Building new bass for Private Ryan - Page 3

victor5string · #41 02-10-2012, 07:36 AM

Wow this looks amazing and just what I've been looking for now for some time. I also have a Dingwall but like composite necks but finding a fanned fret one is very hard. Also in those lengths I know it's not 37" but 36" will be fine. What's the neck profile like on the Moses neck? I'm not a fan of chuncky necks ala Warwick I like them slimmer and fast.

Any chance of some more pics from more angles? Would like to know what it looks like at the heel of the neck, dies the neck profile graduate nicely to the neck joint or is there a big flat bit before the joint?

Cheers

Vic

Syco_bass · #42 02-10-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victor5string

Wow this looks amazing and just what I've been looking for now for some time. I also have a Dingwall but like composite necks but finding a fanned fret one is very hard. Also in those lengths I know it's not 37" but 36" will be fine. What's the neck profile like on the Moses neck? I'm not a fan of chuncky necks ala Warwick I like them slimmer and fast.

Any chance of some more pics from more angles? Would like to know what it looks like at the heel of the neck, dies the neck profile graduate nicely to the neck joint or is there a big flat bit before the joint?

Cheers

Vic

Hi Vic, unfortunately I do not have the bass anymore. You'd have to contact Ryan to get some more pics and some measurements. I will tell you this, I have a Moses neck on my 5 string Fender Deluxe Jazz bass and man I'm loving it. Just orderred another neck from Moses for an OLP build that I'm working on. I'm bassically starting with an OLP MM5 body and re-building it from the ground up.

As far as your questions on the neck profile, I can tell you that I was plesantly surprised at how "thin" the profile was. Plus the resonance and sustain is amazing and despite living in AZ, I have not had to touch the truss rod once I set it.

Peace.

rpsands · #43 02-10-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victor5string

Wow this looks amazing and just what I've been looking for now for some time. I also have a Dingwall but like composite necks but finding a fanned fret one is very hard. Also in those lengths I know it's not 37" but 36" will be fine. What's the neck profile like on the Moses neck? I'm not a fan of chuncky necks ala Warwick I like them slimmer and fast.

Any chance of some more pics from more angles? Would like to know what it looks like at the heel of the neck, dies the neck profile graduate nicely to the neck joint or is there a big flat bit before the joint?

Cheers

Vic

I will try to snap some more pics. The neck is a thin D shape, thinner than my ABZ but probably not quite as thin as a Dingwall Z-series. That's thin front to back.

Width wise, it's in between a 5-string Fender Jazz neck and a Warwick. I can measure it when I get down to the studio.

There's not a bump at the heel but I'll try to snap a couple pics.

Syco_bass · #44 02-10-2012, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

I will try to snap some more pics. The neck is a thin D shape, thinner than my ABZ but probably not quite as thin as a Dingwall Z-series. That's thin front to back.

Width wise, it's in between a 5-string Fender Jazz neck and a Warwick. I can measure it when I get down to the studio.

There's not a bump at the heel but I'll try to snap a couple pics.

Thanks Ryan!

victor5string · #45 02-11-2012, 05:27 AM

Cheers Ryan some more pics would be cool

Doug Parent · #46 02-15-2012, 11:53 AM

Nice build!

Syco_bass · #47 02-15-2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Parent

Nice build!

Thanks Doug.

I'm waiting on parts to build another OLP MM5 with Nordy Pickup and Nordy "Vintage" (Pre-EBMM) style pre-amp and using a Moses Neck. Should have all the parts for that next week.

I'm also building a USACG Dinky Jay 5 string 35" scale P/J. Neck and body should both be here in about a week or so also. I'll start a new build thread for that one since I will be doing the finish on the body and the neck on that one. I'm thinking Trans blue with white Pearloid PG or maybe Green - Black burst.

Cheers.

Syco_bass · #48 12-20-2012, 03:06 PM

So, it's been about a year since Ryan has had this bass. We have both been a bit disapointed in the fit of the neck (due to the thick heal build to fit flush with a pick guar) and the tone of the original pickup and electronics.

So, we decided to re-build it so to speak. We can build it stronger, faster, .......... um... never mind.

Here is a list of upgrades Ryan and I came up with.

1. Didn't like the tone of the pickup. Not bad tone, just not Ryan's cuppa tea. - upgrade to Nordy NP5
2. Didn't like audio pots. Ryan controls the volume a lot during playing and needed linear pots. - upgrade to linear pots.
3. Ryan wanted more adjustability in tone, so after researching, we opted to go with .01uF tone cap. So I installed a POI black bee tone cap.
4. Obviously I had a pretty big hole to cover up, so we decided to fashion a MM style pick guard to compliment the bass.
5. Intonation on the E and B strings wasn't exactly right on, but I had the saddles moved back as far as I could. After discusing the situation, Ryan was o.k. with moving them back a bit, even if overhanging the body a bit, wasn't a concern.

The outcome;

Tonally this bass is a monster. The Nordy NP5's along with the POI tone cap and 250K tone pots proved to be a good choice. This bass has that full classic P bass tone with just enough modern brilliance that will prove to cut through the mix well. It sounds amazing even through my rumble 25.

As far as intonation is concerned, we'll have to wait for a longer string to get it perfect on the E string, but for now, I flipped the saddle on the E string and it is right on. Once we get the longer string, we can move the saddle back again. This will be a simple proceedure as the holes are already pre drilled to do so.

Here is some bass porn for y'all.

Enjoy.

Hopkins · #49 12-20-2012, 05:01 PM

I mean absolutely no offense by this, so please don't take it as such. I offer this up as purely constructive criticism.

You should rebuild that body man, the half swimming pool/p rout covered up with a pick guard looks like a band aid, and the bridge hanging off the body is unacceptable.

It does look good with a pick guard, you just need to build another body with the neck sitting more forward in the pocket so it can intonate without the hanging off the back.

Syco_bass · #50 12-20-2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopkins

I mean absolutely no offense by this, so please don't take it as such. I offer this up as purely constructive criticism.

You should rebuild that body man, the half swimming pool/p rout covered up with a pick guard looks like a band aid, and the bridge hanging off the body is unacceptable.

It does look good with a pick guard, you just need to build another body with the neck sitting more forward in the pocket so it can intonate without the hanging off the back.

no offense taken, and although I do agree with the logic behind not wanting a swimming pool route in the body, it makes extremely minor differences tonally (if any at all) and aesthetically no one will ever tell unless they see this thread. As far as building another body is concerned, I don't think Ryan is hung up on a 1/4" of overhang. Again, tonally it won't make any difference IMHO.

If we were to start over, these issues could be addressed. But for now I think it plays and sounds absolutely killer.

thanks for the comments.

Hopkins · #51 12-20-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syco_bass

no offense taken, and although I do agree with the logic behind not wanting a swimming pool route in the body, it makes extremely minor differences tonally (if any at all) and aesthetically no one will ever tell unless they see this thread. As far as building another body is concerned, I don't think Ryan is hung up on a 1/4" of overhang. Again, tonally it won't make any difference IMHO.

If we were to start over, these issues could be addressed. But for now I think it plays and sounds absolutely killer.

thanks for the comments.

It won't make any difference tonally at all, but your logo is on the headstock. The swimming pool rout is fine, but, personally, I couldn't live with the half P rout sticking out of the top of it. I'm not a big fan of swimming pool routs in the first place, because the owner may want to remove the pick guard one day.

I don't sell many basses because if they don't meet a standard, I wouldn't want people to see them being played in public. A flaw like the bridge hanging off the body is easily noticed, and just isn't a good reflection on your brand, or quality standards.

rpsands · #52 12-20-2012, 05:45 PM

Definitely another issue with the Moses neck not being to spec. I really appreciate Rob going to bat to get the intonation spot on.

The overhang isn't really an issue for me--but Rob's going to even the bridge pieces out so they stagger naturally, and we'll be good.

Seriously, that Moses neck was supposed to be exactly to fit that body, and it was at least an eighth inch off in every dimension for the neck pocket. If you're ordering a neck from Moses, I highly advise you to rout your own neck cavity.

The next one of these we do will be a showpiece I'm sure. Broke a lot of new ground with this bass.

rpsands · #53 02-11-2013, 05:37 PM

Rob finished this and did a really nice job.

Junk420 · #54 02-11-2013, 07:12 PM

That thing is sick! If it were mine, I would have the pickup cover straight carbon. But I'm a sucker for anything carbon fibre!

Syco_bass · #55 02-11-2013, 07:39 PM

Hey Ryan. Glad you are happy. Definitely was worth re-doing the bridge pieces and the finish. What do you think about the reverse "p"? The Nordy NP5 has a nice full tone to it I think. Thanks for being patient. ✌

rpsands · #56 02-12-2013, 01:26 PM

The tone is killer. Reallly full of harmonics and beautiful. My wife normally doesn't care about bass tone, and said "I don't understand how that bass can have such a rich sound."

Syco_bass · #57 02-14-2013, 11:32 AM

Hey Ryan, yeah, I'm a big fan of Nordy's stuff. I like all of their stuff, especially the NP 5. I have one in my current bass. Glad you like it.

Stay tuned for my new proto type. I should be getting the programming done soon. I'll be able to have Novax's Fanned Fret system on all my basses soon as well. Just waiting for my CNC guy to catch up from the NAMM show. They got the thumbs up from Novax at the show. ; - )

Peace.