I have a Betty update yayyyyyyyyyyyyy

Sorry, no pics this time but only because she still looks pretty much the same as the last pics.

Anyway, I have begun the process of putting on her final finish. Not an easy task, but I will explain what I am doing. After getting her all sanded and smooth, and laying on the final stain, I am putting on a washcoat of lacquer. This washcoat is intended to stiffen the pores that were raised in the staining process. It was essential that I did NOT sand her smooth again after the grain was raised from the above mentioned stain.

Next, tomorrow night after the 1st washcoat is thuroughly dry, I am going to rub into those stiffened pores a much darker layer of oil-based grain sealer, tinted a dark burnt umber. After that coat has dried a little - enough just to have lost its shineyness, I rub the grain sealer coat off, working against the grain with a burlap rag. This will leave the bottom of the pores a dark burnt umber, and the washcoat will protect the stain coat. This entire process will be repeated 2 more times, then I finally sand her again, making the coats level. At this point I can apply the top coats of spray on lacquer, probably as many as 9 coats, then a bi of rubbibng compound, a gob of elbow grease, and Betty will be ready for her final assembly, and the she is gonna HOWLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL big time at the moon, and my neighbors hehehehe.

It is getting so close, NOW is when I really need to concentrate and take it slowly.

Sounds like quite a process, I admire your perseverance, and your talent! Pics soon, please!

pics very soon...and ty for yer comments and support.

when you get that all done, instead of putting pictures up, you can send to my house for final inspection. (I'm sure I have a bass I can send you in return.....ooops wasn't supposed type that)

I will be more than happy to. All I need is your credit card number, the name on the account, the expiration date and the 3 digit security code from the back. Please allow 4 to 6 years for delivery hehehe.

This weeks progress;

Pick up Cavities routed



With pickups



Won't be long now and I will be playing it :-)

Gumby

great work Gumby! What did you use for a template and where did you get it? For the pupockets that is...

Well the template for the bass I got off the net - just downloaded a pic of the Explorer, scaled it up and drew it onto a piece of ply.

for the p/ups I measured them when I got them and loaded the drawing into my CNC engraver at my business (lucky to have it to use) and engraved them. On all my earlier basses I have made a template from ply to fit the p/ups and then fitted it to the bass and used a handheld router to do it. The new way is much easier and neater.

Gumby

Looks great! Nice work!

Thanks man - I can't wait to play it.

Gumby

Yo Gumby,
WOW!!! This is looking Great!! I'll bet you are excited just like we all are!! Keep up the Great work!!! :^D
Black Hawk

I just go nuts when I see all of Cliftons little buddies doin the AB Wave yayyyyyyyy

Yo Gar,
Well, I do try to keep things Lively around here! LOL!! :^D
Black Hawk

Thanks man!!! I always love your gifs.

Gumby

Yo Gumby,
Yeah, they add a little Flair to my Posts here! :^D
Black Hawk

I'm REALLY liking the looks of this one Gumby.

Have you decided what tint/stain you may go with on this one?

Thanks Rog!! I have given you the nod ;-) i am going to try a gold tint.

Gumby

That's going to be AWESOME!! I think the gold tinit is going to looks super. You'll have to start a Fresh new thread when it's complete.

I agree - a gold tint will be...hmmm...well, golden hehehehe

one of those "pun intended" posts eh? lol

Yep I will post a bunch of picks when it is finished.

I may run a competition to name it. I intend to engrave something on the headstock, like my 5 string. But I do not want to just do my initials, so I ask anybody to submit their suggestions (no expletives please!!) and I may use one of them. No prizes though!!!!

Gumby

Sweet!

Perhaps your nickname? Maybe Ox, since it appears to be "Entwistle" like?

Well my actual nickname is "Jacko", Gumby is my AB name as you know, thanks to Bo!!

Maybe "The Ox" as a tribute - I used a photo of his Explorer for the dimensions and the gold colour will be a bit of a nod to it as well.

Gumby

Very good Jacko... :)

I like Gumby!

Gumbass

FallegurBassi (means Beautiful Bass)

Extraterrestial Funk Machine ver 2.0

call it "My Bass", then ship it to me since it would be my bass lol

Gumbass - no I don't think so gumby id only my AB nickname.

FallegurBassi ??? You & I would be the only ones who knew what it meant.

Extra..... too long

My Bass :-) grab some p/ups, bridge, tuners etc send them to me and wait for 6 months.

Gumby

lol

Engraving is a great idea. Everyone else uses decals so an engraved headstock would really make it pop. It will also help the tone tremendously I'm told--a bit more punch in the 1-4K range if my calculations are correct. :-)

Anyway, yeah, good idea engraving...

When you gonna build mine?!?!?!? Not joking...well, maybe a little since I got no $$$.

Bo

As I mentioned, I engraved the headstock of my 5 string. It works really well, engrave whatever I want fill the cavity with epoxy glue coloured with paint. Then sand prior to finishing coats.

Build yours???? read my respondse to Gar :-).

Gumby

You're going to end up selling these. Understand that you have traveled down a road with no end.

So tell me about your tools. What is your set up like? Using any specialty tools?

Bo

I wouldn't mind doing it for a living but I have a biggish mortgage and a business that I can't walk away from. Honestly, if I was able to sell the business (3 - 4 years) and pay off the mortgage I would look into it. I would only be worried about making one for someone for a price. My skills are not as good as a luthiers.

Tools - they are my mates and we all gather in his shed once a week.

Power Planer (thicknesser) - handy for planing timber to glue together for necks and bodies.

CNC milling machine (my mates) we use it to rout p/up & control cavities, cut fret slots and even fit the frets. Other than that, I also have a CNC engraver at my business that I use for making plaques. It is smaller that my mates (he built it for me!!) but it is big enough to engrave the headstock and at a pinch I could use it for cavities. Clamps, belt sander, spokeshave and hand plane.

Gumby

Nice to have a set up with good tools to work with.
Makes the job easier...

Bo

It certainly does, the first 2 I built with hand tools. It can be done ok but it is much slower.

Gumby