Build #2: Fretless Headless 5

Rickett Customs · #1 01-29-2009, 06:05 PM

Is it considered a second build, when I'm still building my first?
Or is that just some form of A.D.D?

If anyone has seen the first build, you'll notice that the neck lams are from the same one (Poplar, cherry and teak). Made a template from a bass I fixed for my nephew, an ESP ltd b50, I just dug the body shape. Also planed down a piece of cherry for a fingerboard, I'll end up coating it with poly (Unless I change my mind and just do ebony). Each body wing consists of 2 pieces of cherry with a piece of teak, sandwiched in between. So far so good. The plan so far with hardware and electronics: I am considering Bunker, for the headless hardware (was considering ABM or Status, never heard back from Rob from Status as of yet. ABM stuff seems a bit steeper too.). EMG 40dc and the BQC system. I Loved that setup in my spector, so I'm going with that combo.

Anyhow, pics so far:

Side view of the "cherry sammitch" wing.

Glued some thin teak for accent strips:

vbasscustom · #2 01-29-2009, 06:18 PM

lookin good. and i think its more like 1 and 1/2 until your finished your fisrt build

Rickett Customs · #3 01-29-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbasscustom

lookin good. and i think its more like 1 and 1/2 until your finished your fisrt build

I think you're right v.

Rickett Customs · #4 01-31-2009, 10:17 AM

Took down the accent pieces with a micro planer and 80grit,
more pics:

I will need to either add about an 1/8" strip or cut down 1/8" on the lam, to raise the fingerboard a little, haven't decided yet. It'll be another 2 weeks or so before I raise the money for the bridges/head retainer, so that means i'll hold off estimating the neck width, plus another delay will be the 2 trussrods. That's actually a good thing, I don't want to rush it anyway, I give myself no more than an hour each day, that is it.

Rickett Customs · #5 02-01-2009, 03:07 PM

Rounded out the body wings and countersunk the body portion of the neck lam a hair under 1/4", which I may replane that to bring it down a little more. Also closed what gaps there were between the neck lam and body wings, no light coming through now.

I know, cruel joke........ "If it was right handed"

vbasscustom · #6 02-01-2009, 03:13 PM

wow, thats really cool that you did it by hand instead of a router. and im really likin it. i was a little wary about the shape, but now that its rounded over and sanded on the edges, its lookin really cool

Rickett Customs · #7 02-01-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbasscustom

wow, thats really cool that you did it by hand instead of a router. and im really likin it. i was a little wary about the shape, but now that its rounded over and sanded on the edges, its lookin really cool

I actually enjoy doing more of it by hand. I save the router for when I really, really need it.

The really shocking thing is:
The lumber is not exactly A+. The Cherry came from trim, which was taken somewhere from capitol hill. The poplar came from Lowes and the teak was very aged, 24 years to be exact, my father has a heating & air conditioning business, in the 80's he did the heating and air system for the son of the Ayatollah of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini. Anyhow, his sons house was in Virginia, 75% of his flooring was teak, I have many, many small scarps from that job. But I'm sure it's gonna finish out excellent myself.

Rickett Customs · #8 02-02-2009, 05:58 AM

Just ordered 2- 24",1/8" allen Hotrods, should be here this week.

Here's a question,

For a neck through, do you glue a separate piece below the fingerboard or take it off the part where the body is and how high do you typically make it before adding the fingerboard?

I was gonna go with about 1/8", right now it's closer to 1/4". I'll just plane it off.

vbasscustom · #9 02-02-2009, 06:04 AM

well, usually, you make the body part flush with the wings, and make the figerboard higher. i didnt use any below the fingerboard when i did it, and i still had a little trouble with the action being too low and buzzing. my Fb was a 1/4 thick though, and i was using a hipshot a style bridge

joeyl · #10 02-02-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

my father has a heating & air conditioning business, in the 80's he did the heating and air system for the son of the Ayatollah of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini. Anyhow, his sons house was in Virginia, 75% of his flooring was teak, I have many, many small scarps from that job. But I'm sure it's gonna finish out excellent myself.

interesting piece of history, did not know his son lived in the US.

Rickett Customs · #11 02-02-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyl

interesting piece of history, did not know his son lived in the US.

Whether he does now or not, that's a big mystery, his father died in 1989. He may have hauled ass after that, quite possibly.

Rickett Customs · #12 02-06-2009, 02:47 PM

I have received my 2 hot rods. I am in the decision process of a fingerboard, if all else fails, pau ferro, ebony or If i can find it (have not so far) Ebonol. Right now I'm trying 1/4" oak with an ebony stain (looks extremely black right now), gotta sand, coat, sand ,coat..etc.

Hardware:
I think I may pull the trigger on these:
http://www.bunker-guitars.com/bass_bridge.html

Anyone ever use these?

neurotictim · #13 02-12-2009, 01:27 PM

...more gifted than I am... And, if this makes him happy, who really cares if he's "gifted" or not?

I like it.

vbasscustom · #14 02-12-2009, 03:19 PM

yeah, what makes you think hes not gifted anyway. i look at these basses, and say wow, hes way better than i was when i built my first bass. and id say, doin it all by hand, will only further his skills, alot. i think this bass is gorgeous. nothing flashy, just a nice, solid bass. somethin you can play on.

Rickett Customs · #15 02-12-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neurotictim

...more gifted than I am... And, if this makes him happy, who really cares if he's "gifted" or not?

I like it.

No way dude

i'm no more "gifted" than anyone here, I liked that "Ares" mod! I never would have thought of that look, truly unique.

Rickett Customs · #16 02-12-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbasscustom

yeah, what makes you think hes not gifted anyway. i look at these basses, and say wow, hes way better than i was when i built my first bass. and id say, doin it all by hand, will only further his skills, alot. i think this bass is gorgeous. nothing flashy, just a nice, solid bass. somethin you can play on.

Thanks V,
I think every builder that's on TB (even the most revered ones) has encountered a troll post or his opinion (whichever it is).

How much further are you with the rainbow bass? I like multiple upon multiple lam basses.

vbasscustom · #17 02-12-2009, 05:32 PM

well, im waiting for parts right now actually, they should be here in about another week. i can then route the pup cavitys, and im awaiting a truss rod as well. but i got the control cavity routed, and most of the contouring done as well. im going to radius the board this weekend, and slot it. so i should have alot of updating to do, thanks for asking by the way.

Stone Age · #18 02-12-2009, 07:44 PM

This really looks great!

**Basschair** · #19 02-12-2009, 08:24 PM

I went through and deleted most of the stuff having to do with Mr. Phuster's comment. If you found your post was deleted, I did it to get this thread back on topic.

stevetx19 · #20 02-12-2009, 10:35 PM

this is looking really nice man. I love the way that teak looks.
cant wait to hear this one!