I've been a strictly acoustic builder for many years, but I've just been asked to help a young acquaintance to build an electric bass, and I find myself lacking in both equipment and full knowledge to complete the task!
So, I'm looking for a little assistance in both of the above areas.
My young friend and I will be going to Mathew's Timber tomorrow, to buy a chunk of wood around 40mm x 520mm x 360mm (or something equivalent that will allow for the making of a book-matched pair of chunks), and a couple of pieces for a neck, but I fear that my "hobby" band-saw of many years will not be equal to the task of being able to cut pieces of hard wood as thick as 40mm to shape the profile of the body. Also, I don't have anything like a table-saw. I'm going to give everything a go, but will be crestfallen if I fail in my first few cuts of basic carpentry, and so I'm looking for a fall-back position!
I live in Emerald, Victoria (that's outside of Melbourne, for those unfamiliar with the south of the continent).
Thus my first question / request:
Second, my high-school-aged friend is working to a very tight budget, and wants to buy everything (frets, tuners, bridge, truss-rod, pick-ups, bridge/tail-piece, knobs etc) on eBay. I'm not averse to occasionally doing this myself, for the things that I know and understand, to do with acoustic instruments, but like many of you, I'm a habitual customer of places like StewMac, LMII for such hardware.
And so to my second question:
Any hands extended in assistance, or finger-pointing (hopefully in the right direction!) as replies, as either a Personal Message, or via the full forum, will be greatly appreciated.
Kindest regards,
Frank.