Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass build

My last couple of attempts at using a spoke shave were less than a success. Tonight, I had much better luck than in the past. It still has quite a bit of detail and shaping to go, but it’s looking much better. Sometimes after dealing with the high tech world of lasers on five axis machining centers, there is something very relaxing about just letting a spokeshave, some sand paper, and my sense of touch guide things.

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After spending all day scraping the paint off of the garage wall facing neighbor number one, and then priming it, I really didn’t feel like more work. But, this bass isn’t going to build itself. I’m about 85% done shaping the neck. I want to modify it down at the lower frets, as it seems more D shaped, and I’d prefer more of a C carve. I also need to work on the transitions between the neck and headstock, and heel.
I think I’m officially burned out now, and will pick up on this again tomorrow. I know all too well what happens when working while too tired.

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I think that I’m pretty happy with the neck carve. I go on vacation Friday, so I’ll be able to file the fret ends and roll the fingerboard edges. I’ll route for the pickups at the same time. Maybe after I’m done, I’ll take it over to Tom’s to see what he thinks about the neck. Hopefully, it will get grain filler and sanding sealer before I go back to work on June 1.

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Yargnad said:
Yeah I've always wanted to be able to build a guitar from complete scratch, but I'm a realist and I know enough about woodworking to know that I don't know nearly enough about woodworking to accomplish that. Plus tools aren't cheap and I am.
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Totally understandable. Fortunately, I had a lot of the stuff already. When I built my first guitar, a friend started a "Guitar Building Club", and rented a stall at a woodworkers collective, to use the stuff there. When it was found I was the only one who knew how to use any of it, the problems began. Fortunately, I had just moved into this place, and finally got all my tools out of storage. Some were from years of being a machinist or mechanic, some from my wife's grandfather, some I bought since. No matter how you look at it, unless you think you can build a guitar with only a spoke shave, it won't be cheap.
 
Yargnad said:
I had tried to get an apprenticeship with several builders here in Jacksonville, but everyone of them flatly refused to even entertain the idea right off the bat, with reasons varying from not enough time to lack of customers. I nearly begged Ron Kirn, but he says he will only teach his grandkids now. There's a few more guys I haven't tried yet so I may revisit that idea sometime soon because I am almost certainly getting out of IT at some point. I just have no deisre left for working with computers anymore.

I'm way burnt out on technology and would like a real old world artisanal skill to work at for the rest of my days.
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There's a school in the north End of Boston that offers various trade curriculums, with Violin making being one of them. When I was younger, I wanted to go there for that course. Didn't think it would help me, but maybe in the long run it would have. A friend of mine went to a Luthier's school or apprenticeship in Michigan. He went on to be a tech for Aerosmith, Metallica, and now works for Rob Thomas. He also runs his own business when not on the road.

A couple of my friends did go here, and graduated. One for Carpentry, and the other for Locksmithing/Security.

Violin Making | Luthier School | North Bennet Street School
 
Yargnad said:
That certainly would be very cool. I don't think there is anything like that around here. I would have no problem with learning how to build a violin and viola. 3 years is longer than I plan to be in the US though. It would've nice if I could just find an old school apprenticeship...like it used to be. I learn exceptionally quick and I always figured it would be a mutually beneficial situtaion for both parties since I usually work my ass off for peanuts just for the chance to prove my worth.
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Have you looked at whether there's anything available in the Netherlands if you're planning to move there and are learning the language?

I don't know how it is there, but here at least, you can study lutherie in a free public vocational school, and that seems to be the route most luthiers take. Even the ones who have a previous career behind them...
 
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