Update and Great Accomplishment

Well it is time for an update. I put several coats of Tung Oil on the CBB. It really gives it a nice wet look. In order to begin deciding on what to do with the Bridge & Nut I decided to place some Weed Eater strings on. This will allow me to some degree determine my string action. I just hope when I go to real strings the string diameter won’t be too different and give me too low of an action. I sandwiched the peso in some roofing light wood I had laying around. I did not use a pot as I have spoken before. I could not stand wandering what the anticipated sound would be so I had to plug-er in to check out the sound. Feedback was not bad; I think if the amp was not facing the guitar it would be better. We will find out how good it really sounds when someone who knows how to play a bass starts playing with it. I can’t add photos tonight because the battery died on the camera so I’ll have to put them inn in a couple of days. Maybe that will bring you back.


Saturday turned out to be a big day around my house. My son was offered to ride and be sponsored by a fellow coworker to ride in a special event. The event was the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride. Here is a brief description of its purpose.

“The Soldier Ride, at its core, is a rehabilitative cycling event designed to challenge our wounded warriors to get back in the saddle, both literally and figuratively. It also is a tool to help both the physical and mental wounds of war. These rides also raise awareness for the WWP mission and our many important programs designed to serve our injured and their families, and in turn raise money through sponsorships, pledges and donations.”

The man on the right was to us an angel.  He stayed with my boy all the way and at times he was pushing my boy up hills and pushing his bike at the same time.  He kept incourigement up as well as a companion along the way..  God Bless Johnnie.

My Boy did it he rode the complete 40 mile ride on his hand trike. It was a great turning point for him in his life. You see, 2 years ago he was hit by a SUV on his motorcycle. He lost his lower right leg and suffered internal injuries as well as TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). He awoke after 27 days as an infant. It was a grueling 2 more months until he could talk and learn who his mom and I were. The Dr’s said that it was a miracle he even came around. In our books it was God’s work. He not only came around he is now going to school and learning a new trade which he can adapt to with his new leg.

Above is where 2 soldiers interviewed him for the Armed Forces Network. They ask if they could use him and what he says to inspire soldiers to continue on with their challenges. They need to understand that life is not over due to difficulties life challenges you with.

As my boy came down the home stretch all the Veterans and other riders was clapping and cheering my boy as he alone came down the home stretch with full police escort.  He is in  the middle of the photo in front of the Trike.

I have to gloat as a proud dad but it was a great feeling to be with him on this new accomplishment of getting things done. Can’t help to want to tell the world of how proud I am.

Just a little more done.

 

Well things are moving right along here. I took a little time to work on my Son’s CBB. We had a record breaking snow here in our town. It was too cold to go outside.  So I just sat around the table with the misses and son and glued in my frets to the fret board.

It is nothing special, no store bought fret wire, just RC steering linkage. Stuff is really a hardened steel rod. I had already cut the fret slots. I used the miter box saw with a hack saw blade clamped to the side of it. Of course the hack saw blade is turned over and I use the smooth side as a stop gauge. This controls my depth and leaves me with a level cut.

I took the cut fret board to the Hobby shop and picked up a wire that just set in the saddle. I then took a tooth pick and carefully filled up each cut for the fret with Elmer’s wood glue and then set the rod (pre cut and filed smooth on each end) on top of the grove. I’m hoping, the glued trough and the rod will marry up and stay. I’ve had good luck with my 4 string so far and used the same method. They say that stuff called Title Bond is good stuff. But I already have the Elmer’s and the last bottle of that I had turned to putty due to lack of use. So I’ll use this up then buy better.

 

Every time I try and photo this thing it is a nightmare and one heck of a challenge to get it all in the photo. I could not stand it no more I had to measure this rascal. It is longer than I thought it is 40 ½ long. This is from the outside edge of the box to the tip end of the neck. The box is 12” x 9”. It should make a good bass guitar. I think I will amplify it with a Peso and no pot. My boy said he controlled his volume at the amp so a simple setup should leave it with a super clean look. I did a little gluing and noticed during my bracing I must have put a little too much pressure on the inside and forced out the dovetail of one of the corners. I’ll probably just ease a little glue in the gaps and leave it alone. Sometimes leaving something alone can be a good thing. I’ve learned that the hard way too.

I thought I would throw in a shot of my CBG's together.  I wanted to see how much longer the Bass will be. Won't be long until it is ready for strings. I think I'll give it a good rub down with Toung Oil. That should help the dry wood a lot. The smaller cigar box seemed to have a finish.  Don't know what I'll do next.

I have to say, looks like our possible new house thing is moving along well. We did have a setback with the Home Inspection today. There seems to be something wrong with the gas at the meter. This should be taken care of over the next couple of days. It’s good there is an inspection required. Sometimes think I know a lot about things. It is better to leave this with someone that does it for a living. Knowing too much has been known to get me in trouble. I am to meet with him once his inspection is complete. Due to the gas he was not able to complete the inspection.

I stumbled across this at a pawn shop. I know with the upcoming new house, I won't have time to make my 6 string. I could not resist this for practicing around the house.  I have learned that a strummer is a strummer and a classical is on a different level. I have a nice classical my wife give me and it has a beautiful tone but cords just don't measure up on our church music It is a simple Epiphone and does have a preamp built in. It has a pretty good sound. I don’t know how old the strings are and I debating on changing them out if only to know myself exactly how old they are. What ya think?

1st day of spring

Just could not help myself. Nowhere but Texas will you get snow on the first day of spring. I, just like all other Texans when hearing about a snow fall, did not expect much. But we live in Texas and look at what we got. The photos probably exaggerate a bit due to the drifting, but the news is reporting 3 to 6 inches around the area. So those of you looking, here are shots of my current back yard. Awesome uh!


Looks like I need to get my Son’s CBB finished soon. We have been blessed with the capability to purchase a new home. Once we close the deal I’ll have more to do than I can shake a stick at. We want to give some of our furnishings uplift. You know kind of sand or buff down and give a fresh coat of Tung Oil or Shellac which ever applies. I will need to revise my son’s bath to meet his needs, a new yard to dress up.

If all the new house attention is not enough we will need to dress up this house and prepare it for future renters. So the only CBG building will be a while off. I will continue to show progress on the furniture upgrades and photos of the Bathroom rebuild. This is still exciting stuff to me. I love doing something!

Oh the little fella on the bottom, he's just really courious.

TIGGER!!

Waldo's CBB update

Well tinkered with my son’s CBB that I’m making. Took the time to place the fret board with some C clamps and fitted it to the neck. After I got a good match, I had to give the edges a new coat of Walnut stain. It will probably need one more before I place it on for good.


The last CBG I did, I placed a round rod in the neck and attached a smaller piece of oak over it. I decided to do the steel tubing this time. Even a different place.  Up under the Fret board. That should make a small neck and easy to hit those stretched frets. Cool notes should come out of this box. They say each box has it’s own music hid inside. Seems like I read on the web the old Taylor guitars use to be made with a steel tube so is should hold up pretty good. Of course I’m gonna imbed it with fiberglass Rawson like I did the last CBG.  It should hold up to bass acoustic strings ok. Might even hold up to some electric strings as well.

For the fret markers I used some of those plan set post again. They seem to stand out well inside that Walnut stain.

I’m going to put a Pezos inside just to see what it sounds like. I really got a hankerin to put a true base pickup. Just don’t want to take away from a true CBG though. Oh well ain’t no rules in CBG building.

Found a nice Kitchen knife a while back and it doesn’t have a handle. I have some remains of this oak left so why not fix the knife. I’ve cut out the handle so guess I better ad this to the list of what I want to get done.