Another Project to Keep Me Busy

[Davie]

I'm not a bass player, but I love this topic.

Music soothes the monster in me.

[PrincipalGeek]

Nicely done! 

[Robin.C]

Hello. Today's installment of The Wonky Duck Bass.

Now I'm not going to show the disaster I had trying to do the internal hollows. I will just show how they look when I got them right ?

During September all the parts I need for the controls arrived from around the world, so ... I can start to build the control plate up. The six-string string guard will be cut down and new holes and slots done to fit all the pots and switches. Cheaper than buying an original or a piece of pearl plate.

Next is how it looks after I jigsawed and routered the pockets for the pickups and set screwed down the saddles.

With those done I could use the saddles as a reference point to make the template for the neck pocket which got routered out and then finished, for a first attempt it fitted perfect. I'm so happy how that turned out considering it could have meant starting all over again.

Last picture of how all these bits look together.

 

This weekend will be finishing of the pockets for the pickups so the wires can reach where they need to go and maybe start building up the controls. Still waiting on a cutter to finish the last internal bits.

 

How you all like it, I know I do ?

 

Hugs

Robyn

[Jani]

Coming along nicely!!!

[Cyndee]

Excellent, thanks for the update !

 

C

[Charlize]

I hope you will record a bit of that beauty to share with us.  It's all coming together.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Robin.C]

@Charlize oh yes I'll certainly record something that may or may not be considered music. Probably not as I don't know how to play Bass guitar !

 

A couple of weeks ago I got the control panel wired and it makes sound, it will be interesting to see how my version of the stock Hofner setup works.

 

Enjoy.

Hugs

Robin

[Jani]

Very nice @Robin.C.  A clean soldering job!

 

Hugs, Jani

[Robin.C]

18 hours ago, Jani said:

A clean soldering job!

@Jani, I try though it's getting more difficult to see what I'm doing as I get older.

I'm also finding my eyes are also seeing slightly different as the HRT effects progress. ? 

 

Hugs

Robin

[Charlize]

I remember the ophthalmologist telling me that he got everybody not just the undertaker.  Age certainly makes seeing things more difficult.  Glad you didn't get any solder on the darmstadtium or the meitnerium.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

 

[Davie]

Yes, @Charlize? You're over my head with those words: "darmstadtium or the meitnerium." They remind me to call the eye doctor. Thanks for that. Also, can't wait to hear that bass.

I've got too many projects here at home, myself, so it's good to see the progress of others. The end is in sight!

cheers,

Davie

[Heather Shay]

@Robin.C Haven't looked lately - but just did - your new bass is looking amazing.

[Robin.C]

9 hours ago, Charlize said:

Glad you didn't get any solder on the darmstadtium or the meitnerium

Nobody wants to get solder on their darmstadtium  .... ??

@Davie the end might be in sight however it's still a long way off and i'd need a telescope to see it ?

Thank you @Shay hopefully I can learn enough between now and when I finish it to be able to play a few notes on it.

 

I also got my fancy strap for it form the US the other day. Let's just say it will really suit the Bass and it was worth the wait and monies.

 

Also the ball nose cutter I was waiting for has arrived. So this weekend I can try and destroy the front and back of the Bass ?

 

Hugs

Fiona

[Robin.C]

Hello, it seems my initial post disappeared; so this is repost. Not the same words of course since it was a while ago and i forgot what i wrote.

First photo is the body prior to routing the top and rear faces. Second photo is routed bodies. Ball nose cutter did a great job and then i just used a chisel to remove the excess.

Next up the final glue up of the front and rear halves.

Clamp City.

Finally we have the tailpiece and strap which i realised i needed to fit before gluing the bodies together as I'd lose my center-line reference point and you don't want your tailpiece off center ... LOL

 

I need to get the other photos ready. So later this week you will see the coppering and conductive spray pics. As long as it works of course.

 

Hugs

Robin

[Jani]

Coming along nicely!!

[Charlize]

Soon you will have to post a video of it playing!

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Robin.C]

Hello TP. Bass update. So first up I had knee surgery hence it's been awhile since last lot of photos.

First up is the brass plate to brace the back of the pearloid control panel. Next is the hole I needed to drillfor the tailpiece ground. Then the inner cavities primed (white) and coppered. Next is the carbon conductive paint to give that extra bit of RF shielding and make sure everything is connected in a circuit to ground. And lastly the final glue up.

[Robin.C]

Here we go for another lot of pictures.

Yep that's me trying the bass out for size and weight. It is a little heavy. However there is a bit of carving to be done to the front and backs so it may lose a small amount of weight.

Certainly wont be any neck dive ?

Lastly are some pics of the trial fit of everything and a last photo before I pulled it all apart to do the finishing.

Enjoy ..

Hugs

Robyn

[Robin.C]

Onto the last stuff.

Binding ... omergerd how blumin' difficult. Acrylic glue and lots of blue tape. It worked but sheesh.

Finally I have to admit a stuff up.

When I clamped it together for the final glue up I didn't see that the body pieces had slide a little so i ended up with 1/8" (3mm) gap and ledge on opposite sides. Not good.

The only way I can fix it now is to fill the gaps and re-profile the offending areas hence the last picture.

It means as I can't afford a set of proper binding slot cutters no binding slot on the back so it will just get a 1/2" (12mm) rounded edge.

So there you go all up to date.

It's going to take awhile to make this MDF and filler nice and smooth plus do the carving of the front and back faces. I am hoping to get it to a point where I can start painting it during my Christmas holidays.

Wish me luck.

 

And big HUGS to everyone.

Robyn

[Cyndee]

Nice update and catch up , a bit of sanding ahead ?

 

C

[Charlize]

You have certainly been working hard and it shows.  I particularly love seeing the bear playing base on the couch.  Enjoy! its going great.  New year concert?

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Heather Shay]

@Robin.C making progress. I admire luthiers like you. A special talent indeed.

[Jani]

I love the shape you've given this Bass, voluptuous!  I've been thinking this was going to be heavy as its made with MDF.  Could you have made the routs larger without compromising the rigidity of the sides and faces?   What is the unfinished weight?  

 

Jani 

[Robin.C]

3 hours ago, Jani said:

What is the unfinished weight?

About 4.5lbs at the stage ?

I knew it would be heavy. Probably a bit portly for lugging around to gigs. If I was a musician, and I'm not ?

 

Sadly I was having troubles with the sides flexing at this thickness when I was routing the edges. I've learnt a lot with this build. I had no idea how to build a guitar when I started.

Does it show ? ?

 

I've already got ideas for a Fender Bass project that I want to use the parts I bought for this one that I couldn't use this time around. 

 

Methinks I might end up making a few basses over the next couple of years. They take up a lot less space than my car projects ?

 

Happy Saturday everyone ?

 

Hugs

Robyn

[Jani]

Wow, at 4.5 pounds that is quite light for a bass. My short scale Hofner Viola Bass (think Beatle Bass) is 5lbs.  My Yamaha is 8.5lbs. which is typical for most Basses.  A good strap is a must. 

 

I agree about taking up less space!   I was up to 12 at one time and except for the daily drivers they were all kept inside.  I'm down to three cars and a truck now.  I keep my guitars and basses in one room now!  

That seems like a good project.  I've got all the woodworking tools but I'm not sure I have the desire at this point.    

 

Cheers, 

Jani