Regenerate Guitar Works - following the birth of the new M-Series

**Rodent** · #1 05-07-2009, 10:18 AM

The M-Series began as a custom P-bass styled build for a client in the greater Seattle area. The idea was to have a fretless with a Darkstar and piezo bridge bolt-on that would also have a chambered body. During the design phase I started toying with the body contours to give it a more modern styling. Here's a couple images of that custom bass build for reference

Late in 2008 I began toying with this design again. I wanted to address what I considered to be certain ergonomic issues with the original design. While these issues were nothing significant for the client of the original custom, they were potentially issues for players who had larger hands and needed to readily access the upper frets. I also wanted to update the design to incorporate a more adjustable bridge that could accommodate piezo saddles if a client was wanting a piezo option. The design was also adapted into a 5-string version that will utilize the custom RGW 5-string neck and full 19mm bridge spacing. While the Darkstar pickup will remain an option for the 4-string model, pickups for the production M-Series will standardize on Nordstrand's Big Singles in a Bartolini P2 shaped soapbar cover

Progress has continued, and the first high density foam evaluation bodies from these designs are completed. Once all the final details are worked out the first three bodies will enter into production in the coming weeks:

- a 5-string righty with highly figured Western Maple top and back that cover a 2-piece Alder body core. This will have a Birdseye neck shaft with a hand selected Brazilian Rosewood 16"R fretboard

- a 4-string righty with figured Swamp Ash body and a flamed Koa top. the neck details are still to be decided at this time, but it will most likely be quartersawn Maple with a Gaboon Ebony fretboard

- a 4-string lefty with highly figured American Cherry top and back that cover a 2-piece Swamp Ash body core. Accent lines of Black Walnut will provide definition between the wood sandwich layers. This will have a Birdseye neck shaft with a hand selected AAA Birdseye 12"R fretboard and a matching American Cherry headstock veneer. Electronics for this unit will be a pair of Nordstrand Fat Stacks (each with a coil tap switch) and a bypassable Nordstrand 2B pre-amp with DPT control

all the best,

R

**Rodent** · #2 05-07-2009, 10:20 AM

Significant progress took place in mid-March, and this new model is becoming reality. I now have a high density foam proofing body for the new design

here you can see the first cuts taking place on the foam blank: control and battery cavities are complete, the neck heel contour is complete, and the tummy cut is just being roughed out

here's the completed proofing body with a RGW neck fit into the pocket. it's strange to see that old logo even though it wasn't too long ago that this is exactly the logo I was using

there definitely will not be any difficulties with access to the upper frets, and the leg rest is the perfect balance point for comfort when playing in a seated position. I also improved the forearm contour for a greater range of comfortable playing angles/positions. the upper horn extends out to just past the 11th fret

the 5-string cousin to this body is being cut this week. I'll have images of it shortly

all the best,

R

**Rodent** · #3 05-07-2009, 10:21 AM

this will be the top for the first M-Series 5-string

all the best,

R

**Rodent** · #4 05-07-2009, 10:22 AM

the tummy contour cut (more easily seen on the 5-string body) is very comfortable and fits my frame well. it feels even better than what I was oping for

I cut these with the 4 control configuration. a 3 control configuration will have the controls centered between each of the holes seen here. with this I easily have a lot of flexibility for pre-amp and control configurations 8)

everything looks remarkably good on the 5-string proofing body - I believe it's time to cut some wood!

more to come ...

all the best,

R

**Rodent** · #5 05-07-2009, 10:23 AM

as you can see in this image of the 4-string, there's ample and easy access to the 21st fret

for those who need easy access to a high E, this certainly isn't your granpappy's Fender

the 21st fret on the 5-string model lines up in a similar manner

all the best,

R

**Rodent** · #6 05-07-2009, 10:24 AM

The neck pocket trials are finally completed!

And the winner is ...

the second pocket from the far right is the chosen pocket for this series. I know it's impossible to tell from the image, but each pocket has slightly differing dimensions from the others. the chosen pocket is about .005" larger than the physical neck dimensions, and this will allow for the body's spray finish to have a small amount on the edge of the neck pocket so that each neck can be hand fit to the specific body

Now that this trial is completed the first 4 and 5-string bodies are entering the queue to have their 'sandwich' blanks assembled and readied for the CNC

more to come in a couple weeks ...

all the best,

R

**Chef** · #7 05-07-2009, 10:01 PM

lookin' good!

pet peeve:
make sure there's enough room to get a standard allen wrench to the trussrod...or...

fender shipped a "ball end" allen wrench with the 09 american standard precision i tested. that's a decent solution to a small access slot...

**Rodent** · #8 05-07-2009, 10:20 PM

great thing to remember .... and definitely accounted for Chef - you can easily make trussrod adjustments without dinging the finish

all the best,

R

rob plays bass · #9 06-08-2009, 02:29 PM

wow, that's a very nice shape you have going on there (:

joeyl · #10 06-20-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

fender shipped a "ball end" allen wrench with the 09 american standard precision i tested. that's a decent solution to a small access slot...

I have it on my American Jazz and although a decent idea, that ball will slip and round the nut if you don't pay very very close attention. Also it does not have enough leverage sometimes, although that could be a plus to prevent users from breaking the nut or the rod. I vote for truss rod wheel a la Ernie Ball.

**Chef** · #11 06-20-2009, 01:27 PM

that is indeed my fave.

**Rodent** · #12 07-25-2009, 01:47 PM

I finally have a few updates I can publish about the progress on this model ...

after much anticipation, the first M-Series body has been exhumed from its body blank. I'm at the airport typing this, so I'll need to suppliment this post with further details later. Until then, here's a few images for your viewing pleasure

all of the laminates glued up into a single 'Hippie Sandwich'. the first image is in the clamps, the second is the outcome of the squeezing

after a couple weeks of resting to allow the moisture content (absorbed from the glue) an opportunity to return to around 6%- 8%, the rough body was "exhumed" from the sandwich

the little fish tale at the butt is remaining wood from where the body was clamped in the CNC holding jig. this is easily removed with a hand router and pattern bit prior to detail sanding

these images are all before the detailed hand work begins, and you can easily see just how rough some of the contour areas are before this detailing takes place

all the best,

R

**Chef** · #13 07-25-2009, 01:50 PM

Wow...
1) that's gonna be so cool!
2) jeez, that's a lot of finish work to be done. i had no idea.

**Rodent** · #14 07-31-2009, 08:17 PM

The first M-Series 4-string fretless neck arrived back from the finishing shop today. This is a 1-piece Mahogany neck shaft with a gorgeous acrylized spalt birdseye Maple fingerboard. The neck has a 1-1/2" nut width, a 12"R fingerboard, side dots at the fret line location for the 3/5/7/9/12/15/17/19 fret locations

I'm still debating just how glossy to polish the fingerboard, since an acrylized board can be finished anywhere between the 800 grit dull sheen it currently has thru a super high gloss mirror shine. I'll proably make the final decision when I see the finished 4-string Swamp Ash with flamed Koa body

I'm glad to have opted to go this route vs. the quartersawn Maple with a Gaboon Ebony fretboard I had originally planned

all the best,

R

**Rodent** · #15 01-07-2010, 07:41 PM

I recently set aside some time to work on the M5 prototype, and here's where things are as of this week ...

the body is detail sanded and just about ready to head off to the paint shop for a clear gloss finish. here it is wiped with a little Naphtha so you can see how it will look with a finish

I don't care for how the contoured heel looks when I also utilize a figured back, so a figured back option will not be available in combination with a contoured heel. either one is OK, just not the two together

I also had some time to give everything a dry fit, and here's what it looks like (no finish yet on the body.) the total weight on this is well under 8.5 pounds so far, and a body finish and strings aren't going to add that much more

I'm really digging how it feels, and the balance is perfect if not just a little light (neck lifts up slightly - NO neck dive!) I can't wait for this to come back from the paint shop so I can get it set-up and take it out for a spin

I also have the first production M5 5-string body partially completed. here it is roughed out of the body blank. the neck pocket has yet to be fit to the neck, and that's why you see the excess material there on the treble side of the pocket. I'll be mating this one up with a Birdseye/Pau Ferro neck if current plans hold firm

more to come on the first production M4 4-string as well

thanks for checking out this thread!

all the best,

R

**Chef** · #16 01-07-2010, 07:50 PM

Just me, but, I don't mind the transition between the woods at the neck pocket, at all.
You may be over-thinking that

Nice work!

**Rodent** · #17 01-07-2010, 07:53 PM

may it is just me ... but that wiggle to the contoured heel veneer line just doesn't sit right

all the best,

R

**Chef** · #18 01-07-2010, 08:02 PM

"perfectionist"

;>)

(it's a creditable trait!)

**Rodent** · #19 01-07-2010, 08:15 PM

I'll take that in all of the productive ways it can be applied, and do my best to make sure I don't allow it to cripple my ability to deliver (obsessive perfectionists who never accomplish anything because it's never good enough know what I mean)

here we're talking about perfectionism ... and I forgot to include an image of the first production body in its current roughed out state

all the best,

R

dlmarquez · #20 03-15-2010, 08:06 PM

I think I am going to have to get some pics of my bass (the original bass in the beginning of this thread) with the current neck. It no longer has a pau ferro fretless fingerboard. It's a very thick slab of sweet dark ebony...plays like a dream and looks absolutely stunning!
Rod knows how to build a fantastic instrument