Plante PD-1 Custom Bass

Newly completed custom "P" style bass in a short and comfortable 32" scale length.

The body is spalted alder under a matte nitrocellulose finish. Tortoise shell pickguard and a pickup, custom wound by me, to match the early 1960's fender sound. The sleek hardware is provided by Hipshot USA.

Atop the flame maple neck sits an ebony fingerboard adorned with this "Two Roses" inlay in pearl.

Martin Headstock Restoration

Since we are getting on to halloween time, I thought I would tell the story of my brush with this headless guitar. An inopportune break, to do with grain direction. Very little area for the glue joint. Still, the scariest part for the customer is always the wait leading up to our appointment, with it broken in the case.

First thing's first, that headplate veneer has to come off. Among the reinforcements that will be critical going forward, one continuous rosewood veneer must cover the entire headstock. I'll source a waterslide decal to replace the original as well.

Next I'll glue up the seam that I have. I would never trust it by itself, since it was broken clean through as the result of grain running almost perpendicular to the ideal. This weak seam will be traversed by two deep maple splines to keep it strong over the years.

Now we can see about that veneer. I run some Indian Rosewood through the thickness sander until; it is a whisker thicker than the original. 

Here it is after it is attached and lacquered. The new CF Martin logo is added as well. 

The back of the neck has also been reinforced and sprayed over with a gradient of nitrocellulose lacquer to hide the repair. The guitar tuned right up and sounds great!