Wanting to Build a "Spyder" Copy

[Moe84]

I was wanting input..I am wanting to build a John Entwistle "Spyder" copy....I always loved that bass I just dont want the 10000 doller price tag if you could even get your hands on one anyways...I feel I can build one reasonable and that will sound good...I have found a body and neck.....was wanting some input on bridges and PUPS and electronics...I have been trying to track down what PUPS he used but cant seem to get a line on them..I want it to be growley just like the OX's..I know it has to do with the rig as well but I believe my rig will do nicely I.E. Basson 410 cab and a SVT4 PRO + Art Nightbass.. Please give me your advice/input here..thanks

[Rumblefisher]

Those look like Alembic pickups

[west*coast*bass]

The bass was made by Alembic, therefore the pickups and electronics are Alembics.

[PBass101]

Alembic electronics alone will cost you more than a grand. Possibly several grand if you want the original DIN jack, if they even offer it.

Remember, Entwistle loved his Alembics, but used Status at the end.

[Moe84]

Well what would you suggest that could even be close for less cost!!

[Rumblefisher]

Yeah, the status b-2 has buzzard written all over it. I guess that's what the b stands for

[Fealach]

Originally Posted by Moe84

Well what would you suggest that could even be close for less cost!!

Nothing is close for any cost. Alembic pickups and the complicated preamps in their higher end basses are unique. I'd imagine the closest you could get on a shoestring budget would be EMG pickups with a sweepable midrange knob. I forget the exact name of the electronics.

[Moe84]

What about using a Bartolini MMX in the Neck position and a MMC or a MME in the bridge...I know that MM are noted for their Growl..Or maybe a matched pair of Delano SBC 4 HE/S???do you think I could get close to Entwistles sound?

[Eight_Stringer]

Half a world away and have the same desire for a Spyder Bass. Like you Moe84 the only way i am going to own a bass like the original is to make a best copy. Alembic have very high standards and that costs money, lots of it. At some AU$15,000 for a Spyder 8 string it actualy is not that bad a price as if it sounds as good as it looks then the adage of " price is forgotten long before the quality is".

Back to your concept, as Fealach points out perhaps EMG will do for a staring pont. That is what i am going to start off with. Note, although Alembic pups and electronics rate highly, it has more to do with the clever use of exisiting parts or technology than exlusive to Alembic technology, IE you can make the same system for yourself in time, and that time may be considerable as Alembic would know only too well.

My background is very broad in electronic technology and will implement variations of EMG passive and active PUPS. Passive, may well do my own tone control with EMG passives, though i suspect this will only be when the bass mechanical construction is all but completed and sound tested on reference PUPS. Have a proper powered coil winder here and can do my own PUPs as a last resort. There are no shortcuts in electronic design for one off circuits, you can repeat a design, however it takes a long time to produce the beta project model.

Take great heart from the driven and clever people here, whom share their mechanical skills and processes for DIY bass assembly, with that in mind i will do 3 basses. The first will be the learning model. Where mistakes while kept to a minimum, will be made and i will use the first to make a better 2nd and 3rd bass. Going to Jig the neck assembly as i have available a very good metal workshop. Adds to the front end time of the construction though gives the ability to repeat a proper product outcome afterwards with little error(s).

The list of the Spyder basses at this time intended, 5 string fretless and 8 string fretless. The first may well be another 5 string or 4 string fretless if i can make the neck jig versatile enough.

This will not happen quickly, say about 6-12 months. Jigs consume huge amounts of time and materials to have a proper function at the end.

Frilly bits on the basses will be RGB leds as side markers, the fretless will not have "fretlines" on the finger board, whom can see them when playing standing, not me that is for sure. Being RGB leds i may prog a small controller for the colour change and optical power output characteristics, this is an aid to live playing where you are pressed to dick around with complicated controls mid song etc etc. Ditto for the tone control. Run no tone control on my all tube head(s) its all on the bass itself.

Hope your bass goes into action Moe84. BTW what size is yours or the Alembics body? Looks smaller than the Ibanez Destroyer II bass i have here for a model.

Regards John

[Gopher Bob]

very interesting hope either one of you posts pictures... and would love to hear sound samples of whatever pickups you guys choose again either one

[PBass101]

Originally Posted by CFclef

Yeah, the status b-2 has buzzard written all over it. I guess that's what the b stands for

It was originally the "Buzzard 2" until Warwick rescinded Status's rights to the Buzzard name and design.

[dmusic148]

You might have a look at the ACG filter preamp. Similar in function to the Alembic unit.

[DerHoggz]

And now Warwick uses their basic headstock which is bad looking with the Buzzard.

[Moe84]

BTW what size is yours or the Alembics body? Looks smaller than the Ibanez Destroyer II bass i have here for a model.

It is a warmoth body http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/Classic...,Misc,Explorer it is Zebrawood on Black Korina with a warmoth neck http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/Classic...Neck,Misc,V..I believe it is the same as the Destroyer or the Explorer...I know this will not be the same as Johns bass but it will be as close as I can afford....I guess I should call it a "TRIBUTE BASS"...Dont worry I will work on this til I get it the way I want it Keep in touch and thanks I look forward to seeing your finished products.....I am just gathering info at the moment and pricing hope to soon start putting this together....

[Gopher Bob]

my opinion: don't get a walnut body...

I ordered a walnut eagle bass body from warmoth and the weight makes me hate myself for picking solid walnut. The quality though I give two thumbs up.