Installing battery box / First shot at routing

[baskruit]

After installing an Aguilar OBP-3 in my cheapo Squier Jazz, I had no space left to hold the battery. So.... What would you do after installing a preamp into a bass that's worth less than the preamp? Spend again that amount of money on tools to route a cavity for a battery box. Not in the least held back by the fact that I never used a router before.

Here's my little story:

1) Making a template

 

[baskruit]

Safety first!

 

[baskruit]

First attempt (ever) didn't go too well...

 

[baskruit]

Made another template which turned out a bit better.
(left)

 

[baskruit]

Now for real...
The end result isn't perfect but it's good enough considering that I haven't done this before. I'm happy with it.

 

[baskruit]

Finally drilled a hole from the neck P/U cavity, wired it up and I think it looks pretty clean.

 

[baskruit]

That's about it.

Two more things to do: Replace the stock pickups and of course: Get a proper Warmoth neck!
If only I could decide what kinds of wood to get...


My initial plan was to build a Gecko this year but money-wise that would be a bit too much for now so I turned this into my little project. And I must say that lately I find playing a '4' just as much, if not more fun than playing a '5'.

 

[Mor Paul]

Once you replace the neck, keep the old one.
Then buy a new body for that neck.
Then get electronics.
Then replace the neck.
Repeat.

 

[CrackedPepper]

Now for real...
The end result isn't perfect but it's good enough considering that I haven't done this before. I'm happy with it.

You ought to be happy with that - it looks pretty darn good!  Nice work!

 

[ByteFrenzy]

Yep, that's how it's done.  :icon_thumright:

 

[AutoBat]

+1
it looks great!

 

[Maltozombie]

great work! battery box is the only way to go if you have anything active, no taking your pickguard off to change batteries or any of that rubbish  :icon_thumright:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Looks good to me.  Great job.  You'd never know it didn't come that way.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Once you replace the neck, keep the old one.
Then buy a new body for that neck.
Then get electronics.
Then replace the neck.
Repeat.

I don't think anyone needs to be told that. It just happens. It's the Warmoth disease.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

No kidding.  I've got a Strat I want a new body for, but if I was gonna get a body I'd want a neck for it.

 

[Patrick]

hmm this is giving me ideas of getting a crappy epiphone LP bolt on and srapping it and trating the body as if it were from Warmoth.
i hate warmothitis  :laughing8:

 

[Mor Paul]

I don't think the scale will work. There are known differences between the bridge position on warmoth LPs, which are build to take Fender 25.5" necks, and Gibson LP's, which are built to 24.75"

 

[Patrick]

thats what conversion necks are for

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

thats what conversion necks are for

The Epiphone is not built to Fender specs like the Ws are.  Whether conversion neck or 25.5" scale, both of W's have 22 fret with overhang.  If the Epiphone LP's 22 fret does not have the overhang, the intonation difference is too great for the T-O-M to make up.  IIRC, the Epi is 22 fret with overhang, but the neck pockets are different sizes.

 

[Mor Paul]

I think a lot of us have thought about it before.