@peebee

The practicecaster looks really good.
I like how you took the belly carve into the top bout.

Any more progress?

What kind of bandsaw do you have?

Thanks, no more progress to report, although I did get a Bailey kit and a Bagpress fret slotting jig from Santa, no excuses now.

Bandsaw is a Record BS300

Slight alteration, I have changed the pick ups to Humbuckers as these came in the Bailey kit. Trial fit of components on the drawing....all seems to fit.

2nd build will be P90s.

@peebee

I meant to ask you, how do you like that saw? I‘m in the market for a new one and Record Power seems like a good choice. 

How is the quality/stability? Overall impression?

Thanks a lot!

So far the saw is a treat, bloody heavy though!

Seems easy to set up and the blades are easy to change, I would say it’s the best quality tool I own.

There are also some good support videos on YouTube from Record Power re how to set up etc.

So far the saw is a treat, bloody heavy though!

Can you put it on a wheeled stand @peebee?

Ikm guessing that you mention the weight because you’re having to move it around.  A wheeled stand would make that easier.  

@peebee

Sounds great, thanks for letting me know!

TV it has wheels on oneside of the bottom frame so you can tip it up and pull it. I believe you can buy a wheeled frame for it. However, I rarely have to move it to be honest so its fine but just getting where I wanted it in the first place was hard work. I have since bought a large sack barrow, for moving large plants actually, but I might be able to use this if I need to move it again.

My garage is further complicated in that it does not have a smooth floor, but a rippled concrete floor, one day I might level it. (First world problems eh!)

Had to play IT support today for my lads first day back at school, remote learning and all that, so not much done. But sat in the kitchen and made a humbucker template from mdf, so not a total loss.

Cleaned up thoroughly before the boss came home!

Neck taper template making today and still IT support for home schooling!

Neck taper template making today

Ah the dreaded neck taper jig. Let us know how you get on with it. That’s some fancy measuring equipment you have there @peebee What you designing, a suspension bridge? 😁 

I’m joking, you are doing great man, it all looks good. 🤘😜🤘

Well got there, this is the most difficult jig of the lot!

43mm at the nut then I measured 56mm at the last fret. This is where I strayed from the on line course, Mark says 480mm between them on his video, but for me at the 22nd fret using a 25inch scale the distance between the nut at 43mm and the 56mm 22nd fret I made 457mm, from the scale length calculator it should be 456.81mm, so close enough.

I also have a Bailey pre made fret board and this fits my template almost perfectly so I’m happy that it must be close enough for Jazz as they say.

Marking the centre line was a laugh but got there in the end.

Hi Peebee

Mark says 480mm between them on his video, but for me at the 22nd fret using a 25inch scale the distance between the nut at 43mm and the 56mm 22nd fret I made 457mm, from the scale length calculator it should be 456.81mm, so close enough.

The fretboard in my Bailey kit was a 24 fret, even though I cut back to only use 22 of them. I think Mark's 480mm is based on the 24 fret length. To be honest, you'd need very good eyes to spot the difference in the tapers. As you say, good enough for jazz.

@Robin, I think you’re right as the distance to the 24th fret from the nut is 476.252mm so close to 480mm.

My kit is a 22 fret,  so 457mm, just checked again as doubt briefly crept in.

Its worth noting that there is a difference though and it may / will affect the neck pocket size, so follow this part of the on-line course with a note of caution I would suggest.

Hi Peebee

Its worth noting that there is a difference though and it may / will affect the neck pocket size, so follow this part of the on-line course with a note of caution I would suggest.

My heel was a bit loose in the pocket of my first build and I had to put a little shim in when I glued it. Most probably because of my router inexperience. I'm being extra careful this time and left the heel about 0.5mm too wide and I'll take it down to size when I'm fitting it.

@robin, you can also line the neck pocket template with tape just to shrink a little and give a snug fit.

Well got there, this is the most difficult jig of the lot!

@peebee

I haven’t made my jigs and such yet but I would think this one would be rather easy. If the blank has at least one straight factory edge, I would measure in from that at either end. Draw the line to establish the correct shape and make one cut close to the line. Then use another board with a clean edge on the line and clean up with the router. That’s how I plan to do mine anyway...

I’ll make a few as I’ll be building with a couple different scale lengths and nut widths. 

Anyone have a better idea?

That’s how I did mine, I made three in the end. It was just tricky at the outset getting the measurements spot on and aligning the straight edge to rout.

Hi Peebee

06/01/2021 6:34 pm   

 

@robin, you can also line the neck pocket template with tape just to shrink a little and give a snug fit.

That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that.

A practice with neck taper template and the excellent @bagpress fret slotting jig.

Works a treat, accurate and simple to use.

Regards Paul Borrett