What is involved in making this?

[RDochert]

Hi,

I know nothing about metal working (as you are about find out):

Is this something that is reasonable to ask a hobbist/machinist to make as a one-off (see attached picture)? It is roughly 10cm by 5cm by 0.15cm. Although this one in the picture is chrome plated, I am not bothered about it being plated. The 'real' plate also has a logo embossed on it, but I do not want that, as I don't want it to be a rip-off.

The background to this is that this is a neck plate for a discontinued bass guitar (Musicman Stingray Pre Ernie Ball). The original neck plates don't come on the market very often and when they do, they are expensive. So I want a temporary steel plate, in the same size, that I can use on a vintage guitar that I am assembling, until an original plate comes on the market that I can afford. So the replacement would need to functionally work - it just would not look like a true original.

I hope that makes sense? Let me know what you think and thanks for any help in advance.

Regards

Raymond

[Doddy]

Perfectly sensible request to make - post it in the RFQ section with a bit of a drawing - better if you can offer a DXF file as well. You might want to specify the material otherwise you'll likely get people offering between mild-steel and aluminium - on second reading you mention steel but any grade/stainless? (the latter being much harder to machine).


EDIT

Though to be honest for a one-off, easier to cut to rough-size and finish off on an abrasive belt.

[Voicecoil]

Hi,
The background to this is that this is a neck plate for a discontinued bass guitar (Musicman Stingray Pre Ernie Ball).

That is one nice bass - a guy I worked with some years ago had one and I borrowed it (and sometime him playing it) several times when I needed some serious slap 'n tickle on a track - the best funk machine I ever heard.

[m_c]

If you had an accurate DXF (or some form of file format suitable for getting accurate dimensions from), it should be a quick job for somebody with a CNC plasma table, followed by a quick buff on a linisher to clean up the edges.

Failing that, it could be done by hand. Biggest issue is the relatively large holes in 1.5mm sheet may cause the sheet to twist if you're not careful.
It's the kind of shape you could do just with a hacksaw/jigsaw, followed by a file.

[cropwell]

The main thing about the neck plate is the accuracy of the bolt holes, the outline does not have to be super accurate. So you could put the guitar on a piece of paper and mark the hole positions, the outline could be just a guess based on the pic you provide (which is easily found on t'interweb).

However is it form or function you seek, because the function of the neck plate is to stop the bolts (or screws) tearing through and repair washers (penny washers) would do that job until you found that hen's tooth of a pre Mk4 plate. But it certainly wouldn't look pretty:apologetic:

[the great waldo]

Finally a question related to my job. As a guitar maker I would recommend that you cut that out of a piece of steel 1.5 mm should be thick enough with a fine tooth piercing saw. For a one off it is overkill to do it on a cnc. It would take about 30 mins to cut that out. I would make sure that the edges especially underneath are rounded over as screwing the neck down can put enough bend in the plate to crush the laquer. Most of those basses were ash which was quite hard but if you have an alder one it's a lot softer. I checked out the prices on the web and the parts dealers are taking the piss with the prices they are asking. Good luck.
Cheers
Andrew

[the great waldo]

The main thing about the neck plate is the accuracy of the bolt holes, the outline does not have to be super accurate. So you could put the guitar on a piece of paper and mark the hole positions, the outline could be just a guess based on the pic you provide (which is easily found on t'interweb).

However is it form or function you seek, because the function of the neck plate is to stop the bolts (or screws) tearing through and repair washers (penny washers) would do that job until you found that hen's tooth of a pre Mk4 plate. But it certainly wouldn't look pretty:apologetic:

I would keep clear of penny washers as you have a good chance of crushing through the lacquer!!
cheers
Andrew

[RDochert]

Yes - the plain-old washers was an option I was thinking of. Good to hear that you also think that is an option. Thanks.

[RDochert]

Yes - that was my thoughts as well. I was thinking there must some rubber washers that might do the job. However, I am going to head down the route of seeing if I can get an equivalent made before I seriously look at using washers. And thanks for advising that it was too small a job to justify using a CNC - I thought that might be the case, but I didn't know what would be involved. Lastly the only original plate I have found, for the year I need, is advertised at $180. So you are right in that respect as well.

[the great waldo]

You could try this
https://tonetechpro.com/guitar-parts/tone-up-guitar-parts/neck-pressure-plate-for-bolt-on-bass-and-guitar-necks-satin-finish.html.
It looks like there's enough there to trim down to size. You just have to check the spacing on the main 2 screws. If you're drilling out these plates make sure you've got them well clamped down (basic metalwork!)
Cheers
Andrew

[cropwell]

I would keep clear of penny washers as you have a good chance of crushing through the lacquer!!
cheers
Andrew

As I said Form or Function - a lot depends on how soon you want to get playing. As for the price of the 3 hole plate - supply and demand. But I agree with Andrew, I personally would not like to funk it up.

[RDochert]

Thanks, but the original plate is 94.5mm. i.e. The one you have pointed towards is too short. I have some other musicman 6-bolt plates that are also too short - very frustrating.

[Lee Roberts]

RDochert,

Welcome to the forum, have you got the plate in the pic to hand or is it off the web?

Do you think you could take a paper rubbing of the holes well enough and send it to someone and/or could get the hole centre distances worked out?

I'd be happy to make the CAD drawings for you as it wouldn't take long, if you've got a plate like what is in the pic you could scan it and send that for the shape and so on, there is a decent pic here: https://reverb.com/uk/item/2271296-music-man-1977-vintage-pre-ernie-ball-stingray-bridge-serialized-neck-plate-musicman

and some really good pics here: http://www.realvintage.it/archivio/stingray79eng.html

[RDochert]

Lee, Yes - I have a plate. I was originally just enquiring to see if this was the sort of work someone think was worth taking on. But now that I have had some many offers of help, I have taken the plate off its existing bass and I will attempt to scan it tomorrow, at work.

[the great waldo]

Hi
If you have an original plate don't bother scanning it just draw around it with a fine drawing pen /fineliner. I wasted a lot of time scanning pickguards to image trace when a simple outline would have done the job.
Cheers
Andrew

[RDochert]

Andrew, By the time I had read your response, I had already scanned it. I think it scanned ok (see attached) or do you still think a outline drawing would be better? When I then print off the PDF file and compare it with the actual plate, it is a perfect match (to the level I can measure it).

The additional picture file is my attempt to add dimensions, but it is not to scale.

Let me know what you think. This is all new, but very interesting, to me. (Hopefully it is to others, and I am not just annoying everyone?)

[the great waldo]

Hi Raymond
The pdf + the dimensions should be enough for someone to make cutting file. A line drawing makes it easy to image trace and saves some time with the software (i'm a bit slow learning these programs as I was brought up pre computers and tend to forget how i've done things with software) This might be a daft question but do you have a cnc machine or are you after someone machining the part for you ?
cheers
Andrew

[Wal]

Hi,

I've just finished making something similar-ish - a control plate for a telecaster, but to accommodate Hofner style switches/pots etc.

Pretty straightforward process - client sent me the original Hofner control plate to scan/trace - fag packet sketch with good measurements would have sufficed, he wanted it pretty exact so sent through the original. Once that was traced, the over-sized outline profile to cover the body cavity was created and approved.

Sketch below shows original Hofner style plate (blue), body cavity to cover up (red), outer profile (black).

After that it was a case of cutting it out of 2mm 6082 aluminium and giving it a polish - the latter probably took the longest time...

It's one of those easy jobs that's a bit of a double-edged sword... will still take you three or four hours to do properly, but you'll be lucky to get £25 for doing it..!

Wal.

26917 26918 26919

[Lee Roberts]

Its funny Wal because i was getting ready to send you a msg about this thread as it looked right up your street lol.

Wow, I don't think I've seen 6082 polished as good as that before, would love to know your workflow for those results!

Raymond have you found someone to make this for you or will you be making it yourself by hand?

It would be pretty easy to make if you've got a bench belt/disk sander, lots of people use this method of printing 1 to 1 on sticky back paper and using the print as a template to make the part, or I can draw it up for you if you have no other offers...

[Wal]

>Wow, I don't think I've seen 6082 polished as good as that before, would love to know your workflow for those results!

Mostly tears, Lee. Hot, salty tears.

Heh. Start with a sisal wheel and brown compound, then a quick run on the belt sander fitted with a felt belt, then on a colour stitched wheel still using brown compound and finish with softest wheel and blue compound.

It's a faff. Especially using a pillar drill..!

[RDochert]

Wal, Thanks for the info. Looks good. You have confirmed one of my fears - that it might be too small a job for it to be worth anyone's while taking on.

[RDochert]

Lee, I have had an other offer of help from your community - so I will see how it goes after Christmas. My friends who know me better would find the idea of me making for myself an extremely funny one - due to my practical incompetence.The most I might attempt is a simple rectangular plate - to allow me to at least assemble and set-up the guitar, whilst I continue to look-out for a reasonable replacement. Thanks once again for the offer of help.

[Wal]

>You have confirmed one of my fears - that it might be too small a job for it to be worth anyone's while taking on.

Not necessarily - I do these little jobs all the time (granted, I'm not a particularly busy fellow) - there'll be plenty of people out there that'll be interested in what you're trying to do and willing to give you a bit of their time. Give us a shout if you get no joy elsewhere.

Wal.