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Finished my first build

Posted by J Cramer on February 12, 2011 at 4:41pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Keeping it simple.  Using an Oliva box and a red oak neck.  Will probably keep it fretless.  24.5" scale.

 

Closet thing to this is a bass refinish I did last summer.  Have another refinish in the works, but my air compressor decided to crap out on me.  The bass was a black Peavey Fury.  I did a single color burst finish.  [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/Peavey%20Fury/DSCF9863.jpg[/IMG]

 

Cut the neck 1x3 in half to get two necks out of it.  Have cut the box and have begun cutting down the oak to fit inside the box.

 

[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Number%201/DSC_0239.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Number%201/DSC_0242.jpg[/IMG]

Tailpiece is too long and I'll cut that back down.

 

Classical guitar tuners, so I plan to route out the headstock.  Haven't decided on a nut, or the bridge either for that matter, but have some brass hinge pins I may use.  May use screws instead so I an adjust the string position and string spacing easily.

[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Number%201/DSC_0241.jpg[/IMG]

 

 

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Replies

  • Bluesheart March 31, 2011 at 5:10pm
    Looks like you are well on your way to a successful build.
  • J Cramer March 20, 2011 at 3:05pm

    Yup, thanks for asking.

    Got it done.  Learned a lot and have things I'll do differently already lined up.

    Plan to build a four-string baritone next time and I'll use standard machine tuners instead of the in-line tuners I had for this one.

    I screwed up the string spacing on the tail piece and I need to figure out something other than free hand drilling for the next one.

     

    Think I'd like to try a three piece laminate neck for the next one. I'll also fret the next one.

     

    For now, it really sounds good strung GDG and it intonated nicely.

     

    I do need to learn how to play the things.

     

    Here are the pics

    [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Numbe...[/IMG]

    [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Numbe...[/IMG]

    [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Numbe...[/IMG]

    [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Numbe...[/IMG]

    [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/oldrookie_2008/CBG%20Numbe...[/IMG]

  • Vinter March 10, 2011 at 11:30pm
    any updates?
  • J Cramer March 1, 2011 at 9:10pm

    I finished the neck with five coats of clear enamel and figured out some ferrules.  I'll go with lacquer on the neck next time.  Just easier to work with since it melts into itself and enamel doesn't.

     

    I did a rough assembly tonight. Drilled two small holes in it and put some leftover strings on it just to see if it made noise.  It does.  Mild yea!

     

    Haven't got the right strings...in fact, I have no idea what the right strings are.  A bit more reading seems necessary.

     

    Getting close to the end now.

  • J Cramer February 26, 2011 at 9:42am

    Got some more done this a.m., but no pics.  My camera battery is out of charge, so pics will have to wait until later.

     

    Did some shaping of the neck to make it more comfortable to play.  Also did the grain-filling on neck to get it ready to put a finish on it.

     

    Mixed black Mixol with wallboard joint compound and rubbed it into the neck, let it dry and sanded it back off.  Looks pretty good at the moment.  Fretlines will be marked, shellac next, then stain coat, then more shellac.  Finally, several coats of lacquer to seal it up. 


    Will cut the nut slot prior to finishing.  Bought a bone nut blank the other day for it.

     

    Will likely drill the string holes and insert ferrules at that point.

  • J Cramer February 20, 2011 at 9:18pm

    I picked up some brass hinge pins at Lowes.  I cut the end off and have a nearly perfect round pin to use as the bridge and the nut.  I cut the pin to fit the width of the neck and will use the remainder for the bridge

     

    I'm not planning to fret this one so I don't need the strings to be real high off the lid.

     

    I was looking at kitchen cabinet handles  and thinking that the right one might make an excellent bridge at some point.

  • Habanera Hal February 20, 2011 at 9:08pm
    Looks like a nice clean build.  I'm starting my first CBG this week, I'm going to attempt to fret it. What are you doing for the nut and bridge?  I picked up a Corian sample at Home Depot that I will use for the nut, but not sure what to do for the bridge, maybe just a nice piece of shaped hardwood.
  • Dan Sleep February 19, 2011 at 7:07pm
    Looking good...
  • J Cramer February 19, 2011 at 5:25pm

    Made some progress today.  Have the neck trimmed down so the lid will close and have cut the channel for the inline tuners.

     

    Lots of clean up sanding to do, but it's coming along.

    DSC_0060.JPG

    DSC_0065.JPG

    DSC_0068.JPG

  • Dan Sleep February 12, 2011 at 6:57pm
    I have made a few with the Oliva boxes, they sounded pretty good.
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