al heeley Posted February 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 The headstock will be max 6.5" long - thanks for the offer, it would be cool to have a headstock veneer, in order to get the angle ok I'm in danger of leaving it a bit on the thin side. You have anything that might match the light honey-red sapele body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Some stuff arrived today, here's an impatient mockup to check proportions and ctrl spacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 (edited) Here's what I have Al. Apologies for the artificial lighting messing up the image. There are two of each cap <edit: bookmatched> but only one in zebrano. The lineup is: Ziricote - 10cm x 19cm Macassar - 9.9cm x 20.3cm Zebrano - 10cm x 19cm Koa - 9.8cm x 17.5cm Bloodwood - 9.8cm x 19cm Edited February 29, 2008 by Prostheta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Hey thx P, fromy our pic the bloodwood looks the best match to the body - I pm'med you my email Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Work started on cutting the neck and head profile. The extra length of channel I stupidly routed for the truss rod (yes guys you were right!) has been filled with a strip of rosewood left over from trimming the Ricky fingerboard to size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Are ya going to veneer it, or leave it as is? I'd probably go with a Mahogany or Sapele veneer, which can be had for a reasonable price if it's available in your area. Bloodwood would be nice, but I'm big on only using woods that exist elsewhere in the guitar for headstock lams, control covers, etc. Just personal taste. It's coming along nicely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 It's got to be said, but I agree. Perhaps you should take the waste, put some copper pipe in a pillar drill and make bloodwood inlay dots ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Oooh, now that's a thought....bloodwood marker dots on ebony..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 (edited) It's got to be said, but I agree. Perhaps you should take the waste, put some copper pipe in a pillar drill and make bloodwood inlay dots ;-) Brilliant! You just taught me to make inlay dots. But, uhhh, what is a pillar drill? and how do you attach the copper tubing? You can PM me if you feel like it would take attention from the beautiful bass in this thread. Who knows, maybe Al has similar questions? I think Bloodwood dots in ebony would look awesome, Al! Edit : I am picky about my spelling. Edit again : Wow you can't say the word that starts with "A" and ends with "NAL" on this board. Edited March 1, 2008 by Bassisgreat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 (edited) http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/...esses-mortisers This is my pillar drill. I could actually do with something a little more powerful for hogging wood with Forstner bits, but it's great for the money. Pop some copper tube into the chuck and slowly drill into whatever you want to make into a dot. Pearl and abalone is difficult as it shatters when it gets hot, so cooling it down with a water spritzer helps. Acrylic works very nicely. I learnt this to great effect from David Myka, so I take no credit in this. <edit: if anyone wants to buy me THIS then I would be most grateful. thx> Edited March 1, 2008 by Prostheta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 I'll bear this in mind for the next neck - my mother-of-pearl inlays arrived today, I ordered them a few days before - and I don't have any copper pipe or access to a pillar drill, but I might see if I can rig something up later to have a play... Today's work on the neck. Virtually all carved out with drill and sanding disks, which is a first for me (though this is only my third neck built from scratch). I must say the results achieved so far are far more pleasing than the first 2 necks, and about 90% faster and easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 Ahhhhh, Pillar Drill = Drill Press to us Yanks. I get it now, great trick. Myka is a great craftsman. Thanks for the tip! Al, the neck looks awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 Body routed for neck and MM pickup. Can anyone suggest a neat method of getting the dog-ear semicircles nicely cut into the wood, where the pickup fixing screws go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 Looking great so far! I can't believe how fast this thing is coming together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 (edited) I would think that an appropriately sized drill bit would do, otherwise a small router bit along a template. (edit) maybe even a bit on a dremel) This is all from theory though, with no practical experience to back it up. Edited March 1, 2008 by Bassisgreat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 I have a template which has a straight run for a 30mm router bushing. Pop whatever bit in there you want and the bushing lines up with the cut. Three nips and you're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Some more progress today. Finished off the neck join rout and pickup cavity rout. Got the bridge saddle recess routed and the saddles fixed with the thru-body clamps (yes, these hipshot triple locks are a real PITA to fit). Got some maple ears glued onto the headstock and the shape cut and sanded. Some more work on the neck volute. Hope my fingerboard arrives in the next day or two so I can make a start on the fanned frets. I also really need to make myself a 14" radius sanding block for the fingerboard. Pleased with the neck joint- nice and snug without feeling the wood is being put into compression. Another shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 Wow, that's looking fabulous! How hard was it to route the cavity for the locking jack in that curved space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 Your headplate was despatched today Al....can't wait to see how it looks....if it doesn't suit then I have some Koa which might work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 Thanks mate- the headstock is nearly ready to receive the bloodwood. Bass: the neutrik jack socket recess was hacked out by chisel shortly after shaping the the body. A dangerous 40 minute operation if you ever see me with a chisel, and a long way off the slick build of the Dingwall which is really an outstanding bass build, but I'm learning and progressing all the time. I have an urge to run some wires inside the neck to light an LED mounted into the headstock when the jackplug is inserted. Maybe it's too late to build this in for now, but I'm tempted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 Fingerboard arrived, nice thick slab of ebony. Almost feels like stone. Started cutting the fanned frets. Thanks P, the bloodwood headplate was received quickly. I'm undecided on this - it is quite red compared to the body. Also could do with being an inch wider. I might try and rout out one from the remaining Sapele and see what it looks like. [Note to self for next build: I'd be happier with the pickup an inch or two further back, and about quarter of an inch wider neck to play with where it joins the body.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 Yeah - it's as bassisgreat commented...you need something elsewhere on the instrument to tie it all together, ideally. The Koa I have is a half inch shorter than the Bloodwood stock, and a 16th wider. Not exactly an inch more! Still, you might find it fun to cut inlays out of ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 Dude...that looks awesome! As for the headplate, if you can manage to get one out of Sapele, that would be ideal, but otherwise, I'd think that Koa would look great, and since the color is more similar, you may be able to let it stand alone. I may also think that because I think koa is one of the most beautiful woods in the world... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Tonights progress; fingerboard trimmed, radiussed, slotted and dotted. Body has acquired a jb bridge pup and a mini three-way toggle. Wierd perspective tricks with these fanned fret and staggered bridge builds, the photo makes it look like the pickups are skewed but they are perfectly perpendicular to the centre line. I have a few MOP inlay circles left of various size, and was going to add some sort of extra design at F12, but with the small and simple circle markers against the dark ebony, i think it looks a lot more classy. Another view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 I'm waiting for those eggses to hatch Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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