Friday, October 5, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #33
IT'S ALIVE!!!!!
Doing some finishing work. Yesterday and today I spent a few hours filing, shaping, and fitting the nut.
Rough fitting...
More filing and rounding...
Final fit.
Barely any adjustment to the truss rod and the action is looking really good. The neck was damn near perfectly flat/straight. I guess I did something right along the way. Still have to adjust the bridge and intonate the strings.
Tuned up and wiring tested. Sounds pretty damn good. After the intonation/bridge adjustments all that is left is one pesky switch (I bypassed it for now) which is on back order.
Rough fitting...
More filing and rounding...
Final fit.
Barely any adjustment to the truss rod and the action is looking really good. The neck was damn near perfectly flat/straight. I guess I did something right along the way. Still have to adjust the bridge and intonate the strings.
Tuned up and wiring tested. Sounds pretty damn good. After the intonation/bridge adjustments all that is left is one pesky switch (I bypassed it for now) which is on back order.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #32
Buffing completed and hardware installation underway.
Soldering leads to the input jack.
Input jack installed.
Finished recessed input jack.
Installed dedicated volume knobs for each pickup as well as a concentric knob (bottom of the knob controls bass and the top controls treble) for the on board preamp.
Wiring so far. Waiting on a switch before I can finish up the electronics and test it out.
Nut blank in place. Still have to file the string slots and shape the nut.
Barring any issues with parts being shipped or electronics giving me a hard time this should be finished up within the next week or so.
Soldering leads to the input jack.
Input jack installed.
Finished recessed input jack.
Installed dedicated volume knobs for each pickup as well as a concentric knob (bottom of the knob controls bass and the top controls treble) for the on board preamp.
Wiring so far. Waiting on a switch before I can finish up the electronics and test it out.
Nut blank in place. Still have to file the string slots and shape the nut.
Barring any issues with parts being shipped or electronics giving me a hard time this should be finished up within the next week or so.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #31
It has been a while since I posted. The main reason behind that is the length of time it takes to build up the finish on this bass and the sanding that needs to be done between applications. I have finally finished buffing out the final 18th coat of clear, sanded the fretboard to 600 grit and oiled it, and started assembly.
There are issues with the finish (which irritates the hell out of me). I will never again use this product. Following the manufacturers instructions precisely did not put me in a happy place. Curing times were incorrect and subsequent coats did not merge with the previous coats properly. There is a little haziness in spots below the surface that is infuriating. Perhaps some day I will strip it back to bare wood and redo the finish but at this point I just want to finish the project and play this instrument.
Final buffing completed on the face of the bass.
Fretboard sanded and oiled.
From a distance of a foot or so the finish looks great. Nice reflections from the top coat.
Assembly begun. If all goes smoothly I should have this beast put together in short order. I still have to shape and file the nut as well as set up the bridge, intonation, and truss rod adjustment which will take a little while to fine tune.
There are issues with the finish (which irritates the hell out of me). I will never again use this product. Following the manufacturers instructions precisely did not put me in a happy place. Curing times were incorrect and subsequent coats did not merge with the previous coats properly. There is a little haziness in spots below the surface that is infuriating. Perhaps some day I will strip it back to bare wood and redo the finish but at this point I just want to finish the project and play this instrument.
Final buffing completed on the face of the bass.
Fretboard sanded and oiled.
From a distance of a foot or so the finish looks great. Nice reflections from the top coat.
Assembly begun. If all goes smoothly I should have this beast put together in short order. I still have to shape and file the nut as well as set up the bridge, intonation, and truss rod adjustment which will take a little while to fine tune.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #30
Yep, I am still working on the finish. Just a quick update. After about 6 hours of scuffing back the last 3 coats, the final coats (16-18) have been applied to the bass. The cavity cover has already cured and is being buffed out. Just a few minor scratches left to remove.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #29
Not much to show. Finish has been leveled and coats 13-15 have been sprayed. I just have to sand and apply the final 3 coats before I can sand/buff it out to a high gloss. Can't touch it now until thursday so it will be a little while before the final coats go on.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #28
Headstock faceplate leveled and buffed to 12000 grit. Barring any major defects I think I will be ok with 12 coats.
The bright spots in this photo are the flood lights in my garage ceiling.
The bright spots in this photo are the flood lights in my garage ceiling.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #27
Gettin' pretty shiny. 12 coats down, 6 to go. Don't know if I can take this waiting 72 hours between applications. I am not what you would call a patient man...
My stupid camera will not let me turn the flash off to showcase the reflection I am seeing so I tried blocking the flash with my finger. The color sucks on this shot but the reflection is more representative of real life.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #26
Decal being prepped.
Decal applied to headstock.
Started into the next 3 coats of clear. After tonight only a minimum of 6 coats to go depending on how thick they spray. I should be buffing it out within the next two weeks so probably won't have an update up for a little while. Very much like sanding it is not a very visible change until it has been finished. After buffing I will be filing the nut, installing hardware, and setting the intonation and this project will be complete.
Decal applied to headstock.
Started into the next 3 coats of clear. After tonight only a minimum of 6 coats to go depending on how thick they spray. I should be buffing it out within the next two weeks so probably won't have an update up for a little while. Very much like sanding it is not a very visible change until it has been finished. After buffing I will be filing the nut, installing hardware, and setting the intonation and this project will be complete.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #25
Paint booth completed. Well I still have to hinge and attach the base but I really didn't feel like going through the effort involved to do that at this point.
Paint booth collapsed.
The collapsed booth is just over 5 inches thick. Much easier to get out of the way when it is not in use.
Let the finishing begin! 3 coats of clear gloss poly applied. I now have to wait 72 hours for the poly to cure before scuffing back and applying the next 3 coats.
Paint booth collapsed.
The collapsed booth is just over 5 inches thick. Much easier to get out of the way when it is not in use.
Let the finishing begin! 3 coats of clear gloss poly applied. I now have to wait 72 hours for the poly to cure before scuffing back and applying the next 3 coats.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #24
Not much to report. Took a week up at Gull Lake with some friends and got some relaxation time. My buddies uncle stopped by for a couple days and had to show us up by catching this 29 inch walleye. We tried to set it free but due to the warm temps we couldn't revive him. He was delicious. We made a beer batter with our homebrewed IPA and fried him up in strips. =)
It has been way too hot to work in the garage lately anyway. It started to cool off a little this week so I started building a collapsible paint booth. I still have a little sanding to do on the bass but it got so humid out it began to swell a little so it is inside right now losing moisture.
This is the start of the frame for the paint booth. I have designed it with hinges so I can fold it up and store it when it is not in use.
Added plastic and taped the seams with tyvek tape. I still have to build the floor and the top before it is ready to be put to use. I am hoping I can finish it up tomorrow night and get the bass ready to start the finish by Sunday.
It has been way too hot to work in the garage lately anyway. It started to cool off a little this week so I started building a collapsible paint booth. I still have a little sanding to do on the bass but it got so humid out it began to swell a little so it is inside right now losing moisture.
This is the start of the frame for the paint booth. I have designed it with hinges so I can fold it up and store it when it is not in use.
Added plastic and taped the seams with tyvek tape. I still have to build the floor and the top before it is ready to be put to use. I am hoping I can finish it up tomorrow night and get the bass ready to start the finish by Sunday.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Bass guitar build Post #23
Starting to route out for my inlay.
Inlay in place and glued in with superglue.
Sanded flush and any gaps have been filled with a mix of superglue and sawdust. Not perfect but I have seen much worse. Overall I am happy with it since it is my first inlay ever.
This is the best I could do for you Sean. The fretboard has been taped off to protect it as well as in preparation for spraying the clear coat.
Inlay in place and glued in with superglue.
Sanded flush and any gaps have been filled with a mix of superglue and sawdust. Not perfect but I have seen much worse. Overall I am happy with it since it is my first inlay ever.
This is the best I could do for you Sean. The fretboard has been taped off to protect it as well as in preparation for spraying the clear coat.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
