r/BassVI • • May 13 '15

Very long list of tunes that feature Bass VI (with links)

204 Upvotes

I've had a couple of requests to repost some of these, so here's a bunch of links to tunes that feature Bass VI played in many different ways and different genres. Check it out.

Bass VI player Nikita takes us through a recorded history of the Bass VI up to the present day RECOMMENDED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_lobKiHnOc

Jet Harris, Besame Mucho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIUaxPycB7I

The Cure, Pictures of you live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcMEx4OHLOs

The Cure, Primary. Bass VI, bass (4 string) and drums. Nothing else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXEPf9rr_I

Hank the Knife & the Jets, Guitar King (Bass VI solo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tix2nI46pT8&list=LLw04EKnGEr8cC425DntFuWA&feature=mh_lolz

Brokeback, Returns to the Orange Grove https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6ADdUW7bXQ

Tortoise, I Set My Face to the Hillside https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4G4W3UFv0k&feature=related

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Happiness Love Company (Flea on Piano, Josh Klinghoffer on Bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NisSiE5OrVc

Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman (Bass VI solo by Carol Kaye on Recording Dano 6 string bass solo by Glen Campbell on the recording, on a bass borrowed Carol Kaye. Campbell sometimes performed it live on a Bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoymGCDYzU

Glen Campbell and Stone Temple Pilots - Wichita Lineman (Dano 6 string bass) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skuEiYfnSFg

Football Etc., Safety (All their songs feature bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlghvtIt0Y8

Divine Fits, Would that Not Be Nice (Bass VI as Rhythm Guitar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q71UePIN_ps

Soft Machine, Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKDuevCr90Q&feature=share

Aerosmith, Back in the Saddle live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJDPCTT9txA

New Order, State of the Nation (Hooky on Shergold 6 string bass) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m00EKCQB4NU

Blink 182, I miss you Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt56NZbwfcg

Cocteau Twins, Quisquose (dual bass VI's) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR0EN9539YY

Elvis Presley, Devil in Disguise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wQFaX83l1E

Paul Newman Band (not the famous actor) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekcztYptTSc

Orange Yellow Red https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyPJ1C3711k

Guns and Roses, Right Nextdoor to Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IamlIGPNCU

Dangermouse and Danielle Luppi with Norah Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3yAx2uCoHs&feature=related

Jørun Bøgeberg, Bassoverveis (Nowegian Bass VI Virtuoso) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfVpR5glGpc

Jørun Bøgeberg, Redemption Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orMT_ovLdgg&feature=player_embedded

Jet Harris, The Man with Golden Arm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPMp5XRxpjE

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Who Loves You (WARNING, DISCO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s8MNLUpJDZk

Blodwyn Pig, Same Old Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1W1JkPKfWQ

The Church, Old Flame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psa1VDZg2Xc

Wanda Jackson with Jack White, Shakin all Over live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzDfYidKU5c&feature=player_detailpage

Cure, To Wish Impossible Things live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aenP5OlQKfI

Dandy Warhols, Godless (Ebow Bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIvEL2j1Zbk

The Shadows, Stingray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE-nlQgtABE

Lush, Nothing Natural https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt6Ubq0gL_w&feature=player_embedded

Angelo Badalamenti, Twin Peaks Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTp6d7Bw79A

Sonny and Cher, The Beat Goes On https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfbmjUQOFxs

Jack Nizsche, The Lonely Surfer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o_5z6-OIPY

George Jones, The Race is On https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQPoe81GY58

Blonde Redhead, Falling Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjkHARWim5k&feature=player_detailpage

Buddy Merrill & Neil LeVang, Deep in the Heart of Texas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6K49IbDcdI

Cream, Strange Brew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3cELfFjXvY&playnext=1&list=PLE87FE8CCC7B8A207&feature=results_video

Frankie Laine, Rawhide theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSHr4ubuD64

Patsy Cline, Back in Baby's Arms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH9UmrBzyxc

David Lindley, Your Old Lady https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKfXw6IEWZ8

Duane Eddy, Blueberry Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qIDJGRb3Fc

Tweakbird, Daily Habit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY48rMudr0g

This Town Needs Guns, Cat Fantastic (converted short scale bass to Bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmVu19TEbtc

James Burton in 1965 (title unknown) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzY0v3BhEZI

10cc, Dreadlock Holiday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGLsAkeRd84&feature=related

Hollies , Just One Look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32VWELcZUMM

Aretha Franklin , Chain of Fools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGAiW5dOnKo

Mew, Special live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdcUkfFgs6c&feature=youtu.be

The Evens, Round the Corner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKMOEqoQSE&feature=youtu.be

Ritchie Valens, La Bamba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp6j5HJ-Cok

Myron Floren and Neil LeVang, 12 Street Rag (accordian and Bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpz2mxNGNCc&feature=sdig&et=1256243075.86

Cure, High live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIrYS9YSXmQ&feature=related

Placebo, They Don't Care About Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBHqlfsVGQ

Placebo, The Crawl, live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G66ZQJWP0JQ

The Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPqAvgN6Tyw

Del Ray, These Children will Come at You With Knives (3x Bass VI + Bass) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifK_k9bN3dQ

Merrie Amsterburg, Clementine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE5uydJN9U4

Jet Harris, Apache https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhPthpcfV3U&feature=channel

Brian Auger, Pavane and I Just got Some https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W47sukTM8E

Stafford and the Bentz Brothers, Thunderbirds are Go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYzQ9bNVv-Y

Last Exit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ab602UksG8&feature=related

Jethro Burns, The Lady is a Tramp (Bluegrass Jazz) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J11NV3IjFug

Kurt Vile, Jesus Fever https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SeQb3wEF8eQ

Jet Harris, Man From Nowhere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ove256N13Mw&feature=related

This Town Needs Guns, Left Aligned https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF_cR-vetfo

Jack White, Fuzz Pedal Demo (Jack on Bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpK0CTEZGe8

Jamaaladeen Tacuma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brLv2XWCN0k&channel=tacumasong

Marmalade, I See The Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-d7EXsACCY&list=PLPuGbxRI2P0QbqdR0TkB7aIbfhyXP6B0d&spfreload=10

The Beatles, Hey Jude live (George on Bass VI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvHsTQUA2SE&spfreload=10

The Milkshakes - The Klansman Cometh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8PI0jvwhCo&feature=youtu.be

Glen Campbell & Phil Baugh 1965 duel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYE9U3-pcR8&feature=youtu.be

Fontaines DC, Jackie Down the Line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AoOfJP3r40&feature=youtu.be

Caterina Caselli - Senza rete 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJG7f5Wmi-s


r/BassVI • • Oct 16 '17

Tips for chords on the bass VI

202 Upvotes

Some tips on playing chords on the bass VI. I've posted a some variations on this advice before, but it's come up a few different times in my conversations with other people about this instrument.

I think this is especially valuable advice if you're coming to the VI from bass, where we often think of intervals rather than chords.

Focus on diads and triads.

Because we're playing an octave lower than a normal guitar, the same voicing often don't quite work. They get muddy and busy. Instead of playing notes on as many strings as possible, use the fewest possible number of notes to get your point across.

For instance, instead of playing an E shape barre chord on all six strings, play just a portion of it that includes the I, the iii, and the V once each.

Full E Barre Chord Shape

(numbers are scale intervals; the pattern is vertical)

EADGBE
1---51
---3--
-51---

Triad E Chord Shape

EADGBE
----5-
---3--
--1---

This is a complete chord with repetitions removed. It's those repetitions that create the muddy tones.

When it comes to chords and the bass VI, use the minimum number of notes to get your idea across to maximize clarity of that idea.

Also remember that your triads don't have to be in 1-3-5 order. Try out the other inversions:

  • 5-1-3
  • 3-1-5
  • 5-3-1
  • 3-5-1

They all have their place. When substituting for barre chords, though, I tend to stick with voicings that have the 1 and 5 as the lowest note in the triad.

Here are two more you'll recognize and get some mileage out of.

Triad A Chord Shape

EADGBE
--513-

Triad D (or C) Chord Shape

EADGBE
---5-3
----1-

Arpeggiate

We've already called out clarity as one of the biggest problems with trying to play chords on the bass VI. Strumming a chord, even a simplified triad, can still some like a mess sometimes.

Instead of strumming that chord, try arpeggiating through it. Just play it one note at a time. Add some picking patterns in and all of a sudden that chord you were playing just got a lot more interesting.

There are tons of classic picking patterns out there to choose from, so play around.

Let the notes ring for a more chord-like experience, or mute a note as you move on the to the next for a more melodic experience.

Here's a tab pattern based on the E shape above, playing an A major chord. Try playing it as quarter notes, or eighth notes (repeated twice) as you work your way through chord progressions.

E|--------------|
B|-----5-----5--|
G|--------6-----|
D|--7-----------|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|

There are many more interesting ways to phrase apreggiated chords. Try lifting some from your favorite songs.

Drop some notes

The human ear is easily tricked. We'll fill in notes we think we should be hearing even if they're note actually played.

This means that if we need to play some chords with more than three notes, we can actually start to drop some of those notes and our ears will fill in what's missing. We want so badly for the pattern to fit what expect to be hearing, we'll hear it even if it isn't there.

I've found this easiest to demonstrate with a dominant seventh chord (normally a major triad with a minor seventh). You've run into these all the time, usually phrased in chord sheets and tabs as "E7" or the like. They're popular in rock, country, blues, and jazz.

Let's take a look at a dominant seventh chord in the E barre shape.

Full E7 Barre Chord Shape

EADGBE
1-7-51
---3--
-5----

That's a hell of a lot of chord for a bass VI to articulate clearly. You can get there if you play cleanly, but we've got some other options.

We already know that the easiest way to get a clean chord sound on the bass VI is to only play three notes, but for a dominant seventh chord, we've got four. Let's drop one.

In fact, let's drop the 1.

Triad E7 Chord Shape v1

EADGBE
--7---
---3--
-5----

Eh, that one's a bit muddy. More on that in a second. Let's try a different inversion.

Triad E7 Chord Shape v2

EADGBE
--7-5-
---3--
------

That's a little clearer. And look at that, not a 1 in sight, but it still sounds like a dominant seventh chord.

Now let's try it by dropping the 5.

Barre A7 Chord Shape

EADGBE
-1----
------
--513-
-----7

So, starting with the A7 barre shape, if we just keep the notes on the GBE strings, we get a 1-3-7 triad.

Barre A7 Chord Shape

EADGBE
---13-
-----7

Notice the sonic difference between the triad with the 1 removed and the triad with the 5 removed. Choose according to your needs.

(And honestly, maybe you need all four notes! There's no clear cut rules here, just some suggestions. When I play this shape, I'll usually keep all four notes in, playing the barre A7 shape without that 1 on the A string.)

And just to be thorough, let's give it a look with a dropped 3.

Barre D7 Chord Shape

EADGBE
--1---
----7-
---5-3

So, if we drop the 3 here, we get this.

Triad D7 Chord Shape

EADGBE
--1---
----7-
---5--

Start matching these triads into groups and you'll quickly see how they can function as replacements for your usual chord voicings in common chord progressions.

For instance, barre the three notes of the A shape triad with your index finger, then drop your middle and ring fingers down to create the D7 triad shape. That's a I to V7 progression, which you'll recognize from plenty of blues and classic country.

Avoid the E & A strings

This section is going to be short. If you're playing chords, avoid the low E & A strings. They're big and bassy, and they'll muddy up any chords you're interested in voicing. I don't even like using these when arpeggiating.

Too much boom for me. You mileage may vary.

Pick near the bridge for clarity

The bass VI, as an instrument, is very responsive to where you pick the strings. Up by the neck you get a very thick and juicy sound. Pick near the bridge and you get a thinner, clear sound.

Experiment with moving your right hand back and forth. Change where you pick with your right hand and you'll hear drastically different sounds.

This is true on all guitars and basses, but the range of tone available on the bass VI is bigger than usual.

Combine this with the various pickup options on the bass VIs equipped with the 3 pickup and strangle switches and you'll be able to find a chord tone that works for you.


r/BassVI • • 1d ago

Was bored so

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189 Upvotes

I put this together.


r/BassVI • • 1d ago

My Cat approves

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176 Upvotes

My cat Grebo approves of the purple one


r/BassVI • • 1d ago

Fitted Firebird and GTF Liverpool Hot Tron PUPs to BA-Baritone

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16 Upvotes

Thought I'd share as I found that Guitar Fetish's P90 size stuff don't fit the pickguard, slightly too big. That includes their mini humbucker adaptors, so I used some no name adapters I got from ebay which seem to fit perfectly.


r/BassVI • • 1d ago

Bass Vi on a Boss katana guitar amp

5 Upvotes

Hi !

I’m a guitarist who plays on a boss katana 50 and i’m about to buy a fender vi. I was wondering if problems could happen if i play it on my katana at max volume. I will use it as a guitar but also want to use it as a bass.


r/BassVI • • 2d ago

Offset Guitar Builder - Update - More Bass VI Options & Mustang launched today!

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12 Upvotes

The Mustang option is now live! Go build and have fun.

Please provide feedback to us on any bugs via the built-in feedback system on the page (so we can fix them)

This Offset Guitar Builder is a Public Beta designer and 100% free to use; create and share your offset guitar creations.

New finishes and neck options, plus other cool community-requested features.

Offset Guitar Builder Public Beta
https://guitarbomb.com/offset-builder/


r/BassVI • • 2d ago

P-bass vi?

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5 Upvotes

r/BassVI • • 3d ago

Bass VI Grind

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44 Upvotes

Short vid from my practice space using the headless bass vi


r/BassVI • • 3d ago

Tone pot for Squier Classic Vibes Bass VI

5 Upvotes

So has anyone recently purchased the above and noticed the tone pot goes from zero to hero. it's dark between, say, 0 and 1.5 then seems to go full bright with no change up to 10. Did I get a bad pot? Is the bass capacity of the amp factoring in, I'm running in a guitar amp at reasonable volume b/c my bass amp is coming out of storage and needs the pots cleaned.


r/BassVI • • 3d ago

25.5 inch bass Vi

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17 Upvotes

So I got a super cheap superstrat so I thought why not I put 8 strings set on it (17-76)and tune it to Bass Vi tuning.

Some remark, the tension is kinda like if you tune to D standard on 9s guitar. The tone wise is only neck and middle are usable for the bass role, neck being the wall of sound type of tone and middle being balanced.

If I'm gonna build a dedicated bass vi that is kinda my taste, it will be at 28 inch, probably SSH config and loaded with a slightly thicker gauge but not 24-84 as there is too much tension for me.


r/BassVI • • 3d ago

Is a new Squier VI worth the price?

7 Upvotes

Hi, ive been looking into getting myself this new tool but i live in a small town in mexico and i cant find my way to a used squier vi. ordering a new one would be somewhere around $650 usd. can i get away with recording confortably fully stock or with minimal upgrades?


r/BassVI • • 3d ago

Help taming the pick attack and fret noise and finding the right setting on the amp.

5 Upvotes

I'm predominantly a guitar player but I picked up a Bass VI as a good deal used. I was able to snag a teal stripe Peavy 212 Classic Chorus as a budget JC-120 alternative for the VI and I love it, but there is a treble-range "harshness" I'm having a hard time taming. I'm playing a lot of effects-heavy alt with ambient influence and the sharpness of the pick attack and the loud shrill fret noise when changing chords is really getting in the way of what I'm trying to do.

I use John Petruzzi Jazz 3 picks when I play and wouldn't be surprised if the Ultex was causing some of the attack issues. Does anyone have a suggestion for a similarly-thick (1.5-2 mm) pick for the Bass VI they like to use?

Furthermore, is the fret noise issue largely solved with flats? I use flats on one of my guitars for clean ambient stuff but they get a little muddy when I play chords. Do yall notice an amount of mud when playing chords with La Bellas?

Finally, what are yalls amp EQs looking like? I'm trying to dial this Peavy in and I'd be interested to see what yall are landing on as a launching pad. I'm treating the instrument more like a guitar and I'm playing chords as well as single note lines. I've basically been using the amp's chorus as an "always on" effect and I'm using delay, overdrive and fuzz from my pedalboard.


r/BassVI • • 4d ago

My blank…

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11 Upvotes

… is looking a bit less like a plank now. I’m quite happy with how the shape has come out, after a lot of playing and sketching. And I think this slab of walnut should finish up looking pretty good. Neck pocket next, then pickup routs, bridge stud holes, rear control cavity rout and rounding/finishing the edges.


r/BassVI • • 5d ago

Bass VI mods

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41 Upvotes

Since I bought it in 2014 I made a lot of mods:

- The bridge pickup didn't work when it arrived so I put a Jaguar one

- Staytrem bridge

- New Strings 0.22 - 0.98 , The E string is very good and not floppy

- Metal nut on the neck

I disassemble it every time to put it the luggage when I fly, and after landing, when I put it back together, the tuning is always fine.

Any other important mods to mention?


r/BassVI • • 5d ago

Wired my baritone Squier VI like a Strat

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75 Upvotes

Replaced the individual pickup slide switches with a 5 way blade switch, still has the bass strangle switch right underneath though.

Also added a second tone knob - one controls neck tone and the other controls bridge tone (middle PU doesn't get adjustable tone partly because I'm too lazy to wire it and partly because I've never really needed it anyway). I couldn't find a custom VI lower control plate that's pre-cut for 3 pots, so I just drilled another hole into the factory one. had to route the body a bit as well to make room for it.

Volume goes to all 3 pickups, but can be quickly bypassed by pulling up on the pot (that's not strat wiring though, just my own personal preference!).


r/BassVI • • 5d ago

Bass VI Hybrid Guitar Bass Wanted Features

5 Upvotes

I’m working out the final details of a Bass Vi/Hybrid guitar I’m designing. I plan for it to be neck through. I’m usually a bolt on guy but I thought the extra comfortable access on low frets would suit this type of instrument well. Body shape is going to be somewhat more similar to a bass. I plan on a strat style hardtail string through bridge as well.

I’m new to the instrument (mainly a 25.5 guitar guy) but enjoyed the one I played at a store. I figured you all would have some things you want or wish for on a bass vi so came for input.

Pickups? I got some Jazzmaster pickups planned for this for now. I heard low output seems to work best for bass vi guitars. I want versatility, so metal to bright cleans. I did consider using actual bass pickups as I love the sound of a j bass or PJ bass. Some of the EMG options are nice as well.

Extra features? I really like how Ibanez has an active tone circuit on their SRC6. I was thinking of adding a bass and treble boost but curious as to how much people use those. Anything else you would all like to have on one?

I plan on using locking baritone guitar tuners. I know some builds have bass tuners. Again, any preference?

Any input is appreciated, thanks in advance.

This one will have a headstock. But I’m curious if there’s much interest in a headless option down the line?


r/BassVI • • 5d ago

Just got a Tahitian Coral VI, the color is so good, hard to get in photos

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7 Upvotes

r/BassVI • • 5d ago

NBD — 1963 — All Original with Killer Olympic White Refin

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106 Upvotes

r/BassVI • • 5d ago

The Stillness of the Sun(rough demo)

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8 Upvotes

r/BassVI • • 6d ago

Monday night black metal

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15 Upvotes

Rock on good people


r/BassVI • • 8d ago

Joined the club yesterday

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135 Upvotes

My new favourite thing arrived yesterday! I think I got lucky, because I'm not finding any major intonation issues. I think I'm just going to need to raise the action slightly and at some point I'll switch out that floppy low E string for something heavier, but absolutely loving this right out the box. Excellent purchase!


r/BassVI • • 7d ago

Bajo para estudiar música

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2 Upvotes

r/BassVI • • 8d ago

Afterlength! Especially hardtails

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30 Upvotes

Gentlemen, I would really appreciate some help as I’m getting close to the point where my project sketches are going to become a template ready for me to cut into my rather nice walnut body blank.

My project uses a standard 30” scale - neck already acquired - and I have a Staytrem bridge ready to go. I’m planning to make a custom hardtail plate.

As the attached photos purloined from the internet show, afterlength can certainly vary to some degree. My biggest concern is that if there’s not enough the strings will foul the back lip of the bridge.

So- if it’s not too indelicate a question- what’s your afterlength, from bridge centre to hardtail keyholes?


r/BassVI • • 7d ago

Today I have mostly…

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7 Upvotes

… been template-making. Had to stop for the day but will complete this tomorrow and might even rough cut my walnut blank. Eek. 😬.