(no subject)

[inahandbasket]

I just dropped a bundle of cash on a large router (woodworking tool).
This means I'm serious about building a bass.

I have the neck and the body, collecting the electronics, pickups, etc. slowly but surely.
I didn't carve the body myself, but found one cheap that I liked. This being the first time I assemble an instrument I'd rather not fuxor up an expensive piece of wood myself, and I got a ridiculous deal on it anyway. Cheaper than I would have paid for a slab of wood to carve it myself. For the neck, I'm just not up to that yet. It's the most difficult part of an instrument, and I'm scared of doing it without a real workshop to work in.

I've sanded down the body, next is using my new router to make the pocket for the neck to drop into, and the slots for the pickups.
Once it's shaped I'll put an oil finish on the body and deal with the headstock shape/inlay.
After that it's pretty much soldering the electronics and assembling the pieces.

Cost: ignoring tools I've spent $100 on it so far. Pickups and electronics will probably run me another $100. Not bad for a complete custom hand-built instrument.
Timeframe: who the hell knows? It's my winter project, so hopefully it'll be done before the weather warms up.
Sense of accomplishment when it's done: huge. Or should be at least.

So here's a photoshopped image of what it should look like when done.
The headstock isn't the final design, because I'm still in limbo about what that's going to be.
Can't make up my mind. grr!

Comments

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

suh-weet.

i wish we lived closer because then you and mike could play with wood all day.

[inahandbasket]

amen.
Then I could use your garage/basemess with him, because I have NO SPACE!

[gatz.livejournal.com]

That is a fine shape. Good luck with it; one of my friends (the yesterday-mentioed one that wants do to the Postal Service-type project) just had a custom axe built and it's incredible. There's not much better than tailoring an instrument to fit your playing exactly the way you want it.

[inahandbasket]

Thanks, I'm looking forward to finishing it.
I'm being super anal about the pickups I'm putting in, they might run me $250 if I get the exact ones I want, plus another $100 for an active preamp. >_<
Trying hard to restrain myself from going that route.

[rainbow-spork.livejournal.com]

Speaking of woodworking, do you by any chance have wood glue and a clamp or clamps, and if so would you be willing to help me fix my dining room chairs that are falling apart? Not sure why it never occured to me to ask you before....

[inahandbasket]

possibly. No wood glue actually, but other fixatives which will work better.
Clamps though, I do not yet own. I need to purchase a few though, so I will soon. We'll get your chairs fixed up.

[d-m.livejournal.com]

// it looks nice!

// i am probably about to buy an ibanez sr-506 6-string.
// it's kind of inexpensive for a 6 string but i really
// like the feel, and the (relatively) narrow neck. new
// basses are exciting.

// good luck with your bass; post pictures!

[inahandbasket]

new basses are quite exciting!
I hear good things about the ibanez's. I've become a frequent lurker/poster at the talkbass.com forums recently, it's a good place to fuel bass lust. *grin*

[squidia.livejournal.com]

awesome -- it must be so different to play an instrument you actually made! :) and i'd spring for the more expensive pick-ups/preamp if you can; you'll regret it later if you don't (but you can always upgrade later, too)