davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Nov 17, 2014 17:39:07 GMT
A venture into the "dark side" in time for Christmas.  I'm making an electric upright bass for my eldest daughter Becky. It will have a variable scale length of 950-1000mm depending on where the bridge is placed. The body and neck will be made from Port Orford Cedar from a tree that grew in the front garden. The body will be covered in Sapele veneer front and back and the fingerboard is East Indian Rosewood. The tuners a Hipshots and it will have a K&K bass pickup. This is very much going to be a "make it up as I go along project" in other words fun  Here are most of the parts:  The beginning of the plans:  The East Indian Rosewood fretboard is glued to a piece of Port Orford Cedar to make a composite fingerboard thick enough for a radius to allow bowing as well as plucking but also light in weight:  Fish glue is used and other fingerboard blanks are used together with clamping cauls to keep the composite fretboard straight as the glue dries:  |
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007
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My main instrument is: 1965 Hagstrom H45E
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Post by 007 on Nov 17, 2014 17:49:06 GMT
Hey thats looks good Dave will watch its progress
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scotch
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Post by scotch on Nov 17, 2014 18:01:12 GMT
I'm excited to see the outcome of this Dave!!
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Nov 18, 2014 20:28:47 GMT
I was wondering if you'd put a build thread on here, Dave  I'm also keen to hear how this turns out... In time for Christmas, eh? You must be one of them types that enjoys the pressure of a deadline |
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Post by colan on Nov 18, 2014 21:05:00 GMT
Whammy bar, Dave ?
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alig
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Post by alig on Nov 18, 2014 21:24:59 GMT
Well, this is going to be interesting.
Great stuff, Dave.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Nov 18, 2014 22:43:09 GMT
No I'll just paint it with viagra to keep it an upright bass  |
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Nov 18, 2014 23:00:19 GMT
They gave my dad viagra when he was in hospital. It stopped him rolling off the bed.
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Post by colan on Nov 19, 2014 8:25:50 GMT
Haw, haw, haw |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 19, 2014 9:11:52 GMT
They gave my dad viagra when he was in hospital. It stopped him rolling off the bed. ...what an extravagant hospital - apart from the cost of the Viagra, there's the extra time and materials involved in providing bed-baths.... Keith |
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Nov 21, 2014 14:07:42 GMT
A bit more progress. The fingerboard taper is cut and the initial radius put on the fingerboard. The final radius will be done with the strings on:  The fingerboard has the East Indian Rosewood bindings glued on the side and end using fish glue:  The scarfe joint is cut in the Port Orford Cedar neck blank and the two pieces glued together using hot hide glue in this jig:  Here’s the neck blank after tidying up the joint:  |
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Post by colan on Nov 21, 2014 16:40:26 GMT
What's the final radius to be, Dave ? Looking good.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Nov 21, 2014 17:19:44 GMT
What's the final radius to be, Dave ? Looking good. Colan, Not sure - whatever works for bowing. It will eventually be a compound radius with about 50mm radius at the nut end and 75mm radius at the bridge end . . . or thereabouts The cross section will also probably be more parabolic than circular I suspect. |
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Post by earwighoney on Nov 21, 2014 17:44:54 GMT
Looking great Dave.
Are you going to some kind of support of a CF/truss rod for the neck?
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Nov 21, 2014 17:54:05 GMT
Looking great Dave. Are you going to some kind of support of a CF/truss rod for the neck? Shubbs, Funny you should ask  Last jobs for today done: The volute on the back of the headstock is shaped in the thickness sander:  Slots are routed in the neck for two 8mm carbon fibre rods:  The carbon fibre rods are fitted and a Port Orford Cedar cap glued on top – here’s the first cap glued in:  With the second cap on the neck is clamped until the glue dries:  |
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Last jobs for today done:
Jo whoever he is.
