Hi All,

Its been a while since I last posted, Alex's bass is started and we should have the fretboard on next week.

So the Specs for Alex's 5 string are as follows,

Custom body design
5 piece Wenge/Ash thru neck
Wenge fretboard 36" scale
Alder Body wings
Ash top
Dyed black tuillipwood pinstrip accent veneer
Ebony headstock cap
CF rods in neck

Stainless steel frets (low profile)
ETS MKIII Black bridge and saddle
Sperzel tuners
JD Straplocks
Aluminium 3mm side makers

Q-Tuner 5 string pickup set
4 way rotary switch (neck/series/parallel/bridge) volume,passive tone.
500k pots

Oil finnish

This will be another interesting bass to build, Alex knows what he wants down to the fine details which is great for me.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/20012007265.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/10042007324.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/30042007335.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/11052007345.jpg

Q tuners!

Ive heard back from my fretboard supplier and the wenge 36 inch scale board will be with me next week hopefully, due to the long wait on the fretboard I started to build my own fretsaw Jig. I will post pics next week, Im starting to build Jigs at work which will help me produce alitlle faster.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Cool spec Rob. Show us all you can about your jigs. :hyper:

Cool. I love your build threads. Looking forward to the ride

Whoa

More info on those pickups please!


B

Forgot to ask. What type of oil finish and how will you apply.
Thanks

why type of truss rod is that. can you give more info on the ones you use?

Hi Guys,

Well here some of the Jig pics I promised,

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/04062007349.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/04062007350.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/04062007351.jpg
Linear bearing router jig,part finished.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/04062007352.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/04062007353.jpg

The pickups are Q tuners, you can check them out on the net.Never used them so it will be interesting, the trussrod are dual action from Status in the UK and I'll be going for a danish oil finish on the bass, unless I can get hold of some of Ken smith finishing oil!

Cheers,

Robbie.

It's all too exciting!!! :D

Alex

YOu da man!......
in the TOOL t-shirt :smug:

It IS ALL TOO EXCITING. These jigs look all too fantastic.

You gotta love the Tool t-shirts, Brandin bud are you still building those sweet basses.

Robbie.

hey Robbie, looks like this is going to be an amazing bass just like the rest of your work ...I can't believe you still cut fret slots by hand! I guess I'm getting old or something, I spent well over 100$usd on stewmac slotting saw and steel template after maybe the 5th fingerboard I cut by hand ...my shoulder couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't cut a fingerboard in one session.

Looks great Robbie, love those slotted headstocks. might I ask what this Ken Smith Finishing oil is?

Ken smith has his own special oil mix which is hand rubbed into his basses, check out the shop tour on the ken smith site.

Hi All,

Well still waiting for the fretboard so ive started to build another Jig for my headstock. Im using drill bushes, so it should come out with nice clean holes.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/07062007357.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/04062007355.jpg
On another note, Im building a set for my work friend who runs the UK Garrison. http://www.501stukgarrison.com/ Some people might know about the upcoming Star Wars event at Excel in London (30 years Anv), Looks like Ive got access all areas passes for the weekend and I might also be going to Pinewood studio to build the set before the event. Im also hoping to meet Jeremy Bullock and a few other stars.

May the force be with you!

Cheers,

Robbie.

I love the headstock, my next build will have a classical headstock similar to that.

Hey Robbie,

i have taken some time off from building but will be back at it very soon. I am coming up with some new ideas and designs. crossing my fingers.

-br&n

Hi All,

Just keeping in touch and we had a delivery of engraved R logos today, so Alex will get to pick which one goes on his bass. My moneys on the Cocobolo.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/11062007371.jpg

Cheers,

Robbie.

love the engraving! where did you get it done?

I had them done by a local engravers called Excel engraving in Hemel Hempstead.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Would you take orders for jigs? they look very very good.

I would but I dont have enought time at the moment and Im about to be made redundant at work so once I move house I'll have no lathe and Mill, gutted I know.

Sorry bud,

Robbie.

By all means get in touch with your ideas and maybe in time I can get sorted in my new house, we could make the jigs from mdf or wood and have nice clamps and fitting etc.

Robbie.

Hi Guys,

Well the fretboards are now in the UK, just waiting on delivery. Ive been getting the other two basses started ready for fretboards, so here's the latest

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/16072007386.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/16072007389.jpg

Cheers,

Robbie.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/04062007350.jpg


I'm not really getting how that dowel stop works. :help:
Hope you show some pics when you have your boards in that jig. Cool design Rob.

Hi Greenman,

Basicly you screw the blank fretboard to the clear plastic template which has the scale length slotted with 5mm slots, place the dowel in the slot and cut the fret to depth. Ive still got to get round to fitting the clamps asap. Got the ebony fretboard on one of the other 5 strings Im currently building today.

Cheers,

Robbie

Hi Guys,

Well Im still waiting for the fretboards to turn up, looks like they could be with me tomorrow or early next week. So for now ive glued one of my other 5 string ebony fretboards on, looking to get all the boards glued and tapered next week.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/17072007390.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/18072007391.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/18072007393.jpg

Cheers,

Robbie.

Hi All,

Well the 36 inch boards turned up today and we now have Alex's wenge board glued on, so we should have the neck tapered by the end on the week.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/23072007399.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/23072007401.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/23072007402.jpg

Cheers,

Robbie.

Robbie is that a piece of aluminum stock your using for a caul?

Hi Scott,

No bud its inch thick Polyprop, it works well for me.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Hi All,

Its been a while since my last post, Alex's bass is coming along nicely as are the other two 5 strings I doing.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/25072007410.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/25072007414.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/15082007438.jpg
4mm Ali side markers
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/17082007449.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/20082007453.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/20082007455.jpg
Bass for the guys at Accugroove.

More soon,

Robbie.

looks great Robbie, can't wait to see the rest of it!

Hi All,

Well the 36 inch boards turned up today and we now have Alex's wenge board glued on, so we should have the neck tapered by the end on the week.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/23072007399.jpg


Cheers,

Robbie.

Could you name wood that those fretboards were made of? Is that one on the right made of bubinga?

they look awesome!

Hi Ziober,

The boards from left to right are, Cocobolo,Zerbrano,Wenge,Asian Ebony and Bubinga all 36 scale also.

Cheers,

Robbie.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/15082007438.jpg
4mm Ali side markers

Can't wait to see these big side markers when the frets are installed and everything shaped. Should look sweet.

Looking killer Robbie!

Hi Guys,

Its been a while seen my last post, ive been trying to get my workshop started and working on 3 basses also. So here's some latest pics,

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11007.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex9003.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex9006.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11004.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11023.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11013.jpg
And my new ride Volvo Amazon 131

Cheers,

Robbie.

Robbie, really digging your work on these 3 basses. :bassist:

Good to hear you are getting your workshop going again...keep those lovely progress pictures coming please!

Brutal white walls! or is there a slight hint of blue to those!?
Man... you win...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex9003.jpg


WOW! Finally a light colored wood. It seems all your bases have been very dark colored woods (for the bodies). I hope this one stays light...

Looks great!

Excellent work, robbie ...as usual!

It appears you're shaping your necks with a router or shaper ...can you expand on that?

+1 to that, shaping with a router will make all of our lives so much easier

looking good Robbie! love your bridges with the string mountings in the end of the body.

Thanks for the kind words guys, Wilser bud I use a large tabletop router cutter. Its around 19mm deep by 35mm wide, its been a great way to ruff out my necks. Im going to try and still use them on my new router table setup. Just not sure yet if im gonna get a good result, otherwise I'll be starting to ruff necks out by hand! I will take a picture of the cutter next week.

Cheers,

Robbie.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11013.jpg
And my new ride Volvo Amazon 131

Cheers,

Robbie.

Hey Rob nice tour bus. :hiding:
I'm seeing flat black paint. tinted windows, slam it down about two inches.... oh ya the back bumper has to drag on the ground when you drive down the street. :D

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/17082007449.jpg


Damn , dude, it reminds me of that chocolate and cream stuff that i eat every morning :smug:
So damn sexy, wenge and maple, simply gorgeous!:)

Wow, those are all looking excellent. Looking back through the thread I saw your linear router jig. Is that made up of the Easy-Install Twin Shaft Guide Blocks from McMaster-Carr?

I want to see this bass finished.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex9003.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11013.jpgNice wheels. Had a red one, ages back. The red got pink, and then brownish...:confused:

What is the 'dent' in the top horn?

Very interesting string anchorage! And pretty pretty work, altogether.:)

Glad to see you had an Amazon, the bass has no dent. Its just where the routing wasn't finished. Hoping to get started again once I get back from my trip to NY.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Glad to see you had an Amazon, the bass has no dent. Its just where the routing wasn't finished. Hoping to get started again once I get back from my trip to NY.

Cheers,

Robbie.

yeah, just don't forget the pics of your router neck shaper setup :D

Robbie

Are you in NYC now? Maybe we could meet up.

Pete

Hi All,

Well the workshop is nearly finished, just got to make up two benches and unpack some of my new machines. I will be hoping to start working next week on the 3 basses

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11007.jpg

Also the wife and myself had a trip to New York two weeks ago, had a great time.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/NewYork246.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/NewYork244.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/NewYork247.jpg

So keep safe and i'll have more pics soon!

Robbie.

The last time I saw the NYC skyline was in 1993...I had a meeting on the 88th floor of the WTC tower #2...

how times have changed :(

every time I see photos of NYC, I get sad...and then a bit angry :mad:

How SENSELESS...



back to the subject...great basses, mate.

Yeah, I still haven't been down to the WTC site. It's hard enough looking at the skyline sometimes.


Beautiful city shot though. Glad you enjoyed your visit.

New York skyline, sexy basses, a vintage Swedish ride with white walls fresh out of the box... I'm digging this thread. ;)

Hi All,

Ok so we have done a bit more work on Alex's bass and its all stripped down for final sanding and cavity work now,

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexnew009.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexnew008.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexnew010.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexnew007.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/benchseat.jpg
Chevy Monte carlo Bench going into the Amazon before its retrimmed next year.

Guitars and cars!

Robbie.

Wow. This bass is stunning. Amazing workmanship. Alex, you lucky dog!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/alex11013.jpg


I want one...:eek:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexnew008.jpg
hmm the bass is made out of dark and white chocolate?

Hi All,

Ok so we have done a bit more work on Alex's bass and its all stripped down for final sanding and cavity work now,

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexnew009.jpg


Robbie.

what kind of pickup is that?

Looks to me like one of those fancy neodymium puppies
http://www.q-tuner.com/images/bl5.jpg
from Q-Tuners
http://www.q-tuner.com/bl5.shtml

You are listed on Delano site...so, what is your opinion on the Delano pups?

The Delano's are great pickups, Lots of definition and Clarity. I would use them on most basses if the customer didn't know what to go for. Bee Basses use them on most of there basses now.

Cheers,

Robbie.

love the black and white look going on! I'd like to do an Ash and Wenge build sometime, love the contrast you get then.

UK Luthiers never cease to amaze me, that bass is something ELSE to say the least, the maple-wenge sandwich of a neck is absolutely stunning, wish i could test drive one of those puppies....by the way, who is Alex Claber?

Nice stuff, as always.

Hey, I was wondering, what's the width of your bodies? My guess is that they're a little wider than average, but appear much wider due to the shape? A number would be great if you could as reference for the things that I draw up!

Hi Guys,

Glad you are all loving this bass, its been real nice to build. Alex Claber is a funk bassists from Brighton, not famous yet. And to Pilotjones bud, my Marseer design measures around 13.5/14 inches max across the width.

Cheers guys and have a Great Christmas!

Robbie.

Hi Guys,

Ok So Ive now finished work for Christmas and i'll be working on Alex's bass for a few days during the break, Ive been sanding the bass over the last couple of night and she's looking good. Should have the cavity coppered out over the weekend and a couple of little jobs before I can get a couple of coats of wax on her. Ive ordered some Teflon silver coated wire for the pots and when that turns up from the states I'll be able to get the wiring all sorted. So things are all good!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexsanding001.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexsanding003.jpg

Have a good one Guys,

Robbie.

The accent really works on that one. Merry x-mas Rob.

YES... That bass kicks some serious BOOOTEH.................................

I'll take two!

Cheers Guys, Nomad98 just checked out your basses bud loving the designs, and Greenman good to hear from you again bud.

Robbie.

This is definitely one of most good looking basses I've seen from you!!!!

Lookin good Robbie, have a great holiday!

Cheers guys, have a great Christmas!

Hi All,

Hope everyone had a great new Years, so we are into 2008 and Alex's bass has had the first couple of coats of wax. Ive also copper lined the control cavity. Looking to have the bass all setup by next week.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwax008.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwax014.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwax012.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwax006.jpg

More soon,

Robbie.

may i ask what wax you are using?
that bass is coming along very nicely, i bet you cant wait to string it up and give it a little set up and play cuz i know i want to =D

Stunning. And the fretboard wood is a fantastic too boot.
Sound clips when you get a chance!
Jonathan

Rob you are going to save me from post a new thread. Are you going to put copper the back of the control cavity cover. Do you seal the control cavity too?

For sure I will be copper lining the back of the Ash Control cover plate which will be screwed in with 4mm Countersunk machine screws.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Hi All,

Well the wiring is nearly finished and we should have the bass setup over the weekend, hoping to get sound/video clips done next week.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwiring005.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwiring007.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwiring006-1.jpg

Cheers,

Robbie.

I love that bass :eek:! That Ash is gorgeous. Can't wait to hear soundclips with those pickups :).

Not to hijack or anything but do you know a easy way of acquiring a MK III :ninja: ?

ETS seem to be taking longer with there orders, you will just have to wait bud.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Hi All,

Got the bass finished today, sounds great even thru my Ashdown five fifteen.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexfinished004.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexfinishedpics001.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexfinishedpics003.jpg


Hope to get the soundclips done in the week and get Alex to pick her up next weekend.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Sweet.:)

That is amazing looking. Can't wait to hear the sound clips.

What an innovative and beautiful instrument. A classic in my book.

My favorite of all you have posted. I love the light color of the ash... Can't wait to hear the Q-Tuners (which, by the way, look really cool in that bass).

Nomad98

wow that is one beauty of a bass, how many coats of wax did you use?

georgeous build

Guys,

Thanks for all the kind comments on the bass, glad to see you like it as much as I do. Its been a busy 2007 and Im glad we have got this ready for Alex, so he can start the new year with his new bass. Looks like this Custom Shaped Marseer could be as standard design, Looking forward to getting the studio pics and soundclips done this coming week. By the way there is only 3 coats of wax on the bass.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Hi All,

Well the wiring is nearly finished and we should have the bass setup over the weekend, hoping to get sound/video clips done next week.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alex%20bass/Alexwiring005.jpg
Cheers,

Robbie.

Nice don't you wish all wiring could be as simple?;)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexstudioshots013.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexstudioshots011.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/Alexstudioshots021.jpg

Soundclip now on my myspace below

Robie it just look really great. This is definitely the bass from you that I like the most. I you let me I would like to steal the way you anchor the string in some project. What about that little hole next to the 5th string in the body?

No worries Eleonn feel free to try the Rim style ancor method, I was gutted about the little knot in the wood, it came out and I just thought well thats wood for ya. I look at it as a feature.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Robbie, that bass is just smoking hot! how'd you like the q-tuners? I used them for the first time on a bass I just finished and was pretty impressed with how dynamic and clean they sound.

Indeed Wilser mate, the Q tuners are very powerfull and Dynamic, my mate who recorded the bass on his laptop with pro tools thought the bass was active. He could believe how good the sound clips where, by the way I did the soundclip and its totally clean with no effects or process. Direct into the Pc.

Going to be using them on Mark's Wright at Accugrooves fretless Marseer 5 bass, with a Bassxx preamp.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Hei, that's the best looking headstock I've seen in my whole life!
How thick/wide is it? I guess it's more than 1" in thickness, right?

You would think so, but Ive got it down to 19mm due to using Sperzel bass tuners which have a 10mm post. Leaving me 4.5mm both sides. When I used hipshots it was around 24mm

Cheers,

Robbie.

Thanks for the kind words guys, Wilser bud I use a large tabletop router cutter. Its around 19mm deep by 35mm wide, its been a great way to ruff out my necks. Im going to try and still use them on my new router table setup. Just not sure yet if im gonna get a good result, otherwise I'll be starting to ruff necks out by hand! I will take a picture of the cutter next week.

Cheers,

Robbie.

Beautiful bass, I really like it!

I am interested in the cutter that you mentioned for shaping your necks. If you get a chance I would love to see a picture of that set up.
Thanks, Joe

I do really admire at your craft, very nice work