5th bass - let's go!

shai-ga · #1 03-23-2010, 07:53 AM

So.. the last one wasn't for me, now it's about time to expand my arsenal.
Here's a pic of my 4th build..

shai-ga · #2 03-23-2010, 07:58 AM

This one will have a Swamp ash body, Tobias growler style in a smaller design.
Quartersawn maple neck and fretboard with wide nickel frets.
24 frets and 16" radius on the fretboard, with a single truss rod inside.
Nordstrand 3-band preamp connected to a dual coil bartolini soapbar (designed for tobias).
Hipshot bridge, Grover tuners and clear satin polyurethane finish.

shai-ga · #3 03-23-2010, 08:03 AM

This is a first tryout of my poly on the body.
Looks great to me. This particular lacquer gives a heavy orange-brown tone to the wood, as oppose to some more expensive materials found in the market.

You can notice how the different pieces of the ash vary from yellow-white tone (center blank) to light brown-orange (outer blanks).

shai-ga · #4 03-23-2010, 08:04 AM

one more

HogieWan · #5 03-23-2010, 08:52 AM

very nice - I like that body shape. I want a better look at that headstock when it gets more work.

shai-ga · #6 03-23-2010, 12:48 PM

Sure, basically the headstock shape is taken from Fodera's NYC model.

shai-ga · #7 03-27-2010, 05:34 AM

Fretboard was sanded to 16" radius today, and frets are in.

shai-ga · #8 03-27-2010, 05:35 AM

Starting to work on the edges of the frets.

shai-ga · #9 03-27-2010, 11:13 PM

I really love the nickel fretwire. It's so easy to work with, and gets filed and sanded quickly. Plus, I've never had to level them, since the frets are short and wide, maybe just a quick fix for 2 or 3 frets when the bass is set up for the first time.

shai-ga · #10 03-27-2010, 11:15 PM

Fretwork is done, next thing is shaping the neck, then finishing the headstock and preparing the nut.

shai-ga · #11 04-02-2010, 07:50 AM

Dream Weaver · #12 04-02-2010, 08:55 AM

Lookin good. Liking the body shape. Very balanced.

shai-ga · #13 04-08-2010, 12:28 PM

"Only" 5 hours spent today to create a template for the neck pocket and routing it. I'm really satisfied by the result.

shai-ga · #14 04-09-2010, 06:15 AM

Some neck shaping, and fitting the neck in its place

shai-ga · #15 04-09-2010, 06:15 AM

shai-ga · #16 04-09-2010, 06:16 AM

mikeyswood · #17 04-09-2010, 06:50 AM

You should be aware that having another site to host pictures such as flickr or photobucket will save data on the TB server as well as insert full size pics rather than thumbs.

shai-ga · #18 05-27-2010, 06:40 AM

Best feel and playability I've ever experienced.
Sounds great, with the quad coil bartolini and the 3-band Nordstrand preamp.

shai-ga · #19 05-29-2010, 08:27 AM

More pictures..

shai-ga · #20 05-29-2010, 08:28 AM

That's it, hope you like it.