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@Franken - I've not started worked on the Wenge yet but from what I've read it's prone to splintering, which can get septic quickly. Yes I'm hoping it's not too distracting and complicated. And the Wenge is also from Anagote!
@wokka - Yes I heard about the long queues at Aldi. Congrats on 10k posts btw. :P
Ok now I'll show you how I did the neck taper without any big machines! It's not that hard really!
First, I had to mark out the measurements - 52mm at the nut, 79mm at the 24th fret.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psra8r4bpe.png
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psvrpv20o3.png
Then I drew a straight line connecting both dots, all the way to the end of the blank.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psplooadrb.png
Then I cut out the taper, staying at least 1mm away from the line. It's funny how when I first started cutting out things with the jigsaw I cut at least 4-5mm from the line, but as I got more confident the distance shrank.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psa7tuquns.png
But of course I had to leave more room for error with the hand saw. My jigsaw isn't that great so I had to use the hand saw on the thicker parts. It heats up fast and the blade bends.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps10fz61sa.png
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pssznj0rtj.png
By the time I was done my arms were so sore.
Then I stuck a long straight edge and routed it to size.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psub8du6zv.png
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psfrzta3zx.png
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps9lb5grsz.png
And sanded it all flat.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pssjppen8f.png
There you go! Just 3 hours of hard work without a bandsaw and a jointer! :P
well done Simon, love the detail of your diaries. Cool jigs you made too. Shows you can build a scratchy without big machinery
Thanks woks! Big machines do help if you're building many and have little time!Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
Ok so I've been working on the neck for the past few days.
Did the truss rod channel.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps5w0f12hz.jpg
And the carbon fibre rods. These will help with the stability of the 6 string bass neck.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psrsdcxfqb.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psqiark2kk.jpg
And I also glued on the headstock veneer, which is made of Wenge and Jarrah. I'll also add a blackwood veneer to the bottom once the neck is shaped.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psdlt0xphp.jpg
After the headstock veneer was glued on, I routed the truss rod access channel. I'll probably go with a flamed maple truss rod cover from the scrap I have lying around (literally lying around).
Then I glued on the fretboard. To prevent it from slipping, I tried a new method of using toothpicks as locating pins. So I clamped the fretboard into position, drilled a 2mm hole in the fret slots at both ends of the fretboard through into the neck, and stuck a toothpick in. The frets will cover up the hole anyway.
Also, this time I didn't forget to remove the masking tape! ;)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psmfx6jxow.jpg
So you are sticking with a single truss rod Simon? It seems many 6 string basses have two but I never knew if this was because the string pressure causes neck twisting or whether it was just for extra support (which your carbon rods will give)
Yes one truss rod! The CF rods are strong enough. I think the reason why people use 2 truss rods is so that it's easier to adjust the neck. Besides I think it's hard to adjust 2 truss rods and get them equal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fretworn
http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online...Materials.html
StewMac - The two truss rods allow greater control over the neck, and help to control warping or twisting. The reinforcement rods make the neck much more rigid, while still allowing the truss rods to manipulate the neck as needed.
I think it should be okay.
So I unclamped the neck and was pleased to see no gaps. Then it was time to radius the fretboard. I hate this part because it takes time and it's super dusty. So to help with the sanding I used a hand plane to create a radius but I didn't take too much wood because it's only 14" radius.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psodw5wfzw.jpg
This is the beautiful indian rosewood fretboard sanded up to 1200 grit.
Then I also installed the side dot markers. I decided not to do any inlays and let the beauty of the rosewood speak for itself. Also I'm sick of inlaying. It's not fun trying to handle small pieces of abalone with a jeweller's saw and with my terrible eyesight!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psh8dlcfrz.jpg
Then I rough cut out the headstock. I'll refine the shape later on once I order the tuners so I can position them properly.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psilhsbidg.jpg
Here's the neck so far...
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psadxm1ldv.jpg
Then I installed the frets. I think I got better at fretting because I took a lesser time to finish everything.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psoxis5xy6.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psxvlopnkv.jpg
I also rounded the fretboard edges so it was quite tricky to get the frets to seat nicely at the edges and blend into the fretboard. I'll continue to work on beveling and rounding the fret ends later. Might have to fill the gaps with some rosewood dust. But looking good without fret tangs!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psruymongy.jpg
wow love the neck Simon looks very nice. So with the neck through will you be able to reach the top fret - looks like there's a fair bit of meat to remove on the part of the neck that will be glued to the wings
Yes the bottom wing will join the neck at the 24th fret. A lot of meat to remove so I'll probably use a coping saw or the hand saw, and maybe some chisels.Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
sounds good Simon, more good workouts hand sawing !
:((((Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
My wife did say my arms looked more toned recently... ;)
bwhahahha Simon, move over Arnie hahah
"Hey Sully, you remember when I told you I'd built my last? I LIED>"
Attachment 12058
bwhahha good one Franken, got to love the old Arnie movies, is that pic from his movie Commando ?
Thats the one, actually i tell a lie, thats just Simon out shopping for build timber.Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
Simon where did you source that lovely piece of Rosewood from? If you don't mind me asking?
Hahaha love Arnie's old films.
Franken I got it from guitaraust.com.au. It's the grade A Indian rosewood. It was actually from LMII because it arrived with its label on so I guess the owner imports parts from LMII. The wenge veneer is from LMII too.
Cool, thanks Simon. I need a similar sized blank of Rosewood/Ebony for a scratch build.
Its all starting to look seriously cool on this build mate, eager to see your body style for this!
Thanks mate! Hope to see some the FrakenWashie completed and scratch builds!Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
Hopefully I should be able to finish the body by the weekend! Then I'll wet sand and buff the second project.
Unfortunately FrankenWashie has a way to go, there are some unique challenges with that one! Until I get that off the bench I probably won't start anything else. Wee bit time poor at the minute.
I reckon you could just get a hacksaw and cut off 5mm the trem block!Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
The beauty is, that if I have to go there, I have a fully equipped engineering workshop at work so I can get that milled properly!Quote:
Originally Posted by SIMpleONe89
Wow that's awesome. You could totally make your own hardware.
I finished shaping the neck and I'll upload a time lapse showing how I did it with nothing but files, a chisel and sandpaper.
The result:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pssc4qsamt.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psx2qa1ypi.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psfs72p8cm.jpg
I'll glue a piece of blackwood on the back of the headstock after I'm done with the body wings. As for now I'm not a 100% done with the volute.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps9yuabkvl.jpg
Simon, this is such a great build, terrific job
Thanks Stan!
I'm loving this, this is going to look AMAZEBALLS by the time you've finished it!
very slick looking neck Simon well done
Is that neck rather square?
Sorry, for being ignorant, I'm more used to c shaped necks.
Zandit I thought the same looking at the first pic but think its the angle of the photo. The photos below the neck looks more rounded
You know I thought the same thing Zandit!Quote:
Originally Posted by Zandit75
From comments in his older builds, Simon's playing style has him thumb on the back of neck for most of his playing, so he goes with a flatter profile, I think its just exaggerated due to the fact that this is a 6 string bass neck. Still looks cracking though!
Yes that's right! Zandit I like keeping my thumb up against the neck that's why the middle section is pretty much flat. I don't like C-shape profiles!
sounds fair Simon, that's the beauty of making the axe scratch you make it to suit your specs and playing style
Thanks guys. Here's the video of me carving the neck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ1T...ature=youtu.be
Since this is my first time making a bass neck, and I'm not much of a bass player, I may refine the neck shape later on.