150 year old wood: P bass complete.

[dmraco]

I came across a 150 year old piece of pine.  It has now been planed and leveled and glued for a body.  This is a p bass with a little deeper lower horn cut out.  I had several knots to avoid, big ones.  One already fell out during planing. 

I have it drawn on the back.  Should be a neat project. 

 

[dmraco]

The first pass with the band saw.  A bit rough in some areas.  It will take some cleaning up but nothing a heavy duty sander cannot take care of.  The worst will be inside the cutaways.  a bit of wood fell off on the lower bout.  Added character IMHO

I also have a few spots to fill with epoxy.  I am kinda of digging the cross grain pattern.

 

[DangerousR6]

A++ :headbang:

 

[bbl4ck]

 

I am kinda of digging the cross grain pattern.

Yea, that cross grain pattern is very cool  :icon_thumright:
Keep the pics a rollin'
:kewlpics: :rock-on:

 

[dmraco]

taking shape and a homemade jig for the neck pocket.  I still have some shaping of the lower horn to do

 

[dmraco]

A little work has happened.  I have filled some of the defects in the body with epoxy.  They will be sanded flat.  The body still needs to be routed (waiting for a new bit to arrive) and burned.  I am not 100% happy with the lower horn.  I need to thin it out a bit and round out the horn.

I picked up a neck off a Geddy Lee Signature bass for $140 with tuners.  To cheap to pass up.  To took off the headstock lacquer and burned.  I will apply a waterside and re-clear.  It hit the sides of the headstock with some heat and the stuff really darken up nicely.  You have to be really careful because too much heat causes it to bubble.

 

[dmraco]

the body was burned, stained, and some semi-gloss poly applied.  My son wanted the stain to be dark and not as much burning.  I think it turned out well.  Some of the knots have a red cast to them.

After this dries I am going to hit with some 0000 steel wool to take off more of the shine.  I am also going to take off the bevels on the pick guard so you cannot see the white.

Should be done soon.

 

[dmraco]

Some completed shots.  Just need knobs now.  It's very light.  Sound cool....different

 

[DangerousR6]

:headbang:

 

[Surf n Music]

Well that turned out awesome!

 

[Cagey]

No kidding! That really worked out well!

 

[dmraco]

Very happy on two fronts.  First this was the first neck pocket I routed, with my own homemade jig.  Fit perfect.  Second, the wood burned nicely....more of a roaster feel.  It gave the body a great hue of brown.  My son added a few scorched marks for character.

We are debating black or creme knobs.  I have to get a shot of the back.  The skunk stripe on the neck is the same color as the body.  Funny how things work out

 

[stratamania]

Nice job.  :icon_smile:

I would suggest for the knobs to go with the black, neck binding, inlays and pickups...black knobs.

 

[dmraco]

Yes.  Agree.  I tried to talk him into a black bridge but we had the fender tuners already

 

[stratamania]

The bridge and tuners work though. But cream knobs, may look distracting.

In the end though sometimes youth wants what youth wants. I know I did  :icon_biggrin: