The New Bass Project Begins.

[ozzbike]

D.B.....thanks.

Loosened the truss rod....no plastic hammer.....little bit of wood against the truss rod end and a small tappage with a steel hammer. It has popped right back in. I tightened it up again and all is good....loose now as I do the finishing.

Sanding, and sanding and more sanding.....Basswood is amazing in its figure....really think of it as a nothing wood. But so nice. Love the maple neck...really smooth.

[wokkaboy]

Ozzbike can you please post a photo of the neck heel/truss rod ? Mine still protudes over 10mm out, so sounds like thats not the correct position. I figured it protuded and the adjustment is put a screwdriver in the holes drilled in it

[ozzbike]

Ozzbike can you please post a photo of the neck heel/truss rod ? Mine still protudes over 10mm out, so sounds like thats not the correct position. I figured it protuded and the adjustment is put a screwdriver in the holes drilled in it

As requested a couple of shots after applying DB's fine correctional advice. The Truss Rod is loosened off so it would go in even a tad more.

[ozzbike]

Guys,

I have to find some 125mm velco discs for my random orbital sander. I can easily get to 240 grit....but nothing finer than that.

Today I have done both the body and the neck to 400 grit. A couple of times each grade, and a damping down with water on a sponge between each sand....let dry and then sand.

I get some injections in my right shoulder tomorrow....old injury....so it will be numb and then painful for a few days. Sad I am not happy with sanding to the point that I could put some stain on....but as the boys say in the videos....PATIENCE.

I will go 600, and then 800 on the neck....it is so smooth. I wonder what a whole guitar of maple would feel like....with Dingo Tone over it....so smooth and I imagine so full of tone.

Whilst I was sitting on a chair sanding a long. The Aussie Post parcel bloke arrived....scared the poo oot me boot....he had the Seymour Duncan pick-ups for me. They look cool in the box and even cooler just sitting in the guitar body....yes I know the P Bass ones would be up in the pickguard.....cool hey.

[wokkaboy]

cheers for posting the pics Ozzbike, I'll pull the neck of my PBH and fix the truss rod ! I built that a while ago and didn't know much about the truss rod then, don't think I even set it up properly !
SD pups look great.
Not sure you need to go that fine with your sanding, 800 grit is almost polished and may not take the stain.
Think 400 grit on the body and 600 grit on the neck should be ample.
Fine steel wool between coats

[Brendan]

Ozz - Green eyed envy monster well and truly alive here - loving where this is going!

[ozzbike]

Seeing as I have the needles and pain coming tomorrow I thought I should push through until I get the body and neck/headstock done.

I got the body done....with some bits I would like to give a little touch up....the bottom of the curly bits near the neck pocket are seriously hard to get the sanding/machine marks out of.

I went to 800 as in the Dingo Tone videos DB suggested he is tad retentive as far as necks go and he takes his to 600 or 800.....so I did it to 800.

I don't know why Basswood is sort of thought as oh yeah it is a wood.....I don't know if the camera caught it....but there a little bits of flame in the wood....and some nice grain/figure.

Well back in the box for the body and neck until I can move my arm again. The bridge has hit Sydney and should not be too far away....that would mean I just have the staining and waiting times to go.....cool huh.

[wokkaboy]

looking nicely sanded Ozz. Some basswood can have some nice figure. Just beware its quite a soft timber and can dent/ding pretty easily !
Sure once you get the stain on the grain will pop

[ozzbike]

OOOH,

Was getting a head of my self here. Time to slow down. I have not placed the bridge, drilled holes for it, not adjusted, filed and drilled the pickguard holes. Deep breath greggy and slow down.

These things are all better done before I apply a finish I assume? Will have to find that guide on Bass bridge placement/measurment and watch it again. Love the support on this forum.

I have a few clamps and even with the plastic pads on they do leave some marks.....note to self put tape or fabric under the e string and g string where you clamp across the headstock behind the nut....save more sanding.

Doc and jabbage at 0915 Queensland time....see how my movement goes after that. Lucky I was reading other threads....completely forgot about that. Was so caught up in the sanding, feel of the wood and wanting to put the Coolangatta Gold stain on. Slow greggy slow.

[wokkaboy]

Greg,
some builders drill the bridge/pickguard holes before the finish. The advantage is if you do any damage to the body its easier to fix before finishing. Some do this after the finishing.
For lining up the bridge I'd put the E and G tuners on, or put all 4 tuners on and drill the tuner screws while your at it. When I clamp the neck I use a scrap piece of wood between the frets and clamp, make sure it's a bit narrower than the E to G string distance. Wise to put a rag between the other side of the clamp and the body