With that finish, it's looking good!
I like the color - one more color to consider before I start my build!
Before I start - I have a question related to the neck-body joint point. I remember reading in a couple places that these guitars should be joined right at the 16.fret level. However if I pull the neck all the way to touch the neck pickup frame, I can move it another 3-4mm towards the bridge. Does any anyone know if there is a precise rule here?
I like the option of pulling the neck towards the bridge since that also would move my bridge so that it rests closer to being on top of the beam inside the body that supports it. When I join right at the 16th fret it looks like half the bridge base would sit on the support, and I’d like the 3-4mm gain.
Any ideas would be appreciated....
Well pickup frames also have 3-4mm travel in each direction but... I get your point. I guess the floating bridge makes it irrelevant anyways from intonation point of view...
The only thing that I keep wondering about is if it makes a difference whether the bridge sits on top of the beam or the hollow part of the body...
I'd position the neck so that you can just rest the neck edge of the neck pickup ring in the top of the body, without any gaps showing.
Yes, the Hofners join the body pretty much at the 16th fret, but this isn't a millimetre accurate copy of one. Best to treat it as a bass that is roughly violin bass-shaped.
I'd want to get as much of the bridge over the support block as possible (though if it isn't quite all over it I don't foresee any major issues). But also note that it is probably going to intonate at least a couple of mm further back than the notional scale length.
Looks great my man, love the colour