my slippage with the router. Basically trimmed the round hole square and fitted a piece of maple that matched as well as I find. Still needs re-routing but should be almost invisible when done. I did also finish up my control cavity cover using this oddly figured but if maple, stained the same brown that the body top will be. It’s a little lighter in real life I’ve also started marking out my bridge positions, ready to start routing as I need to recess them to get my action right. This could be tricky as I want them to fit snug in rounded recesses. I think I drill the ends to get the radius then chisel out the rest. The router might be overkill for this! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted February 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 Also, I’m thinking of going nut free on this and installing a zero nut. What do you think? the individual locking nuts can be fixed to give the correct string spacing and can lower them so there’s some tension over the zero fret. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted February 23, 2018 Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 i have no input on zero frets- just wanted to call out the nice save on the pu cavity. Nice job. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted February 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 37 minutes ago, Mr Natural said: i have no input on zero frets- just wanted to call out the nice save on the pu cavity. Nice job. Thanks! I’m lucky I realised. Any further and I think I’d have had to start over. Or paint it and waste that lovely top. Although a pink one inspired by @KempGuitars might be cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 23, 2018 Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 Zero frets are a personal favourite of mine as you know. They do rely on the strings being spaced equally and reliably beyond the zero though. If the string locks do that, great. I prefer them for the open tone and action provided, plus they mean the nut behind the zero doesn't need the slots to have a perfect depth or falloff. Just spacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted February 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 Thanks @Prostheta. I agree. It feels like there’s one less point of friction too. No nut slots to bind in etc. I think I’ll go for it. I’ll just need to recess the lockers appropriately to get a slight angle over the zero fret. I think it’ll look cleaner as well which is always good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 Friction has never bothered me too much. I've had instruments where strings ping through the nut once in a blue moon, but nothing enormously annoying. Bear in mind that when you bend strings, it'll traverse the zero fret and eventually wear a small ding. The closer the zero fret is to the guiding nut - or in your case the string locks - the smaller this movement will be. I usually place the slot for my zero 3-4mm from the edge of the fingerboard where I place the guide nut. Any more and I think it becomes more of a risk. Additionally, if I have the material to hand I like to use a stainless steel zero fret with a marginally-higher crown height that the rest of the fretwork, and don't fit the zero until I have done any necessary levelling and crowning. I've been tempted to buy some of the more pyramidal profile fretwire however Jescar's #51108 is the closest they get to a pyramid profile and that's too low for most of my applications. Fret wire has been on my mind this week thanks to @Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted February 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 Good advice. A stainless zf is a great idea sea. I’m using jumbo frets are n this so finding a taller one might be tricky but I’m sure there’s an option. I’ll get hunting. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 I'll have a quick look in my shorts tub and see if I have a piece I can help you out with. IIRC, @curtisa sent me a piece of EVO wire all the way from Tas many years back to finish up a job. I'm sure either I or somebody else can help out here. I've got to go get the car heating (-21,6°C this morning) and then go for a meal with Nina but I'll try and remember to do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted February 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 What a top fella! Thanks so much. The jumbo wire I’m using is 1.3mm high, so if you’ve a spare bit taller than that I owe you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 No problem. Right, I've got a stick of 2,8mm x 1.8mm stainless which I used on my last Jescar #57110 fretwork (2,8mm x 1,5mm) build. It might be a little high, but can be recrowned. The rest of my high wire is Dunlop #6150 (too low) and the #57110 I have in is all EVO (and spoken for). If you want this stainless, I can pop some in an envelope.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted February 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Prostheta said: No problem. Right, I've got a stick of 2,8mm x 1.8mm stainless which I used on my last Jescar #57110 fretwork (2,8mm x 1,5mm) build. It might be a little high, but can be recrowned. The rest of my high wire is Dunlop #6150 (too low) and the #57110 I have in is all EVO (and spoken for). If you want this stainless, I can pop some in an envelope.... That would be amazing! Happy to recrown. You are a proper gent! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 8 hours ago, Prostheta said: I'll have a quick look in my shorts tub and see if I have a piece I can help you out with. IIRC, @curtisa sent me a piece of EVO wire all the way from Tas many years back to finish up a job. 8 hours ago, Pariahrob said: What a top fella! Wasn't me that sent fretwire, but I'll take the kind words nonetheless Although it's a shame I didn't jump on this conversation earlier, as I have a nearly full tube of stainless jumbo from Allparts that I'm unlikely to ever use again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 I truly can't remember where this piece of SS came from, especially since it doesn't match up with current Jescar wires. @Pariahrob - PM an addy and I'll send it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShatnersBassoon Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 (edited) Looking awesome, I have never p[ayed a fretless but would love to try! Especially seeing as I am becoming interested in some of Holdsworths material. Edited February 24, 2018 by ShatnersBassoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted February 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2018 Small progress today. Cut the recesses for the bridges. These need to sit a little lower to account for the action. I thought about making a template and routing but in the end I drilled the front side then chiselled out the rest. Nice snug fit. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 26, 2018 Report Share Posted February 26, 2018 Very clean work there, sir. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 It is, yes. I need to get to the PO to ping this wire over....it's been around -20°C over the last few days so I'm attempting to stay away from outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted March 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 What with the sudden winter and the like I’ve not done much but I did make a start on the neck joint. Routed the pocket using the neck as a guide. Basically lined up with laser, then butted up some acrylic to firm a template. Two layers of tape to reduce the route a bit and all good. The flipped her over (she is a she) and cut a recess to make for less material to get your hand round then rounded over the neck of the heel. Still needs finishing but you get the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 With all those curves, she must be a she. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 If it were clumsy and prone to getting in the way, it'd be a he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 Well.....that and the facial hair. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted March 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2018 Well I have plenty of facial hair for the both of us. Ok. More progress. Did some final sanding and scraping then masked off the ash. Put on a couple of coats of brown stain. This was a water based stain so raised the grain a little. flatted that back before doing a coat of Amber. this has a very subtle fade so the nearer to the neck the more amber there is barely noticeable but I think it adds something. Photo just after the first brown coat. a then the first coat of finishing oil went on I’ve done another since and plan on doing six for a satin finish. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted March 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 So far today I’ve masked off the pup cavities to paint them. andctest fitted the bridges in case there was too much swelling from the colour application. plus, it’s nice to see some hardware against the final colour. I’m thinking of using wooden control knobs on this. I’ve used them before and found them pretty but slippy, so if I make some I’ll be adding rubber O rings for grip. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 This is going to be the absolute dogs whatsits. Remind me not to enter a GOTM when this one goes forward.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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