Finally getting around to my bass build

[Rob]

Resaw some scraps and try bending with a hot pipe.
It takes a few tries to begin to feel it wood but it is not difficult.

[Lightyear]

In your neck of the woods it may be fairly easy to find someone who has cut some wood and stickered it to dry.  Maple shouldn't be a problem - mahogany may hard to find non kiln dried.

[drbassman]

Actully there is a nice lumber yard locally that specializes in hardwoods but their prices are ridiculous and they are a bunch of snobby asses.  That comes from being the only supplier within 15 counties.  I hate going there.  I can find body wood cheaper online at Rockler than there.  Go figure!  So, I have some thinking to do.

If I had a better band saw, I could resaw thick maple myself.  Something to think about.

[Lightyear]

I found these guys right off the bat when I searched for " air dried lumber"  They seem to have a good selection of everything and there prices are competitive as well.

http://www.stonesriverhardwoods.com/air-dried-wood

That really blows that you are right in the hub of hardwood country and you have only one supplier.  I guess I'm spoiled as we have two good suppliers here in town.

A 14" band saw, 1 HP, Jet or Delta, with a lift kit would get you all of the resaw capacity you need.  Also, Grizzly has really come up in the world and I would seriously consider one of their saws first.

Regardless, your builds are looking fantastic and I'm seriously jealous that you have the time and space to do it.

[drbassman]

At this stage, I have developed a good system for doing a solid body, a chambered body and now a hollow body with minimal extra investment of time and money.  Since I will be doing this part time for the next couple years, I need to keep the processes simple and not too time intensive.  Both for economy of time and effort on my part.  I might take to bending wood when I am fully retired.  It looks like fun and I enjoy doing things myself.  I'd also like to build my own necks from scratch as I've done in the past on my pet projects.  Right now, I realized, I don't have enough hours in the day to do it all.   So, I'll do what I can with the time I have.

[drbassman]

Never mind!  No sooner do you say "never" then something pops up.  An old chum of mine from the Refinishing forum just told me an really easy way to build the sides of a hollow body.  He used to build beautiful Gretsch clones, man they were beautiful.  Here's how he did the sides:  3 pieces of veneer cut to size, spray them with Super Soft wood softener, spread glue on the veneer and create a 3 piece laminate then bend around your form.  Sounds messy, but it is very cost effective and I can't wait to try it.  Next week we'll give it a shot!  I'll have to build some different style forms.

[Dave W]

No harm giving it a try, you may decide it's better.

[Lightyear]

Agreed, sounds a like cost effective alternative.  Please post pictures 

[Rob]

At this stage, I have developed a good system for doing a solid body, a chambered body and now a hollow body with minimal extra investment of time and money.  Since I will be doing this part time for the next couple years, I need to keep the processes simple and not too time intensive.  Both for economy of time and effort on my part.  I might take to bending wood when I am fully retired.  It looks like fun and I enjoy doing things myself.  I'd also like to build my own necks from scratch as I've done in the past on my pet projects.  Right now, I realized, I don't have enough hours in the day to do it all.   So, I'll do what I can with the time I have.

So...how thick do the sides end up?
I was thinking about that sort of glue up for the EB2 I never started.

[drbassman]

So...how thick do the sides end up?
I was thinking about that sort of glue up for the EB2 I never started.

You use .020 veneer in three layers.  It's not all that thick, but it is strong once constructed.  I'm gonna try it in the next week.  I'll post pics as I go.

[Rob]

Please do this is going to be very interesting!

[drbassman]

Please do this is going to be very interesting!

Will do.  I might put it off for a few weeks to get my 3 current basses finished and then move on to the veneer experiment.  I'm starting to get myself overwhelmed in the shop again!  I do this all the time.  I'm overbooked but I love it anyway!

[drbassman]

Got the center block cut and fitted.  It was 1/4" short (height), so I glued a piece on top to level it out.  Got the neck heel ready for trimming too.  I'm thinking this bass will be hard to sell if it turns out as expected.  Might have to keep it for me!! 

[Highlander]

Powerful, the Dark Side is...

but...

Resistance, is futile...

(ah... nothing like mixing the genres...)

[drbassman]

That's fine.  Just relax, listen to your inner urgings.  Don't fight it,you'll just hurt yourself......