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Another Project to Keep Me Busy


Robin.C

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Here we go again as they say. I obviously don't have enough other things to occupy my mind, transition and all.

Therefore I have decided to try my hand at building a bass guitar.

Being my first try at this sort of thing I've had to make some decisions based on cost availability and time factors.

As the photo shows its a sort of Hofner 500/1 Beatle Bass. Sort of ?

It's a short scale not medium, it's MDF semi-hollow not hollow and it will be PJ pickups not humbuckers.

Will it be any good? I don't know. If it makes a noise sort of like a bass guitar I'll call that a win and then maybe I'll make a better one ?

 

Enjoy

Hugs

Robin

Bass Guitar.jpg

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It certainly looks like your getting a good start.  Hopefully you will share some pictures with us as you make progress.

 I have found a great deal of satisfaction in making things that require mind and  hand work.  I've only made two instruments while working at home.  Both were dulcimers.  I steamed the sides on one and built the others sides up using verniers.  It is such fun to hear sound coming from your creation!  Enjoy.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

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I'm having a left handed Rickenbacker bass made for me.... here is the progress.....

 

Image previewImage previewImage preview

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Good luck with the guitars. I always found the basic physical construction of them a bit of a black art as, although matehematically the scales size could be correct, the fine tuning could still seem wrong. A point to beware of is the neck / body joint as there is a lot of stress. I remember on cheap Fender copies the neck could readily be pulled back and forth so behaving like a tremelo arm with the sound. My forte was really limited to a bit of fretwork and swopping pickups / machine heads. It's some years since I did anything with them now though.

 

It would be good to see the Rickenbacker (it does not show for me either).  I always liked them although I never played one.

 

Tracy

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  • 3 weeks later...

Here we go setting out stuff. The fun thing was I had to adjust the tailpiece coz it wasn't straight.

A hacksaw and file fixed it though.

Then I found out the strings I bought are too long for short scale neck I'm using. If I was building a proper Hofner 500/1 the medium scale strings would be okay, short scale not so.

For those musicians amongst us, they are Rotosound RS66S. They look and feel nice by the way.

I also have given up on the P/J pickups as they are too big to fit in the area I have available. So ordered a set of mini Humbuckers. Which also leads to the issue I now need to build a control setup. I've downloaded some Hofner schematics and going to try and make something that will work I hope.

 

Oh yeah the cutters for the router have arrived and they are too small to work. Dang it.  Ah well just order some more right. Yep. Now to wait again. Building custom stuff is so time consuming, fun though.

 

I hope you'all like the progress such as it is.

 

Hugs

Robin

 

 

For TP Body_3.jpg

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On 8/28/2021 at 1:55 PM, Robin.C said:

 

I hope you'all like the progress such as it is.

 

 

We do,

 

Fun to follow along with your post as it's being created. 

 

Hugs,

 

C

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@Robin.C excellent work. I have a left handed hofner and a luthier is building me a left handed Rickenbacher 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I'll be watching your progress.  If you have any hiccups or want to bounce ideas around, I've built a few instruments over the years..built this one a few years ago and it's been my daily player ever since.. wife did the art

.20180831_104713.thumb.jpg.8ad92328d4ee6ed7ef21d0538220f384.jpg

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4 hours ago, PrincipalGeek said:

I'll be watching your progress.  If you have any hiccups or want to bounce ideas around, I've built a few instruments over the years..built this one a few years ago and it's been my daily player ever since.. wife did the art

.

That's a very nice bass ❤️

Have you ever tried to paste artwork onto a curved body ? I have an idea for artwork, which I want to print and then try to glue onto the curved surface and then clear coat.

Also how wide is the nut (43mm ?, oops 1.69" ). I wanted to get the tuners/machine heads straight inline with the strings like you have there, though I was hoping to get them level rather than offset like you have.

 

I might have to put up a picture showing the difference in the body I've designed compared to a proper 500/1. ?

 

@Cyndee thank you ?

 

Hugs

Robyn

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16 hours ago, Robin.C said:

That's a very nice bass ❤️

Have you ever tried to paste artwork onto a curved body ? I have an idea for artwork, which I want to print and then try to glue onto the curved surface and then clear coat.

Also how wide is the nut (43mm ?, oops 1.69" ). I wanted to get the tuners/machine heads straight inline with the strings like you have there, though I was hoping to get them level rather than offset like you have.

 

I might have to put up a picture showing the difference in the body I've designed compared to a proper 500/1. ?

 

@Cyndee thank you ?

 

Hugs

Robyn

 

That particular art was done on heavy watercolor paper and glued to the bass.  Never tried, curved.  I wonder if there's any sort of flexible plastic that can take ink from a printer?  That would might be the best bet.  I'll ask my wife and post back to this thread if she knows of anything suitable.

 

As far as my nut size, that's kind of a personal question (ba dum-chss)!  The nut on that bass is 38mm, the nut on my Ibanez acoustic is 43mm (attached pic of that).   If you need precise spacing/measurements for reference, let me know.. I just eyeballed those with a ruler, I'll get out the caliper is you need better.

 

Would love to see a 'side by side' comparison.  I've sort of wanted a violin body bass, but not enough to buy or build one.... only so much room ?

P8310004.JPG

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My wife just passed this info on.  This is a printing service, however it may be possible to acquire similar materials for do-it-yourself:

 

 

Laminated Poster might be a good option
https://smartpress.com/offering/large-poster-printing

 

Or more expensive but you can get it precut to shape and pre-sticky,
floor vinyl in particular is probably very durable...
floor vinyl https://smartpress.com/offering/floor-graphic-printing

 

or wall vinyl https://smartpress.com/offering/wall-decal

 

or vinyl banner (not sticky or cut to shape, but cheaper) https://smartpress.com/offering/hanging-banners

 

if 24 x 18 is big enough this print/coating sample sheet you can get in
"synthetic paper" which is plastic https://smartpress.com/offering/print-coating-sample-sheet

 

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@PrincipalGeek thank you fort the information. I will give the glued paper method and see if i can get it to do a gentle curve. Sort of like steaming wood.

 

I have done a similar thing on a much large scale on the my rocker plate below. It was flat though.

 

Hugs

Robin

20200615_160355.jpg

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This a s good a comparison as I can do, not owning a Hofner bass an all.

So if the photo orients properly then the one at the top is the full size Hofner body and the bottom one is what I have made to fit the short 25.5" scale neck. I wanted the proportions a little bit more in keeping with the short scale and smaller, bridge and pickups.

 

Hope this helps a bit with understanding what I'm trying to achieve, if it even works at all.

 

This weeks drum homework is get Michael Jacksons Beat It into at least some sort of recognizable form.

Wish me luck ?

 

Hugs

Robin

 

Hofner vs Wonky Duck.jpg

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Nice, the smaller body should be easier to get around if working higher up the strings as well. 

 

Good luck on the drum work!  And the project bass!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Woo hoo, so here is the next update in the saga that is guitar making.

Soooo ... got some okay double-sided tape to hold things together while routering. Packaging says to leave for 48hrs for maximum bond ... really !!?? It was difficult enough after 2 hours !!

Cutting the bodies turned out to be quite easy, though I may end up having to cut some more pieces unless i can hide the jigsaws undercut. Jigsaw blades can bend a long way in 16mm MDF.

So I have all the main parts to do the layout and get the scale length correct, set the pickups at the correct-ish 60s intonation lengths.

New short scale strings have arrived so i can do the tuners when i get to that end. Though I have had to order an new nut as the one with the neck was for a 6-string guitar.

 

Let's see all the electronics are on their way across the waters to our fair isle. Got the audio pots and the slide switches should arrive next week. I'm going to prototrype various control circuits and see which i like the best, including the original style Hofner setup.

 

I think that's all for the moment.

Oh almost forgot now I have the pickups and saddles I can make a template for the neck pocket and the internal hollowing to lighten it up and add some sort of resonance, it will be interesting to see what a semi-hollow body sounds like.

 

Until then,

 

Hugs

Robin

For TP Cutting body.jpg

For TP double sided tape.jpg

For TP removing Double sided tape.jpg

For TP Setout.jpg

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It is certainly becoming on nicely.  It sounds like you are enjoying the challenge without a note sounding.  

That is a lot of progress from some paper templates!

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

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What a beauty pre-born instrument. My new left handed hand made Ricky bass sounds so sweet and it's second appearance in public is tonight.

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  • 2 weeks later...

This was one of the most nerve racking parts of the build so far. Would I stuff this up and then need to wait 3 months for another neck to be shipped or would I get it pretty okay !?

Spoiler Alert .. pretty okay ?

The picture tells a thousand words, as long as you don't use a word count program.

It is a bit difficult to see in the last photo, however the strings will all end up in a straight line, nothing bent here .... LOL.

The electronics have arrived and the rest of the stuffs to make the control circuit, so that's next.

 

I hope this finds everyone doing well. Some of you will have noticed me missing from a few things. Work, garden and house have been crazy busy the last few weeks and the guitar was a way of looking after my mental health and just disappearing into the garage for a couple of hours.

 

Stay safe.

Hugs

Robyn

Sep2021_002_TP Finished Cutting.jpg

Sep2021_001_TP Marking Out.jpg

Sep2021_003_TP Tuners Front.jpg

Sep2021_004_TP Tuners Rear.jpg

Sep2021_005_TP Straight Strings.jpg

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  • Forum Moderator

I like the shape.  Is there a particular reason you made the stem of the neck so long?  (from the tuning keys to nut)

 

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@Jani it has ended up so long in the head area due to the crazy short scale 25.5" ... I wanted to use these really nice Rotosound strings and they are fairly long before the silk winding blue bit, so it sort of forced me to move things far away .. ?

I'm hoping that it will also help with the balance a bit.

I am sorting out ways to hollow out the MDF without ruining the structural integrity of the body and still be able to shield all the electrical bittys. Conductive paints seems to be my best option at the moment. 

Maybe I should call it my Giraffe Bass ?

 

Hugs

Robin

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That’s a very cool project. I didn’t realize how many bass players are on this forum  (actually I play multiple instruments, and it seems that is not uncommon here either, I just have an affinity for bass guitar). I am in awe you are building this…I don’t even have the skills to adjust the action on the two basses I have. 

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      The trans community won't be good under Trump at all. Biden is the one who has done more for the trans community than any other presidents. Last time Trump was in office he was at an LGBTQ rally and his support went quickly away from us because the majority of the voters are anti trans. He is going to get rid of our rights and also come after the rest of LGBTQ.  I don't know where you heard we would be better under Trump.    Trump unveils sweeping attack on trans rights ahead of 2024 (axios.com)   Trump Promises to Go After Trans People if Re-Elected (vice.com)   Trump promises to ban transgender women from sports if re-elected (nbcnews.com)
    • Sally Stone
      Post 7 “The Pittsburgh Years” When I retired from the Army, we moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania because I had been hired by US Airways to work in their flight training department.  The transition to civilian life was a bit of an adjustment, but I never really looked back.  At the same time, I was excited at the prospect of having more Sally time. But with work and two teenage boys in the house, getting to be Sally was a challenge.    The biggest issue in this regard were my sons, as they didn’t know about my feminine side.  My wife and I discussed, in great detail, whether or not to tell them.  If they had known about Sally, it would have been much easier to actually be Sally when I wanted to.  But I still didn’t know exactly where my transgender journey was going to take me, and this uncertainty was the primary reason my wife and I decided it wasn’t the right time to tell them about Sally.  Except for the convenience it would afford me, we didn’t think it was fair to burdened them with such a sensitive family secret if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.  If at some point things changed and it looked like I might be heading towards transition, my wife and I agreed we would revisit our decision.   Despite having to tiptoe around the boys I was able, with my wife often running interference for me, to significantly increase my girl time.  The nature of my variable work schedule meant that often days off occurred during the week when the boys were in school, and on those days, I took full advantage of the time.  Additionally, I had discovered a new trans friend through a local support group, and my wife, ever and always accommodating, ensured I had time for outings with my new friend.    Willa, my new friend, quickly became my best friend, and after only a short time, she and my wife became quite close as well.  With Willa’s help, I would soon discover that Pittsburgh was a very trans friendly city.  Together, she and I made the town our own.  We attended the theater, the symphony, we went out to dinner regularly, and I think we visited every museum in the city.  With Willa’s support and friendship, I was actually becoming quite the girl about town.    Willa and I had a lot in common.  We loved to shop, we had similar feminine styles, and we had similar views and feelings about being trans.  In fact, our frequent and deep discussions about transgender issues helped me begin to understand my transgender nature.  Having Willa as a springboard for all topics transgender, was probably as effective as regularly visiting a therapist.  I would never discount anyone’s desire to seek professional help, but having an unbiased confidant, can also be an effective method for self-discovery.    Exploring the city as Sally and spending time with Willa was instrumental in helping me understand my transgender nature, and would begin shaping my transgender objective.  My feelings about the kind of girl I was and where I wanted to go began to solidify.  Being out and socializing as Sally in a big city like Pittsburgh, taught me I could express my femininity without issue.  I honestly felt confident I could live my life as a woman; however, remaining completely objective, I just couldn’t see giving up the life I’d built as a man.   At that time, I was being heavily influenced by the concept of the gender binary, which had me thinking I had to choose between being a man or being a woman.  It was Willa who reminded me there were no rules requiring gender identity to be binary.  During one of our deep discussions, she posited the idea of enjoying both genders, something she was doing, and a concept that made a lot of sense to me.  I was already living the life of a part-time woman, so I simply started paying more attention to how that was making me feel.    One characteristic that was dominating my feminine self-expression (and it continues to this day) was that when I was Sally, I was “all in.”  When I became Sally, it was such a complete transformation that I truly felt like a woman.  The feeling was powerful, and if I had to describe it another way, I’d say it was akin to an actor, so into the part, they actually become the character they are portraying.  That was me, and I discovered that this level of depth was extremely fulfilling, and that feeling tended to last long after transitioning back to my male persona.  Part-time womanhood it seemed, was actually working for me.    Eventually, a job change forced me to move away from Pittsburgh, but the enlightenment I experienced while living there has shaped the nature of my bi-gender personality to this day.  Even after leaving, Willa and I remained the best of friends.  We had many more adventures, some of which I will detail in later posts.  Sadly, Willa passed away two-years ago after contracting a prolonged illness.  Her loss was hard to take and I miss her dearly.  However, I have so many fond memories of our times together, and because her support helped shape me, she lives on in my heart.   Hugs,   Sally
    • missyjo
      thank you dear. I'm constantly working at adjusting n writing off other people's judgment or input.   thank you n good luck
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Them's fighting words, but I intend to discuss this respectfully, calmly and so forth, in accordance with the forum rules.   Considering the one issue below in isolation:   There is a political calculus that trans folk may be better off under Trump than under Biden.  The argument goes that Biden has created such a backlash by moving so far to the left that red states, in particular, are reacting with a swarm of laws that negatively impact trans folk.  Some of his actions strike many people as clumsily forcing unwanted regulation on people, and some of his appointments, such as the luggage stealing bigender individual, have not helped advance trans folk but rather the reverse.  In a second term Biden would make things worse for trans folk because of the backlash and resentment his policies would create.    Trump likely would have negative impacts to trans folk, as he did in his first term with respect to the military, so it is a set of tradeoffs as to which is worse.   Thoughts?
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Can you dress androgynously? 
    • Ashley0616
    • Abigail Genevieve
      There are trans folk who pass better than some cis people.  People usually aren't on the lookout for those who are cross dressed.  As long as there are no multiple screaming signals and you don't draw attention to yourself you can probably pass better than you think. For example, if you walk into a bank in heels, however, and you DON'T know how to walk in heels, you will attract the attention of a security guard, especially if you are acting nervous. If you wear flats and just go to the bank and do your business like anyone else, it is likely no one will notice, except that there was a customer who was taller than most women are, but then there are tall women, and tall, broad shouldered woman.  I made the mistake years ago of thinking I had outed such, and knew she was a he.  Later I learned she had five kids, and her husband was bigger than she was.  Ooops.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I don't know much about CNAs.  They report to an RN, right?  Can you somehow bring this up to the RN in a way that does not get your CNA mad at you? I'm not saying you should, but maybe that is a good course of action.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      This is the thing.  A month ago tomorrow is when I stopped wearing m clothing.  Today I feel great.  I do not have dysphoria when I am dressed as and I move as a woman.  I was just thinking about that because I was wondering if I would or will get hit with a wave of "you don't have dysphoria so you might as well dress like a guy. Less hassle with your wife."  Not that she is aware, to my knowledge, that these androgynous clothes are women's.  No desire to "flip", no feeling of need to, just happy identifying as female.  Speaking, in my deep guy voice, with female voice patterns, doing the feminine gestures that come naturally and without exaggeration and at peace.
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