Xanthus

When I did mine, I had a separate cavity for the jack. I used a barrel jack and drilled parallel to the centerline. You can go that way if you want. It's also TONS easier if you have a stringthrough, then you can just drill the holes first and then glue them. Wes, your mahog/alder idea really interests me. Talk about two woods I would not think of sandwiching. And just as I was debating putting a top on my RG build (But I don't think one would work well with bevels on front and back)....

Ugh... I wish I had the talent to do inlays....... You guys are so talented. I ALSO love the direction the fingerboard is going in. Makes me want to practice some Powerslave.

Looking nice thus far. I'm glad someone else is doing a neck with 1/8" stringers. The wenge looks beautiful! Now I can see where the maple stripes (in my neck) are going to hit the tuners. It was pretty hard to see it, just looking at my block of wood.

I GOT A PLUG!!!! AAH! ME OF ALL PEOPLE!!! Hi sebbeklang, you're my new favorite member Glad to see you're taking the plunge! Man, is it ever a rush. You'll see what I mean As far as your wood choices go, just be forewarned that maple and walnut are bright-sounding woods. Then again, there are people who like really bright guitars, so what do I know. I like the design choices you're doing, but I feel the body may be just a bit too large for the headstock. Is this drawing 100% to scale? Let us know how you find the P-Rails. A lot of people have been talking about getting them, but I don't think anyone actually has... Please ask away with any questions you have (provided you searched the forums first ) and we'll be glad to help!

The different polepieces on each pickup should look sweet! Have to say, Simo, this is definitely one of my favorite basses of the moment. I really need to convince my cousin to let me build him one. Maybe I can do some pro-bono work...

I thought I saw a template for this floating around somewhere's..... no? maybe just me. Did any of you get fancy and recess the jack so it's flush with the body?

Your shop is so clean it's not even fair Great work

The angled pickup and volume knob make me want this EVH-striped

That last shot really advertises the guitar as something very comfortable to play. Great job! What's next?

I like the look of padauk and wenge, seems to be catching on around here Usually the bridge type is one of the first decisions to be made. Bridge type and scale length set in stone lots of variables about the build.

Spalt might look nice, but finding a piece large enough for the top might prove a challenge. In other news, I think the body shape needs some refining. The top fin looks too fat, and the bottom horn looks too stubby. I'm a fan of Explorer shapes on the whole, though! Maybe check out the Jackson Warrior for a bit of inspiration?

The issue is not having it slide during clamping. Like John said, it's easier to glue two tapered pieces and have them snug than one tapered and one square, especially when one is radiused. I already have the template made, so it's not a huge deal to run both pieces through the router beforehand. I might try the zip tie method actually.

Maybe he's saving it for a huge cover over the pickups and ramp.......!

In the choice between BL and Carvin, my vote is with BL. The Carvin pickups I have are very mediocre...

I LIKE that headstock!!

No harm meant at all, Wez. Didn't mean to bash your work (which I admire greatly!), maybe it came out wrong. Anyway, on to the building!

I don't think I have a drill bit that small But I have heard of that method. I just don't think I have the tools!

That is actually an excellent point, John. I would feel much safer leaving the side clamps on and taking them off after an hour or so.

1) Miller is absolutely ENVIABLE in what he does to his Variax's. 2) Sad there isn't an original design idea anymore. But that's life. 3) your color is approved. How dark is it going to be, more the Fernandes or Miller's? ::EDIT:: Or Daniel's Strawberry Nova?

The bubinga sounded like a great idea! I like a stiff neck and softer body. Bubinga has a reputation for being a boutique wood, it doesn't need a finish, and it's a great red-brown color But it's a honkin' piece, as far as weight goes. It's 2-3/4" wide and 1-1/2" thick.... I'm hoping it lightens up significantly when I get to carving. Your method sounds good, but I would worry getting the wood stuck to the clamps on the side I think it's Brian's tut on the main page that shows him using zip ties (which I have a ton of), but he also had a carved-out neck too, not the block that I have. I used dowels when gluing up my neck and it worked like a dream. Tried the staple method with build 2 and it was terrible, had to reglue the fretboard.

Back from the dead! Er, graduated in the midst of a terrible job market = more time spent down the basement working on the next mad creation! Big progress. Retrograde progress, actually. But I actually spent time thinking out my steps and actually taking advantage of the methods of the great builders around here. Scrapped the maple/walnut neck entirely. If you caught the other thread, it was my neck being too narrow, string-spacing-wise, and not wanting to chance a build that might turn around and suck on me. Picked up a hunkin' block of bubinga, 1/8" maple stringers, and made myself a 5-piece neck. THAT WEIGHS A TON. AND SANDS LIKE F@#%$^G DIAMOND. Well, that's where it's at now. Made a 5-piece BMBMB neck, cut the angle for the headstock, and spent SO much time sanding out a little divot made by the robosander it's not even funny. Don't laugh. Made the neck blank thick enough to cut the whole headstock without need to scarf it. I don't know what happened, but it just clicked one day. Why not do as much work as you can on the neck while it's still square? DUR. So I'm going to do the truss rod maybe tonight maybe tomorrow. The taper template I made will work if I either use the robosander or throw a few pieces of tape on the sides to bulk up the edge just a hair. Anyone ever used a toothpick as a dowel to keep the fretboard from moving when you glue it? I'm thinking about it.

Back from the dead! Er, graduated in the midst of a terrible job market = more time spent down the basement working on the next mad creation! Big progress. Retrograde progress, actually. But I actually spent time thinking out my steps and actually taking advantage of the methods of the great builders around here. Scrapped the maple/walnut neck entirely. If you caught the other thread, it was my neck being too narrow, string-spacing-wise, and not wanting to chance a build that might turn around and suck on me. Picked up a hunkin' block of bubinga, 1/8" maple stringers, and made myself a 5-piece neck. THAT WEIGHS A TON. AND SANDS LIKE F@#%$^G DIAMOND. Well, that's where it's at now. Made a 5-piece BMBMB neck, cut the angle for the headstock, and spent SO much time sanding out a little divot made by the robosander it's not even funny. Don't laugh. Made the neck blank thick enough to cut the whole headstock without need to scarf it. I don't know what happened, but it just clicked one day. Why not do as much work as you can on the neck while it's still square? DUR. So I'm going to do the truss rod maybe tonight maybe tomorrow. The taper template I made will work if I either use the robosander or throw a few pieces of tape on the sides to bulk up the edge just a hair. Anyone ever used a toothpick as a dowel to keep the fretboard from moving when you glue it? I'm thinking about it. Pictures soon, when I get motivated.

This is going to turn out great! Do you even need a pickguard on it, Fook? It's a nice, angular body that's going to be pretty different anyways. I know this is after-the-fact, but does anyone make a blade bass pickup? An idea, at least, for a fanned build. You guys and your multiscale projects, makin' me all jealous and stuff.

:D Excellent work! Looking great

Seconding what Pro said, most angled pickups I see are custom-made. Always like your work, can't wait to see what this comes to!