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

[ChefBrianNYC]

And they make a "Fender" cleat to boot! Love this bass so far great work!

[Sonic Mountain]

Ha cool.

Cheers for the link VH2580. Lots of interesting doo-dads there.

[nitroburner1000]

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.

Hey mate awesome build. If you have problems with the 2 main curves overhanging the end of the guitar and not enough room for the knob that Somon pointed out, why not embed parts of the tenticles into the guitar body by routing out and moulding the tenticles to fit. That would give the look that the tenticles are alive and trying to burrow into the wood.

[Sonic Mountain]

I was going to wait until I had it all working, but the two forward knobs will be controlled by a series of gears essentially relocating the part you turn to adjust them.

I've been pretty slack with this one over the last week, too much other stuff going on and too many problems to solve.

I'm probably going to admit defeat and use gold hardware for the bridge and tuners. There are some brass options, but I have to weigh up how much I want to invest in this build. I'm up for a new computer build as well at the moment to so the project funds are going to take a bit of a hit.

[FrankenWashie]

Yes, its one thing to think up the grand plan, sometimes the execution can be difficult. You can only do what is both practically achievable and economically sensible.
I love the sound of the geared T/V, that sounds well in keeping with the ethos of the build, I love where the tentacle direction went. I look forward to the end game!

[nitroburner1000]

I was going to wait until I had it all working, but the two forward knobs will be controlled by a series of gears essentially relocating the part you turn to adjust them.

I've been pretty slack with this one over the last week, too much other stuff going on and too many problems to solve.

I'm probably going to admit defeat and use gold hardware for the bridge and tuners. There are some brass options, but I have to weigh up how much I want to invest in this build. I'm up for a new computer build as well at the moment to so the project funds are going to take a bit of a hit.

Just remember theres many a specialised spray can that you can coat over your hardware with to make it look brass, copper burnished or otherwise, and a coat of gloss or satin clear to seal it...

[Guvna19]

Enjoying watching such a unique build come to life Sonic, regardless of the pace.

[Sonic Mountain]

Just remember theres many a specialised spray can that you can coat over your hardware with to make it look brass, copper burnished or otherwise, and a coat of gloss or satin clear to seal it...

Yeah I could do that. I've done plenty of props and models in my time. I guess I just want everything to be 'real' on this guitar and I'd particularly like the tentacles and hardware to tarnish in a similar fashion. But I think I'm going to get some gold hardware and see how it looks.

This may end up back burnered again anyway as I'm expecting another kit in the not too distant future.

[wazkelly]

Paint over mystery metal may not hold on for too long either.

Maybe you could leave brass and gold parts out in the yard for a few weeks/months to tarnish up and then fit to the body to give it bit more aged and relic appearance.

[Sonic Mountain]

Yeah that will be the plan, beer is a pretty good tarnishing agent as well.

Some of the parts I've been looking at are brass under the plating so I might do some inspecting - just as many of the cheap ones are that grey di-cast metal under the chrome though so its hard to know.