Copying a non-fender body?

[dNA]

I couldn't find many options for J-bass body templates, so  what I was thinking would be the easiest thing to do would be to take apart my BTB and trace the body shape.

The BTB is a 35" scale and a pretty wide neck. i don't have access to a fender or any parts to compare it to. I'm trying to think through what I need to measure to know if I can fit.
I guess I need to know the length of a fender/warmoth neck. That way I can determine if the body is long enough to accommodate. Then I need to worry about lining up all the other hardware routes.

Do you guys know if this is possible/impossible and/or tips on what i need to know to find out?

 

[whyachi]

Why not get a body blank and make your own shape? Just cut off everything that doesn't look like a bass.

 

[dNA]

I'd consider it, but right now this is more of an experiment for practice than anything else. I don't have any money to sink into the project, and the labor and the lumber are free to me right now. I thought if i can get a usable body and some experience building, i can hold onto it until I'm ready to sink some $$ into a full build.

 

[BigBeard]

You know that there is a guy who makes guitar templates.  I'm pretty sure he offers fender shaped basses also.

http://www.guitarbuildingtemplates.com/

The templates are like $70 and if you have a router you are in business.  And when you are done, if you don't want to hold on to the template, I'm sure you could sell the it on here.  I know someone would buy it from you (like me!)

 

[BigBeard]

they are actually $69 and two for $89  I heard on this board that the guy is a dick and he takes forever...........  I never did business with him, but I figure I'd give him a shot.  Why not, I waited forever and a day for my warmoth body it can't be that bad....  He used to have a 3 for $100 special but that is over I guess....

 

[dNA]

I've seen those, and I may get a p-bass template eventually, but i'm trying not to spend that money on it yet. I've also heard relatively mixed reviews of the site

 

[Malta]

Hey dNA, Ive got an old p.o.s. jazz style body lying around that I have no use for. I can send your way and you can use that as a template...its pretty lightweight so shipping shouldnt be too much. Where are you located?

 

[dNA]

Hey dNA, Ive got an old p.o.s. jazz style body lying around that I have no use for. I can send your way and you can use that as a template...its pretty lightweight so shipping shouldnt be too much. Where are you located?

That would be awesome! I'm hitting you with a PM now

 

[Malta]

Word

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I'd consider it, but right now this is more of an experiment for practice than anything else. I don't have any money to sink into the project, and the labor and the lumber are free to me right now. I thought if i can get a usable body and some experience building, i can hold onto it until I'm ready to sink some $$ into a full build.

I don't know the grade of the lumber you're going to use, but hardware store grade might be diferent than instrument build grade.  The biggest differences being humidty content and quality. 

 

[dNA]

I don't know the grade of the lumber you're going to use, but hardware store grade might be diferent than instrument build grade.  The biggest differences being humidty content and quality. 

You're probably right - I didn't think about that. Though I don't think my dad gets any of his lumber at a hardware store. The walnut we have is from a tree he saw fallen on the side of the road. He talked to the owner of the property and basically paid for it to be taken away and milled somewhere. We've had piles of it in our garage for years, and he's made some beautiful furniture out of it.

Is there some way I should/could treat the wood before starting to work on it to make it more stable?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I know kind of what to look for, but not how to go about doing it.

Neck pocket may be the hardest thing for a novice to reproduce well.  It can make or break how well a guitar sounds, plays, and stays in tune.

 

[dNA]

I know kind of what to look for, but not how to go about doing it.

Neck pocket may be the hardest thing for a novice to reproduce well.  It can make or break how well a guitar sounds, plays, and stays in tune.

hmm. i'll keep that in mind. So far the template we cut based on the ibby fits the original neck snuggly, so we felt pretty good about our work so far. Waiting on router bits to come in the mail before we continue. We'll see how things go from there

 

[Malta]

I see the body I sent your way was delivered on Friday, hope it works out for what you're trying to do.

 

[dNA]

I see the body I sent your way was delivered on Friday, hope it works out for what you're trying to do.

oh yeah! sorry I haven't had a chance to really think about it. I mesaured it, and the neck pocket isn't the right dimensions for a fender. So i'm not sure what I'll do with it. I've been focused on my tele which I just finished, and the body we're working on that has kinda gotten haggard a bit... we effed some things up. And now we need different bits. and... I've been distracted. But thanks a ton for the help man. I hope to make some use of it - it's just not my first priority.