Fenderbird build, reverse or non-reverse?

[Blazer]

Well you guys I did a lot of work today and here's the pictures to prove it.


Here's the body after I re-routed the neck pocket so it lies deeper into the body.


Compare this picture to the earlier one, the bridge is now sitting in the position it should be.


And this is after routing the electronics compartiment, I always drill the holes where the pots and output will be in advance so I won't break the thin layer of wood by drilling them afterwards. That has happened to me once before and it SUCKS!


And here's the body after rounding off the edges.


The neckplate in place and the neck being bolted on for the first time. It's a snug fit.


With the pickup and Bridge in place.


And because of the nice sunny weather I took a picture on the bonnet of my car again.


And here's the bass at home with the Gibson "Skirt" knobs I intend to use on the bass. Next on the menu is for me to drop the body off at the place where I'll have it finished in black and in the meantime I'll start working on the pickguard.

as always I'll keep you guys imformed.

[Blazer]

Here's the body with the perspex I used for the pickguard, All I now need to do is paint it.


And here's the pickguard during the painting.


and here's how it looks on the body


and once more.

Can't wait to see it in black...

[Chris P.]

You sure did a lot! Nice!

Some comments:

- Nice neck
- Great tip about drilling the potholes before
- I like the way you mount the knobs in the line of the lower horn and like exactly the other way around than a Jazz. An original choice!

And one negative comment;)

- To my taste the pickguard is a bit too oversized. Try a normal Rev-T-Bird guard too and decide later!


But it's a great job!

[drbassman]

Wow, looking good!  I'e never seen the painted pickguard method before.  I might have to try that sometime.  I do agree that it looks a bit large when on the body, but if you like it that way, that's all that matters.

[Blazer]

I think you guys are right, the pickguard is too large, I'll trim it down.

[Rikkimax]

You're uploading directly from your computer to our server. We have to limit the size and number of direct uploads because we have a finite amount of storage space.

Blazer and most other members here host their photos externally on Photobucket. Sign up for a free (or premium) account there, upload your pics from your computer to your Photobucket account, then just copy the IMG code below each photo and paste it into your post here.

Thanks.  I got it now.

[Blazer]

And a little update, while the body is being finished I decided to give the pickup a little test run and put it in my specially made test guitar.


I know, it looks like crap but for testing pickups it works a charm, the pots are also the pots I'm gonna put in the bass after the painting is done. The pickup works flawlessly and the electronics also sound really good.

I also decided to go without the pickguard, I like the sleek look of the bass without the pickguard.

[Chris P.]

Cool. Leo Fender used a square slab of wood as a pick up tester, so yours is already better;)

It'll be nice without the guard!

[Blazer]

Well you guys, I have been to the guy who will finish the bass for me and I took some pictures of the bass with the first couple of layers of clear coat.

[Chris P.]

Nice!

[drbassman]

Beauty, Dude!!! 

[shadowcastaz]

Nice!! A shame to paint it black though.

[Blazer]

Well you guys I got word today that the finishing of the body in black is done, I'll retrieve the body later this week and show you guys the result.

I am really looking forwards to assembling this one.

[Nocturnal]

If this isn't a trade secret, what size router bit did you use on the edges of the body? I like how that looks on yours. Can't wait to see this one finished!

[Blazer]

Well you guys today I got the body back and it's a never out-of-style Steinway black.




With the pickguard and with an artist impression of how it will look with a cut down version of that pickguard.


But I guess I'll go without the pickguard all together, just a simple and classy black bass.