MKGBass Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Here's my first attempt at throwing together a bass (out of cheap pine from the local hardware store). A few notes: 1. The neck is not routed for a truss rod because i do not have the right bit yet. 2. The neck pocket is very bludgered (see pic) because I don't have short enough bit with a bearing on it to use with my template, so i freehanded it (Mistakes were duely expected) 3. Obvious seem is due to no jointing/planing of any sort, just glue and a belt sander (High Def Pics, may load SLOW) http://scatter2.sphosting.com/Body.jpg http://scatter2.sphosting.com/FullBody.jpg ^^The above links are now inactive. For some reason or other, my account at sphosting was deactivated today (maybe yesterday). Sorry for inconveniences All input/criticism is accepted/expected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Pine is definately too soft. The bass will not be useable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 good practice, but a useless instrument Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 2. The neck pocket is very bludgered (see pic) because I don't have short enough bit with a bearing on it to use with my template, so i freehanded it (Mistakes were duely expected) Definately get the required bit to be able to use your templates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovekraft Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Nice work so far, but Lex is right -use the right tool for the job. Otherwise you look like you're on the right track. Just remember that pine works a lot easier than hardwoods, so it's going to be a bit more difficult when you do this with tonewoods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Thanks guys. Haha, Litch, my friend and I have already discussed a few times how much fun it would be to find out how many strings we can put on before the neck snaps Yes I realize that pine is much MUCH softer than any wood I'm going to be using, which is why, for the body I purchased some weather treated pine. Though it's still pine, each board is more than twice as heavy and hard as untreated pine, thus, a little closer to reality. I was definately planning on getting the right bits, I just haven't yet had the time to go get some cash and make the purchase. The hardware store I work at doesn't have what I need (HA!) but there's a specialty woodworking store about 2 blocks from work that carries virtually everything you can think of. I'm probably gonna swing by next week and pick up a couple of bits that will actually work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 it may be ugly... ... but i think it's awesome! i was toying with the idea of making a guitar out of a 2 by 4 and a 2 by 10... i don't have many of the required tools to build real guitars either but oh well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Yes I realize that pine is much MUCH softer than any wood I'm going to be using, which is why, for the body I purchased some weather treated pine. Though it's still pine, each board is more than twice as heavy and hard as untreated pine, thus, a little closer to reality. By weather treated pine you mean it's been chemically treated to be outdoor hearty? I seem to recall arsenic being used to treat such wood. Be careful about touching, working with, sanding, etc. with chemically treated wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 hm........ i think if anything you would want to cut your neck pocket smaller than your neck. and use a router.... and take your time. do it on like 5-6 passes. and most importantly make a template. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 I'd recommend doing one more pine guitar with the right tools then move on to tonewoods. You might consider buying or re-using a neck and save money on tools. That way you can concentrate on the body design and execute it fairly well without blowing the bank account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 thanks again all, dave i was definately planning on doing that, since i've got enough extra wood. I already have all of the tools, so buying a neck would be a waste of money, especially since making them is pretty fun. Haha Snork I did all of that stuff you said (minus the template, just because i didnt have a short enough bearing bit at the time). The neck didn't even fit in the pocket to start with, i sanded it to fit. It's just larger in some spots because i botched the routing job at 1 o clock in the morning. Yes there is arsenic and i was definately wearing a dust mask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 ???????? arsenic??? where did that come from. lol. ok make a template. never work when you're tired. its a mindset that you need to get into. yeah its fun, but you have to learn to wait. I botched the monkey grip on my guitar because i was to eager to cut it with a super mini saw. I used my dremel. BOOM the thing's screwed. just like that. well, i fixed it but it isnt exactly vai- exact to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeanutsUK Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 ...and for my next trick I will bake a guitar entirely out of sponge cake and try to play it!!!!! Only kidding (my oven isn't big enough). I had thought of practising on Pine as it is disposably cheap and good to get used to using the proper tools on. BTW, should I use a P90 on my sponge guitar, or perhaps a couple of single coils? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 definately use dimarzios Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MzI Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 id hafta say that even tho i usually dont like bases the shape of that one is damn cool, did u design it yourself or are u copyin one uve seen bfore, i also like the headstock design but imho, from a design standpoint it needs a lil more to like totally mend with the body mayb take a step back and take another look just my thoughts but it does look quite nice cant wait to see it when its done and made of hardwoods MzI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Thanks MzI, yes the body was self designed (The design went through several evolutionary stages, but Kirk and I decided we liked this one best). That's not the correct headstock design. The design I have looks quite a bit different, but the wood stock I have/had isn't wide enough to just cut out the right shape. The piece I used for this neck was actually even too short as well (would be considered around a 32 or 31" scale for bass). Because I was just cutting this neck out for shaping practice, I wasnt bothered by it. I've got all my woods ordered and they should be here in a couple of weeks, this is cool as I am also very excited to see it in hardwood style. The body is going to be mahogany, with a goncalo alves cap, and then the neck will be a 3pc wenge/maple/wenge w/ Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 arsenic??? where did that come from. lol. It's what used to be in treated wood - part of the chemical treatment. I thought that they moved on to a different chemical recently and got rid of the arsenic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 They may have. My cousin works at the Home Depot and he said "Greenwood" still has traces of arsenic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MzI Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 they can continue to sell pressure treated which i believe is what you are talkin about with the arsenic, the only thing they cant do is order more from the factory if im not mistaken MzI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeB Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 if you get a high quality pine, like my pitch pine, there shouldnt be any problems at all involving hardness, density etc... pitch pine is very good wood, look out for it! standard white wood, cheap pine would do great for practising making the body on i think, but the standard pine is quite soft, so im not sure of longevity with it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtis P Posted January 21, 2004 Report Share Posted January 21, 2004 I cant see, the link is messed up i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2004 Yeah, its busted, for no reason, the hosting company took my account down. You can find one of the pics here HERE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckguitarist Posted January 21, 2004 Report Share Posted January 21, 2004 Page is not available can't see it there either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2004 Someone in the internet world hates my bass...it keeps disappearing, sorry for the problems all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKGBass Posted January 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 This Link Should Work edit: Nevermind. edit: HA! Try this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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