Bass number two: 4-string headless single cut

barnaclebeau · #1 05-16-2009, 10:49 AM

Hey all, getting ready to start my second bass build. Had a lot of fun and got a lot of encouragement and good advice from the LC community last time, so I'll share this build as I go, as well. BTW, this was my first one.

So the new bass:
-4 string, 32" scale, 24 frets (and a zero fret)
-walnut/maple/cocobolo singlecut
-Delano JMVC pickups, [s]aguilar OBP1 preamp[/s] Audere 3ZB w/ 4 band EQ
-Bunker tuner/bridges, ETS headpiece

Still finalizing the design as parts arrive:

BillytheBassist · #2 05-16-2009, 11:21 AM

Looks sharp.

roberthabraken · #3 05-16-2009, 03:10 PM

Subscribed! Sleek design

pilotjones · #4 05-18-2009, 04:47 PM

Nice shape.

barnaclebeau · #5 05-18-2009, 06:38 PM

Thanks, guys. Like my last bass, I messed around with the design in my free time for about a year.

I've got most of my wood--just waiting on a pre-slotted cocobolo fingerboard from LMII, and I need to get up to Tropical Hardwoods this week for some cocobolo to resaw into accent stripes. Also waiting for the polyurethane bandsaw tires I just ordered...the original rubber ones dried out and blew up (I think oily woods cause premature bandsaw tire death.)

See my claro body wings, curly and birdseye maple, and regular walnut tapered neck core below:

wilser · #6 05-18-2009, 07:18 PM

very cool concept!!!

JC Basses · #7 05-18-2009, 07:18 PM

Aaa good to see another Mac user.

That is a very nice design and even better wood.

BillytheBassist · #8 05-18-2009, 07:29 PM

What type of bridge system are your using.... ABM?

avlbfntiu · #9 05-18-2009, 07:35 PM

Love your design! Headless basses...awesome, and the body shape is great -- very sleek, as has been said. Can't wait to see it come to life!

barnaclebeau · #10 05-18-2009, 07:38 PM

Thanks again, guys.

Billy- I am trying to order a set of bridges from Dave Bunker, pretty unique design, but my phone calls and emails have not yet resulted in an invoice.

http://www.bunker-guitars.com/bass_bridge.html

Just found these, though. O. M. G. Stop the bus! Want want want! Apparently discontinued though...

http://www.atlansia.jp/PARTS%20SHOP.html

BillytheBassist · #11 05-18-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnaclebeau

Thanks again, guys.

Billy- I am trying to order a set of bridges from Dave Bunker, pretty unique design, but my phone calls and emails have not yet resulted in an invoice.

http://www.bunker-guitars.com/bass_bridge.html

Just found these, though. O. M. G. Stop the bus! Want want want! Apparently discontinued though...

http://www.atlansia.jp/PARTS%20SHOP.html

Those look nice......

scottyd · #12 05-18-2009, 08:56 PM

Headless hardware, always fun…

Bunkers stuff looks really nice, from what I understand from talking with him is he only accepts checks or money orders, you may not get an invoice but rather need to clear the price with him and send him a payment. I was told at that time the wait was two weeks. I don't know if they come in chrome or black.

ETS's wait for me last time was close to 4 months but the quality was really nice, I'd use them again.

ON another note, ABMs stuff is suppose to be readily available now, although expensive they may be your best bet.

barnaclebeau · #13 05-18-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyd

Headless hardware, always fun…

Bunkers stuff looks really nice, from what I understand from talking with him is he only accepts checks or money orders, you may not get an invoice but rather need to clear the price with him and send him a payment. I was told at that time the wait was two weeks. I don't know if they come in chrome or black.

ETS's wait for me last time was close to 4 months but the quality was really nice, I'd use them again.

ON another note, ABMs stuff is suppose to be readily available now, although expensive they may be your best bet.

Yeah, he told me to send a check, i'm cool with that, just haven't received a total yet. Nice looking stuff, probably worth the trouble.

Not a fan of the ABM tuners, I don't like how the threaded rod protrudes from the knurled knob. Looks like it could be easily damaged, and I'm just not into them aesthetically.

Now those wilkinson/hayashi's...ooooh...think I'm on a mission.

pilotjones · #14 05-18-2009, 10:25 PM

I really wonder about the Atlansia bridges. There are some real cool designs, but the pricing, as far as I can tell from machine translation, is either too high per piece or too low for a set of four, so I figured they're just astronomically priced. He's got detuner-included units, too.

barnaclebeau · #15 05-18-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC Basses

Aaa good to see another Mac user.

That is a very nice design and even better wood.

Thanks JC--I'm a fan of your renderings, thinking about using your tutorial for this bass, but when I've got free time I'd rather be in the garage...If I do, though, I'll post it.

scottyd · #16 05-19-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnaclebeau

Not a fan of the ABM tuners, I don't like how the threaded rod protrudes from the knurled knob. Looks like it could be easily damaged, and I'm just not into them aesthetically.

Now those wilkinson/hayashi's...ooooh...think I'm on a mission.

If you put the strings in fairly snug before you tune it up the threaded rod shouldn't protrude once the string is brought to pitch. I understand about the looks, they're not the best looking. FWIW, the ETS are made the same way (threaded rod through knob)

Yeah the wilkinson/hayashi's are sharp, I'm not sure how you would go about actually buying them. Let us know if you figure something out.

Have you considered making your own?

Stealth · #17 05-19-2009, 08:39 AM

Subbed, because headless designs are awesome. Can't wait to see how it works out.

barnaclebeau · #18 05-19-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyd

If you put the strings in fairly snug before you tune it up the threaded rod shouldn't protrude once the string is brought to pitch. I understand about the looks, they're not the best looking. FWIW, the ETS are made the same way (threaded rod through knob)

Yeah the wilkinson/hayashi's are sharp, I'm not sure how you would go about actually buying them. Let us know if you figure something out.

Have you considered making your own?

I did think about making my own. Trying to finish this up in a month, though...headed to the east coast and want to take this with me. I may make tuners for my next bass, as well as wind my own pickups.

Dave Bunker wrote me back, my black Bunker bass bridges are ordered!

barnaclebeau · #19 05-19-2009, 06:19 PM

Found me some cocobolo, at Tropical Exotic Hardwoods in Carlsbad...

Kinda pink right now, will darken to reddish-brown over the next couple days. I could eat these. Except it would probably burn my mouth...I definitely have a reaction to cocobolo but it's so pretty it's worth it. So I'll be working this woodpile with a respirator:

BillytheBassist · #20 05-19-2009, 07:10 PM

The cocobolo looks very nice.