Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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2groggy
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:19 am

johnnysomersett wrote:
Sat Jan 22, 2022 2:20 am
2groggy wrote:
Fri Jan 21, 2022 5:01 pm
Aaaaand the frets are pressed in. I use a fret caul in my drill press.
Took me a minute to notice why something looked weird until I saw it. Using a zero fret is interesting
I've always found it easier to add the zero fret and not care about the depth of the nut. Plus the open notes don't have a different tone than the fretted nuts.

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JSett
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by JSett » Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:21 am

2groggy wrote:
Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:19 am
johnnysomersett wrote:
Sat Jan 22, 2022 2:20 am
2groggy wrote:
Fri Jan 21, 2022 5:01 pm
Aaaaand the frets are pressed in. I use a fret caul in my drill press.
Took me a minute to notice why something looked weird until I saw it. Using a zero fret is interesting
I've always found it easier to add the zero fret and not care about the depth of the nut. Plus the open notes don't have a different tone than the fretted nuts.
Makes sense. I am a fan of zero frets as a rule, so wholeheartedly approve...just unusual to see these days.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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Maker
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by Maker » Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:15 am

2groggy wrote:
Fri Jan 07, 2022 4:50 am
The vacuum setup in an inexpensive manual system from a company hat markets to people making skateboard decks. Check our roarockit.com or roarockit.ca. They might have some form of distribution in Europe.
That's nuts! That looks like a Vac-u-vin wine cork! How long does it take you to evacuate the bag manually!?


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2groggy
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Sun Jan 23, 2022 6:55 pm

Maker wrote:
Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:15 am
2groggy wrote:
Fri Jan 07, 2022 4:50 am
The vacuum setup in an inexpensive manual system from a company hat markets to people making skateboard decks. Check our roarockit.com or roarockit.ca. They might have some form of distribution in Europe.
That's nuts! That looks like a Vac-u-vin wine cork! How long does it take you to evacuate the bag manually!?
I can evacuate the bag most of the way with the shop vac.

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Maker
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by Maker » Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:10 pm

That's clever! I was wondering how you would get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Unless you were using epoxy or urea formaldehyde glues, you would have been up against the clock big time. This makes so much more sense to me!

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mikeymike
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by mikeymike » Tue Jan 25, 2022 7:11 pm

This is a super cool project

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2groggy
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Sat Jan 29, 2022 8:45 am

I just got back to this build yesterday. I'm working on adding the 3rd dimension to the solid core.
Image

I have glued a solid block under where the bridge will be mounted, but I won't be able to shape it until tomorrow. I will also have to add and shape similar braces for the back. I should be able to get arched top and back glued on next week.

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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Sun Jan 30, 2022 1:29 pm

So here's the plan for adhering the panels:
1) plane & rasp the top bracing and block to match the top panel (done)
2) glue on the back panel (done)
3) glue the back braces in through the open top (tomorrow)
4) glue on the front panel (Tuesday)

Image

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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Mon Jan 31, 2022 5:05 pm

The clamps are off of the back panel...
Image

And now they are on the front panel. ;D
Image

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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Wed Feb 02, 2022 5:05 pm

OK, now what? ;)

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Image

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nnieman
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by nnieman » Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:20 am

That looks great!!
I just bought the kit from roar rocket do if it’s okay I have a million and 1 questions for you!
I don’t want to take over your thread tho

Nathan

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2groggy
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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Sat Feb 05, 2022 5:36 am

nnieman wrote:
Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:20 am
That looks great!!
I just bought the kit from roar rocket do if it’s okay I have a million and 1 questions for you!
I don’t want to take over your thread tho

Nathan
Feel free to ask here. You can start a new thread if you want. Either is fine.

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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by nnieman » Sat Feb 05, 2022 9:33 am

What thickness of veneer are you using?
Are you turning the center layer? Or are they are the same direction?
Where do you get your veneer?
Are you using full width pieces or joining narrower pieces?

Nathan

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Re: Building a Starcaster Bass with Laminated Archtop Panels

Post by 2groggy » Sat Feb 05, 2022 1:09 pm

nnieman wrote:
Sat Feb 05, 2022 9:33 am
What thickness of veneer are you using?
Are you turning the center layer? Or are they are the same direction?
Where do you get your veneer?
Are you using full width pieces or joining narrower pieces?

Nathan
I bought the double width veneer from Roarockit when I bought the gear. It's big enough that I don't need to join pieces. I do turn the centre layer 90 degrees. It is 1/16" thick.

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