#14- mounted to the body. Need to do a bit of dressing/cleanup, but more or less done. #15- ready to move on to final polish and start assembly. #16- will be a super custom job for a forum member
#17- will be another Clydesdale, with a cool body. Will probably get started on cutting the blanks out this weekend.

well that there is a body shape I was not expecting

See NOW you've caught my attention. #14 looks like it will be a six string, but its making me wonder about a 9 or 10 string like some of the original Rich Bich's? The aluminum should make it easy to reverse string second course strings, a la a Kramer XL-8.*


* Which, btw, I might have asked you about it before but 8 string bass....

c jury wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2023 9:34 pm #16- will be a super custom job for a forum member

If this pans out, y'all are doomed.

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:38 am See NOW you've caught my attention. #14 looks like it will be a six string, but its making me wonder about a 9 or 10 string like some of the original Rich Bich's? The aluminum should make it easy to reverse string second course strings, a la a Kramer XL-8.*


* Which, btw, I might have asked you about it before but 8 string bass....

Pretty sure we did chat about this- And now I'm in a spot where that might be pretty reasonable to try. Reach out if you wanna knock some ideas around.

welp just found out that my bandmate got the Clydesdale.

Feels like everyone but me has a Century instrument now. *sigh*

OPE

#14 Rich Bich is on hold, as we wait for a bridge that actually fits. Otherwise done.
#15- Complete, just need to do the setup/testing. To my eye, the best looking thing I've ever made. This one needs a home, so let me know if there is a guitar shaped hole in your heart that needs filling. And I made a good start on the next pair.
#16- receiver is cut to shape. #17 Clydesdale-Neck billet is rough cut, and the body will be made from this blank- black walnut, red limba, and basswood. Got it as part of a deal, I think it suits this body shape.

#15 done- although I might swap to a different set of pickups, depending on who buys it and what they are going for. #16 Dronemaster- Blank was chamfered, and the back of the neck is weight relieved. Receiver is chambered. This week I hope to start shaping the body and finalizing the headstock. #17 Clydesdale- Neck is chamfered, headstock cut, and have started chambering. Body is shaped and routes are started. This week I'll get the neck shaping started and hopefully get the body ready for sanding.

Well, have had consistent time in the shop for the last week, maybe as much as an hour a day. Been able to get some good progress made.
#16 Dronemaster is now completely shaped, tool marks ground away, all holes pilot drilled and Mahogany 'body' cut (sitting next to it). Over the next week I hope to get all holes finalized, get the body routed and shaped, and make some progress on sanding and polishing. #17 Clydesdale -Body is finalized and sanded to #180. will sand up to #400 and hopefully get started on finish. Neck machining is done, now comes the rough shaping. This week I hope to start making templates for the pickguard and control plate- the last one was a one-off, so I just shaped the parts by hand...want something faster and more repeatable.