Multiscale Chambered 8-string Hybrid Singlecut - build thread

[Customisbetter]

Eggcellent!

man i wanna go home and work on guitars.

 

[Erik Hauri]

Got the fretboard glued up today - West System epoxy for this, a thin coat applied onto the neck and spread evenly with an expired Starbuck's card. The strip of tape down the center is to keep the epoxy off the truss rod, which has its threads wrapped in a thin layer of plastic wrap (same goal there).

The fretboard is stuck on, then the whole works is flipped over and place into the neck glue press. The fretboard surface rests in a hardwood caul that is radiused to match the fretboard radius, then the whole works is clamped tight so that the epoxy cures with everything dead straight.

Here the devil is in the details - epoxy can be really difficult to clean up if it gets where you don't want it to. So the radiused caul is lined with wax paper. The fretboard surface and edge is covered with blue painter's masking tape so that the epoxy won't get on the board. Then another narrow white masking tape strip is applied to the fretboard edge, and flares out away from the fretboard to catch the epoxy squeeze-out, which I peel off (with everything still clamped up) after an hour or two while the epoxy is still soft but very tacky. That takes care of all the squeeze-out cleanup except at the nut and heel ends, which are taken care of with a 1/4" chisel to scrape off the excess.

These steps are easy to take and minimize the sanding needed to clean up when the neck comes out of the press - 3 days from now.

Worked on the body as well today - routed some wiring channels into the body core before the top goes on.

The strip of wood between the soundholes is an area that can be prone to breaking if it takes a modest hit, so I reinforce it underneath with a thin layer of carbon fiber composite sheet.

I am not quite ready yet to glue the top on, as I want to finish the work on the neck first, attach the tuning keys, bolt it onto the body (with top tacked on), and check the balance of the instrument. We *may* think about some additional chambering of the body core if the balance works out.

 

[Customisbetter]

that reinforcement was a great idea!

 

[Dusty201087]

Dude this build is awesome. Seriously man, major kudos

 

[Internection]

this project is amazing. excited to see the finished project

 

[polydeathsphere]

By god this is beautiful!!!!!!!

 

[Erik Hauri]

Thanks for the mad props guys!

Popped the neck out of the clamps today, cleaned up the edges and started work on the fret ends. Next will be to glue ears to the headstock and begin work on the headstock veneers.

 

[Sponge]

Oh wow... That is impressive! This looks classier and better than expensive furniture and furniture looking basses!

 

[phaeded0ut]

Erik, this beastie is really looking gorgeous! Many thanks again for giving us a blow by blow of what you're doing and why with this build.

 

[vansinn]

Yummi! Great work, Erik, can hardly wait for more..
+1 on showing those details

 

[Erik Hauri]

More progress over the last few weeks. Got the headstock laminates thickness & trimmed, engraving done (local laser engraver who I work with a lot) and filled with black epoxy, then glued up and trimmed.

Here it is with the tuner holes drilled out. Still a bit of work to do to smooth the transition with the ebony fretboard, and clean up the truss rod access.

Finally, was able to install the tuners and check the balance, which is quite good - so I will not upset that balance by routing more out of the body core. Figured top is now in the glue press and should be ready for routing out for the pickups in a few days.

 

[Internection]

 

[Andrew_B]

beautiful headstock design Erik

i always loved the conklins with the bass machine heads....
this is gonna look great

i dont think i have ever seen epoxy used in an inlay that big....
thats pretty cool,
and i bet it beats cutting out and shaping some perfect stone or pearl

geat work

 

[Erik Hauri]

Body is out of the glue press, edge sanded and neck pocket profiled. Also drilled recesses for neck screw ferrules, output jacks and recessed straplocs. All that's left is the roundover, pickup routs, control holes and finish sanding prep for the Tru Oil finish.

These are prior to profiling the area around the neck pocket.

Here's a wet shot of the back - this is the most killer walnut grain I've ever worked with, Ben made an excellent choice! And this is not even a good pic.

 

[Evil7]

that is sweet contrast in the wood grain

 

[Customisbetter]

thats an interest neck bolt design you got there. can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Internection]

CANNOT wait to see this thing finished

 

[Erik Hauri]

30 inches of snow on the ground - what to do?

The shoveling can wait - time to rout for the pickups!

And do the finish sanding - body is now ready to dry fit the hardware....

...except I'm waiting for replacement tuners to show up. I bymistakely ordered lefties (doh!).

 

[Ram150023]

This is the most insane build i have ever seen!!! Really intrigued on how this thing will sound?? Cant wait to see it finished!! Awesome work and great thread!

 

[Colton165]

oh. my. god.