I had the Cowbell out the other day, and the action was awfully high with the bridge bottomed-out. I studied it for a bit, and the custom bridge I built is considerably taller than a standard Fender, and it throws off the Fender geometry. ( Normally: neck pocket 5/8" deep, neck about 1" thick at heel, and everything falls into place. )
More: More Cowbell ...
July 27, 2020
Been doing some quick experiments with CA and glitter for the last few days. At left is gold crushed glass. Center-top is very fine gunmetal plastic glitter. Center-bottom is silver crushed glass glitter. At right is standard plastic glitter. The green tube is medium CA, the pink one is thin, the standard formulation. Thick CA is quite rubbery when it dries, I would not use it for this.
More: Some Quick Inlaying Experiments ...
There is a problem with this bridge. At best, the string retention is a balancing act based mostly on good intentions. As I recall now, this is not a Danelectro part, it was made by someone else. The string notches are too small, and a very thick layer of chrome finished the job, they are totally ineffective. This was also a left-handed bridge, so the notches are reversed in size.
More: Superfreaky Part V ...
Today I got my set of Alice bass strings, 105-85-65-45. They were packed in individual sealed plastic sleeves, similar to every other kind of string. The diameters are all within 0.001" of spec. The lengths are as follows:
More: Alice Bass Strings ...
I was looking at that crazy Ric body, and wondering if my binding rig will get into those deep corners. Getting around that long narrow horn without wobbling might also be a problem. So I started thinking about alternatives.
More: A Better Way to do Binding? ...
General International 1.2 Amp 16 in. Variable Speed Scroll Saw with Flex Shaft LED Work Light
This is another piece that I got for free for review. Normally it is about $90. I would have soldiered on forever with my ancient Craftsman saw because I am cheap, but free is free and even better than cheap, and this is a nice upgrade. Compared to my antique model, this saw is variable speed, easier to change blades and takes both kinds, adds a work light, dust blower and dust port, and is lighter with a bigger table.
More: A Decent Scroll Saw ...
After doing the binding, I found a bulge in the middle of the fretboard. So I sanded it down with a radius block until everything is perfectly flat. I touched-up the inlays with black CA, and re-stained it to be bubing-ish again ( actually an old can of "Colonial Maple". ) Finally, I drilled out tuner holes 13/16" in the locations I determined previously, and everything fits.
More: Superfreaky Part II ...
The last old project I had on the shelf was my "Rickenbacker". The body is all built, waiting for a neck. I fouled up the first neck, this is the second.
More: Superfreaky Part I ...
I'm making the clear pickguard for the guitar. It is a near copy of the bass, so this is easy. I traced the old one onto the masking tape and roughed it out on the scroll saw with a very coarse blade and a light touch. You don't want to melt the blade into the plastic - that is a do-over!
More: Today's Lootherization ...
