Custom Performer/Supersonic bass

[JIO]

Originally Posted by Hopkins

Man dude, that looks great. I would still like to see it in black, but that white looks amazing.

Thanks, I really appreciate that! When I can afford to order a blk/wht/blk blank I'll cut one for it because I also dig the black & gold mix. Now that I've got a working template, it will be much easier.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by Beej

Hey JIO, not to derail the thread, but can you tell a little more about this bass? What's the story? I like it...

No worries Beej - would love to share it's story. This bass started out w/the neck, which is an Allparts Fender authorized '51P/Tele neck that I defretted, filled the fret-gaps w/black binding material, vintage-tinted and Stew-Mac rattle-can lacquer coated. It was originally on a J-body. A friend had a box of parts including a few raw guitar bodies (from the early 90's) He sold me a maple Tele body cheap and I proceeded to modify it to create a Tele-bass similar to the prototype signature bass that Tim Bogert of the Vanilla Fudge is seen playing on the Ed Sullivan Show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFabNBveHOk (great performance!) That bass (for whatever reason) wasn't produced, but the humbucker Tele bass of the 70's was. (the gen 1 '66-'68 Tele was essentially the first Fender reissue of the '51P) TB's sig bass had the big chrome bucker and a single (sounds cool to me!)- and in '68!

Anyway, I wandered away from a full-on replica (could still be done and it would be cool!) and ended up chopping off the lower horn. It's a string-thru and passive w/a Tonestyler tone pot. It's pretty growly or fat depending on the settings. Of note is the lollypop tuners which were off of a '66 Fender Mustang bass and I had to shave the headstock to allow them to turn properly. The guard is custom designed/cut, and the body heavily ergo-sculpted.





As much as I would keep every bass I've ever owned, I would consider offers on it.

[JIO]

...the other shot was prior to actual assembly, which this pic shows. The EMG system is so easy and just takes following the clear and detailed instructions/schematics. (no soldering!) It's set up V/V/T - classic J-style. I plugged it in and tapped the pu's and everything so far is go! The neck will be here next week and final assembly & set-up will follow.

[roberthabraken]

Wow! Superb . Good choice on the pickguard!!

[JIO]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

Wow! Superb . Good choice on the pickguard!!

Thanks - I read over this 4+ month long thread, and as much as I had a feeling about what it would look like, I'm really pleased at it's realization so far. Looking forward to playing it!

I re-read this entry and it sounds like it fell short from 'feeling' to reality - which couldn't be further from the truth. I should have said it like this > From my first conceptualizations about creating this bass to now, I feel it has superseded expectations for a super-cool bass so far. (as I have yet to complete it, so will fully know soon)

[roberthabraken]

I know the feeling, the suspend of my own build pace is killing me too. After over one and a half year I soooo want to know how it'll sound. Already actually dreamt about playing it twice .

[JIO]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

I know the feeling, the suspend of my own build pace is killing me too. After over one and a half year I soooo want to know how it'll sound. Already actually dreamt about playing it twice .

sweet dreams!

[JIO]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

I know the feeling, the suspend of my own build pace is killing me too. After over one and a half year I soooo want to know how it'll sound. Already actually dreamt about playing it twice .

How is that red 5'r coming by the way - I checked your build site and it got to the point where you were struggling w/the stain/finishing stage. I empathize as staining is much harder than one might think. (not for the timid!) We see all the high-end boutique builders and their beautiful stained exotic wood and think, oh, that looks doable! I've done both staining and my share of rattle-can and compressor/sprayer paint-jobs and now leave my high-end finishing to the pro's like Pat (Wilkins). When it comes back looking like a million bucks I have the background/experience to know what it takes to achieve that level of craft. Anyway, hope you'll resolve your finishing set-backs soon. It's going to look great!

[roberthabraken]

My blog actually ends with a satisfying staining result, but you are right, it doesn't come easy... Far more difficult than I thought, but since I'm still learning I consider this part of the deal. Currently I'm waiting for the third clear coat to dry, tonight the fourth, tomorrow the fifth, maybe a sixth later this week. Than wait a few weeks before wet sand and polish. Only then we will know how I did..

Next time, I will use oil or so until I mastered staining and the clear coat thingy on less important subjects.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

My blog actually ends with a satisfying staining result, but you are right, it doesn't come easy... Far more difficult than I thought, but since I'm still learning I consider this part of the deal. Currently I'm waiting for the third clear coat to dry, tonight the fourth, tomorrow the fifth, maybe a sixth later this week. Than wait a few weeks before wet sand and polish. Only then we will know how I did..

Next time, I will use oil or so until I mastered staining and the clear coat thingy on less important subjects.

I'm curious about the final polishing stage. Do you use a large buffer-wheel for that show-room glassy look? I'll keep up w/your tb build thread to see it through.

[roberthabraken]

No idea, would be the first time

Guess just hand polishing with a cotton cloth.. Glossy yes, showroom quality, not likely :-)

[JIO]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

No idea, would be the first time

Guess just hand polishing with a cotton cloth.. Glossy yes, showroom quality, not likely :-)

I've done hand-polishing myself w/good results - your finish looks good so far! I've used toothpaste for polishing, (in place of polishing compound) 1st w/8000 emery paper and then w/a soft wet cotton cloth.

My Supersonic neck w/be re-entering the atmosphere tomorrow so I'll be playing it by the weekend!

[MEKer]

Good choices all around! Quickly coming to the "OMG" point! Question based off my question back around page 4 as to the neck. You replied:
"Actually I had it made to a mix of the Parker Hornet 24 fret neck (from the butt up) w/a early 60's Jazz profile (from the nut down) So something of the best of both worlds (for me anyway). With flats it will definitely be a glide-monster! The super thin Performer neck is cool, but I wanted something less particular, especially when going from bass to bass. A 4 to 5'r transition is usually challenging enough! I should have it back next week from Pat to assemble.
So what sort of string spacing does that come to down around the 5th and 12th fret?

[roberthabraken]

Wow!

And uhr.. Toothpaste??

[josiah goldfish]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

Wow!

And uhr.. Toothpaste??

Toothpaste is a micro-abrasive. I use it on violin and double bass necks

[roberthabraken]

Originally Posted by josiah goldfish

Toothpaste is a micro-abrasive. I use it on violin and double bass necks

Never heard of it, funny. I think I'll stick to commercially available polishing products.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Good choices all around! Quickly coming to the "OMG" point! Question based off my question back around page 4 as to the neck. You replied:
"Actually I had it made to a mix of the Parker Hornet 24 fret neck (from the butt up) w/a early 60's Jazz profile (from the nut down) So something of the best of both worlds (for me anyway). With flats it will definitely be a glide-monster! The super thin Performer neck is cool, but I wanted something less particular, especially when going from bass to bass. A 4 to 5'r transition is usually challenging enough! I should have it back next week from Pat to assemble.
So what sort of string spacing does that come to down around the 5th and 12th fret?

I just today did the final tweaking and assembled the SS - I will post pics soon and will write a full glowing review also. To answer your question, at the 5th we have neck width at 1 3/4" with 1/2" string spacing. At the 12th fret we have 2 1/16" neck width, with 5/8" string spacing. Awesome feeling this one - I can't put it down!

[Splods]

Yet you still haven't posted completed pictures. Tsk tsk.

[JIO]

Got busy w/work and didn't want to rush finishing it at this critical stage. Lots of little but important fine-detailing work. Here's some final-stages shots to wet your whistle for completed pics later.

Credit where credit due - neck by SF luthier Dan Ransom


...and my own mark and date


After honing the pocket for a snug neck fit, I installed the neck and strap-peg. You can see in this pic the satin finished neck - velvet-city!


I installed my composite nut...


Check out the Supersonic w/ports! Talk about space-craft!


I polished the string-thru ferrules before installing them. I tried to show the smooth next to the rough, and what it took to get there. (emery cloth, steel wool, and polishing paste) I like this mid-size ferrule for scale.


and here's the installed ferrules


...and the completed beautiful back-side (excuse my reflection!)


That's all the pics I was able to take while daylight was around... more later.

I set it up w/GHS flats and it plays and sounds great! I am however experiencing a bit of technical difficulties and would appreciate insight. The EMG system had very clear/detailed instructions and I followed them closely, but here's what's going on; the 2 volume pots are the source of concern. First off, they are not grounded - they hum/buzz when touched. The tone knob does not have this issue, and no hum, buzz or noise otherwise from the instrument. Also, the volume knobs do not go to "off". A full twist in both directions goes through tonal differences but leads to the same place volume-wise (in both neck/bridge volume) as in, I can achieve the required tone difference/pu blend, but no silent from either. In some ways, both of these issues are minor, as the knobs do deliver both volume and tone, abet in a odd way, and I'm only touching them for a short time. Regardless of that, if you can help get it straightened out here, I'd much appreciate it.

Otherwise - this is an awesome - awesome instrument! It's stunning to look at and plays like butter! It feels relatively light and is balanced well. Tonally it is just what I wanted - warm but focused w/the 3 in 1 layers of tone I love; the low round bottom definition, the mid-range character, and the articulate finger/pic attack tone. The neck feel/profile fits my hand like a glove, especially w/Pats satin finish. He separated the glossy headstock from the neck in a very cool delineated way - I'll try and get a pic of it in daylight as a flash won't capture it. Speaking of which, the best pics I could take won't describe how truly cool his bass is. I made this for myself, but after seeing/feeling/hearing it I am going to look into producing a limited production of the Supersonic if it's at all possible. Let me know if you would like this idea and if you think it would be something that would sell.

[Splods]

Beautiful.

Is it just me, or does it look like the ebony on the string nut has fractured?