MIMF

I suppose the alternative to using carbon fibre reinforcement would be to use two truss rods, what are the thoughts on this? I have no experience of necks constructed in this way, I can imagine not being able to accurately match the tension exerted by each of the truss rods may give rise to problems...

I agree with Barry, over the years I've tried many procedures to install frets but have settled on doing it with the neck square as you have a much more solid base to press the frets in. and with the fretboard glued on the neck first you can guarantee to get if flat before the frets go in.

Thanks for the advice, not having a table saw can be a awkward at times. Yes I agree, gluing the neck parts together with pre routed channels for the CF rods would be an unnecessary complication, it is something I could do on my router table after the neck blank is glued-up....Typical of me I was th...

Hi Gordon.... Yes, I'm going down the same route and will be putting CF rods in the neck, there aren't many companies here that sell them but I've found one, I like the idea of locating them into the fretboard but don't have a table saw to do it, the neck will be a through body and I was thinking if...

Just to extend this a bit... On Les Paul's you push the ground wire in to the hole for the bridge or tailpiece mounting boss before hammering it into the body, also some people prefer to use the copper foil tape stick it under the bridge plate and solder the wire to that... The more difficult bit is...

Hi Gordon... Thanks for all the info, really useful. I'm undecided on the number of frets at the moment and only having played rock music I don't really know how important it would be to squeeze in the extra frets, personally I don't want to compromise the looks and balance of the bass, that's more ...

Thanks Jason....

I'm learning a lot in a short time and fanned frets could well solve a few problems, good tension for the low B and allow me to move the neck in to the body a bit more...Good idea, I'll be doing some drawings soon..

Thanks
Chris

David & Peter.... Thanks for the advice, all really useful information... More especially for me since I have such little experience with basses, I built a 6-string Firebird with 24 frets and 25.5 scale and it was surprising how much that changed the geometry of the guitar. I certainly don't wan...

Hi Gordon.... That would be a great help...The only definitive thing I can find is http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Neck/Gecko/GeckoMedium.aspx which gives some dimensions of their Gecko basses. I'll be drawing some full scale plans very shortly, so hopefully will come out with useful stuff! Thanks again...

I've decided my next build is going to be a 5-string bass. All my basses to date have been 4-string and basically follow a traditional Fender "blueprint" for all critical dimensions, not being overly experienced with basses I was hoping someone could help with a few questions I have. I'd l...

This is a bit of a nightmare with Strats... Some off the differences are due to metric/imperial manufacture and vintage/modern, not only does it affect the string spacing but the string saddles aren't interchangeable and the six mounting screws aren't at the same spacing. If you're building from scr...

Thanks for the help guys....Well I managed to get the overlay off with a hot knife carefully working it in to the joint, it took a while but was 100% successful. I now have the new original one glued on but over the years it has shrunk a little in length so I will have to trim the end of the headsto...

Thanks for all your replies, in the end I went with epoxy and apart from a time consuming clear up it stuck really well without any ill effects to the celluloid. But now I have ANOTHER problem... Although the customer is 100% happy with the job he has just bought the vintage correct overlay (found o...

Thanks for the helpful replies, I'm a bit concerned regarding the shrinkage and swelling properties of celluloid so will probably try Titebond in the first instance and see how it goes...

I'm restoring a Hofner violin bass, one of the jobs is fitting an original celluloid headstock veneer and I wanted to ask what would be the best glue to use, it's going over unfinished wood, although if need be I could easily apply a coat of sanding sealer.

Thank you
Chris

Actually, I guess you may have to have the fretboard extend a little passed the end of the neck tenon to get all the frets in so to speak but I wouldn't attempt to modify where the top nut is.

I don't see any problem, just move the bridge back by 3/4 inch and reposition the bridge pickup back a little other than that I can't see a problem at all. The string tension will be a little more but there's no need to modify the neck at all. Here's a picture of a 25.5 scale firebird type guitar I ...

Did the body have any finish on it when it was left for the couple of years?.... I'm suspecting that the wood has taken in a bit of moisture and expanded a tad and that's why the tap tone has changed...Drying it out a bit may have bought the joint back together or somehow getting some Titebond into ...

I think Gordon has raised an important point here. From a business perspective I find it quite difficult at times as on one hand I'm viewed as some kind of "artisan" and expected to lavish time and my skills on a customers guitar and producing something less than perfect would not be accep...

Hi Keith....

Apologies for my dumb response to your sanding drum solution! Yes I see what you mean and it's something I shall try.

Thanks