Sonics 4th Build - YB-4 - The Steampunker Bass

[Sonic Mountain]

Some more incremental progress. I am finding myself regularly questioning my sanity for attempting this, but I need to get it done before a custom kit arrives at the end of the month.

They are about the same level of finish now, so more or less refining and detailing to go.

Still haven't had any inspiration on the bridge, the chrome looks ok, but I just don't think it suits the theme.. I'm going to go and check out the second hand/recycled timber place this week, they have a heap of brass fittings and handles etc so I should be able to sort out something for the tail piece pretty easily.

[Wayne.Mumford]

Looking good Sonic, I like the way you have placed the tentacles around the controls.
Wayno.

[VonScott]

Looking awesome Sonic!

[Simon Barden]

Looking very good.

However as it stands, you may have problems getting a knob to fit properly in the first control pot location.



You can obviously file the brass away around that location so the knob fits snugly in and it looks like the tentacle is gripping the knob, but this is going to be much easier to do before you attach the tentacles to the guitar. You've obviously got to do something similar to accommodate the bridge, but don't overlook that knob.

[Sonic Mountain]

I actually have a plan for that knob I will reveal a little later. And yes there is a lot of excess material in the bridge area that I'll trim once I work out what I'm doing there.

[wazkelly]

Hi Sonic, you could always try a Gold Bridge, maybe something like this...


https://www.realparts.com.au/bridges...idge-gold.html

[Sonic Mountain]

Yeah I've thought about using gold instead. I kind of want the tarnish that comes with brass though. I have found some hipshot brass bridges, but they look a bit modern for this I think. I kind of want to do the drawer handle tail piece and fashion some kind of tunematic style bridge. I've been looking around at various things to make that out of but nothing quite right yet.

Some more tentacle progress. Had enough for a bit now, I can barely feel my right hand.

[wazkelly]

Some reviews on Brass are not favourable as whilst it provides long sustain it does not provide punch or help to transmit any tonewood sounds. Could end up sounding quite bright and piano like. Anodised aluminium might be the go and a bit of window frame cut to same shape and size as the kit supplied bridge might work and you could always add brass saddles from a F style bridge to keep with same colours.

[Sonic Mountain]

Still chipping away. This build is really challenging me.

I decided to do some work on the neck and body. Shaped the headstock again. It's better...I think. Gave it a stain, saw a heap of marks I'd missed, sanded it back, stained again. Still some scratches, I might do one more pass before sealing it.













I think I will use the poly again. I learnt a lot on the Sonicaster and its actually improved as its got really hard. Can't decide if I want to do satin or gloss, but I'm leaning towards satin.

I have a couple of road blocks at the moment with the bridge and another wacky idea I've had. But at least there is some progress going on.

I'm still hoping to manufacture my own tunematic style bridge - there are a few ideas on the go for this. I had a mate suggest a bronze cleat might make a cool tail piece. It certainly fits the theme. I just need to get my hands on one.

[vh2580]

https://shop.classic-boat-supplies.c...re/cleats.html