I picked up a body, bridge and neck from a friend of mine for nothing. I'm not usually the type of person to take on a project, but at the price I got these things at, I couldn't pass it up. The body, neck, and bridge were all made by Matt Friedman, who used to make some great basses under the Acacia name. The neck and body are both just shy of being complete.

The Body
Pommele Sapele with Zebrawood top. Routed for body binding. I didn't get a good picture of it, but the zebrawood top is a bent-top at the forearm bevel.
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1000-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1002-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1009-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1007-full.jpg

The Bridge
Ebony with brass saddles. The body is routed, and the bridge actually sits down in the route. Very cool. The brass tailpiece is separate and actually buts up to the bridge.
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1003-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1004-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1006-full.jpg


The Neck
Padouk/Purpleheart/Wenge/Purpleheart/Padouk. Macassar Ebony fretboard with Acacia tree inlaid in maple at the 12th fret. There are some nicks and chatters on the edge of the fretboard that I have to deal with. It is slotted and ready to go.
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1010-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1011-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1013-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1014-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1015-full.jpg


The Decisions To Be Made
1. Fretted or fretless?
I'm about 90% sure I want to do lined fretless.

2. If fretless, what to use for fret lines?
Ebony, Bloodwood, Maple?

3. What to do about the body binding?
It is a pretty big channel. It is .250 X .250. If I do binding, it looks like it would be about three layers of standard binding. I had been thinking about doing cocobolo, but that is scaring me a little. OR do I just use the router, and shrink the body down to get rid of the binding route and round it over? This will be the big decision.

4. Active or Passive?
I guess that will be a personal preference. I'll probably do it passive initially and decide if I like how it sounds.

5. Pickups?
It is routed for an EMG 35 shape. Here are the pickups available in that shape (with price): Seymour Duncan SSB4 ($118.50), Kent Armsrtong ($168), Status 2003 ($194), Nordstrand Big Singles ($199), EMG ($200), Bartolini M34C ($200), Delano SBC ($244), Nordstrand Fat Stacks ($249), Magnetics ($250), Q Tuners ($280).

6. Finish/Stain?
Do I stain that pommele sapele back to bring out more of that figuring, or just finish it?

7. Nut?
I'm actually looking at one of the Warwick Just A Nut's.


I just thought I would throw this out there and get opinions. I'll do some other posts with more specific questions, but feel free to give your opinions. That's why I posted here!!!

looks great! can't answer much of your questions since they are ALL personal choices, but I do want to comment that the back doesn't look like sapele at all! can you take a closer shot? Maybe in daylight so we can see the color and grain a bit better?

Thanks!

looks great! can't answer much of your questions since they are ALL personal choices, but I do want to comment that the back doesn't look like sapele at all! can you take a closer shot? Maybe in daylight so we can see the color and grain a bit better?

Thanks!

I'll get one tonight. It came to me with the description of being "figured pommele sapele". I'll do some checking. Here's one that was a slightly different angle.
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1008-full.jpg

Any thoughts on the body binding?

Also, any thoughts on taking care of those chips on the first fret of the fretboard? Someone had suggested ebony dust and super glue . . .

I have never really cared for body binding on basses... that's just me, though.

I have never really cared for body binding on basses... that's just me, though.

I'm in the same boat. There is an F bass floating around that has a cream binding that is gorgeous against the burst finish, but it's an F bass . . .

do black or red binding, yum

do black or red binding, yum

The problem with binding is that I would have to do three layers of standard binding because the route is .250".

The problem with binding is that I would have to do three layers of standard binding because the route is .250".

If you have to do three layers, mix it up a bit and do something like walnut, maple, bloodwood. Also, did you pick this up from modlusacadia? I picked up a few things from him as well that I have to get working on.

lowsound

Any thoughts on the body binding?

Also, any thoughts on taking care of those chips on the first fret of the fretboard? Someone had suggested ebony dust and super glue . . .

route it out! use the binding rabbet as a pattern and flush the rest of the body with it! round it over to 3/8" and your problem is gone.

Also, did you pick this up from modlusacadia? I picked up a few things from him as well that I have to get working on.

lowsound

I did. He is a friend of mine, and lives about 20 minutes from me.

route it out! use the binding rabbet as a pattern and flush the rest of the body with it! round it over to 3/8" and your problem is gone.


That was my thought. My only fear was when I got to the neck pocket. I wasn't sure if I would damage it if I took it all the way to the pocket.

it should be fine, if you are careful, as the top is flat, not contoured. I always route my roundover after routing my neck pocket

OK, for the question about the Sapele. Here are some more shots I got of it last night in varying degrees of light, and one with no flash. I have no idea if it is sapele or not, that is just what I was told. Whatever it is, I can't wait to get some oil or finish on it.



http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1019-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1020-full.jpg
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http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1022-full.jpg
http://tms.talawanda.net/~RhotonC/classroom/page6/files/page6-1024-full.jpg