After much procrastination and double checking measurements, I went ahead and did the neck route today. Never did anything like this before.
Managed to do ok on the neck route except I got excited pulling out and my bit gouged the body. Hope the 3 marks will buff out otherwise I will just relocate the pickup to cover the marks.
This looks incredibly fun. How did you join the wood pieces together? How even did they match up before sanding?
Bob Ross used to call these things âhappy accidentsâ (not mistakes) . . . 
If the marks donât sand out, maybe you could engrave something in there as a decoration? Who knows? Possibilities are there! 
Cheers
Joe
Marks just add character. Looking real good
Purchased the block. It appears to be glue/pressure joined.
Where from?
Ebay. It started out being fun. Right now its a good break from doing office work on the weekend, but is very nerve -racking because I am just learning as I go. But I at least managed to do the first major piece of woodworking.
So impressed. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.
Might I suggest buying a cheap piece of lumber from Home Depot and practice a cut there first? Or first, second and third?
This would give you experience with the router.
BTW, you are much braver than I, my hands are not steady.
What did you use as a template (you used a template right? 
Might I suggest buying a cheap piece of lumber from Home Depot and practice a cut there first?
You see lumber prices these days? Besides, go big or go home. And yes I used a router template. I did in fact do a practice cut on some old scrap wood, which is when I tore up my first template and learned there are things called routing bits with guide bearings on the top.
I solved this whole routing issue by having a friend with a wood shop in his basement.
It is like my philosophy about boat ownershipâŚhave a friend wtih one instead.
Not sure where you are but if you happen to be around the kentucky,ohio, indiana trifecta border I might be able to helpâŚ
Frozen tundra
My advice would be to fill gouges with colored wood putty close to wood color (not glue/sawdust mix). Sand it down then use colored pens to approximate grain pattern before putting your finish on. Not as hard as it sounds and I have redone several beat up kitchen tables using this technique. Course the easiest is just to go with rough roadie life look and leave it alone and the dings will darken with dirt/age
Take my advice with a grain of salt- woodworking has been my main hobby for 20 years but my real job is of a biological bentâŚ
We are in to the territory of my fathers favourite expression:
âAdvice is free but experience has to be paid forâ
In all seriousness Iâm a finishing carpenter and have been for many years. Lots of time on the tools. So if youâve got a carpentry question Iâm happy to help, just send me a private message. Cheers
Some more progress. Pickup cavity needs another 2mm out and neck pocket needs to be opened a little at the heel. Original body design is a no go, so drawing some different options
Why was the original design a no go?
Why was the original design a no go?
AhhâŚI keep going back and forth on this. The purpose of the original design was to let the bass sit between my legs when playing seated and give me more seated options. One concern I have is that with the âtopâ cutout, I lose the ability to rest my arm there. Also concerned a bit with weight distribution, as the SX neck and Gotoh tuners I am using are not the lightest. Other concern is it limits placement of the controls to the bottom âwingâ portion, which might interfere with picking and it will make me âloopâ the cord around the bottom.
That said, I still think the original design is bitchin.
why not make a cardboard cutout, tape on some knobs etc and see how it âfeelsâ.
you wonât get your weight answer, but you will get a feel for what it is like.
tape it to the neck and see.
I didnât realize there was a purpose to the design other than this. 
