First NOTO Bass thread

[octaedro7]

--EDITED-- Definitive design below (this time for real )

Finally the first NOTO bass is going to see the light .
After doing some modding and a proto build with some already made parts this is going to be my first "from scratch" build. Well actually it´ll be almost from scratch because due to the lack of suppliers the multilaminated neck blank will come glued and plained. All the rest is going to be done by me. My workshop is 95% (being generous) cheapo material. I don´t recall having any professional tool. Probably my best power tool is my makita trimmer but that´s it.
To the bone
I´ll build a single cut 6 stringer. These are the specs:
Scale 34", Set Neck, String spacing @bridge 0.728", width @nut 2.15", slim Neck profile, 20" radius. Dual action truss road (access @body) and carbon fiber reinforcements. Scarf joint. Oil finish.
In bold are the "scary things" . Actually are the thing that I ignore the most but I´ll explain afterwards what are the drivers for those decisions


Body: flamed Sapeli
Top: Zebrano
Fretboard: Pao Ferro
Neck: Wengue-Padouk multilaminated
Nut: Bone
Black Hardware:
Bridge: Hipshot Style A Brass (on its way)
Tuners: Hipshot Ultralites
Knobs: Aluminium
Electronics:
Pups: Delano Quadcoil soapbars + 2x 3-way switches to select dual coils (rear or front) or both. (on its way)
Preamp: Audere 3ZB 3 band + Z-mode, @9V (here with daddy)

I´m anticipating that I´m going to need loads of your , so please be patient with me .
I´ll try to keep this thread clean by posting my questions on independent threads, but feel free to jump in.

Noto Real Gama


Cheers

[roberthabraken]

Very nice to see you've started building and even better you've got a thread here on TB . That's some very nice woods Gonzalo! And a tasty combination too .

I'm excited to follow this build!!

[octaedro7]

Thanks Rob!
I´m indeed more inclined to the second.
Regarding what you call bout and I call butt, yeah it´s going to be a bit more subtle, same as the horn. I´m learning how to use the CAD software so some stuff is still not fine tuned. Anyway the 2D drawing exaggerates the visual effects of some shapes. I´m sure that the real thing will have a more concise look.

About the headstock I´m pretty sure that there won´t be problems with the tuners, moreover being it Wengue and Padouk.

This is the first work bench, it still need 1 central beam to give rigidity to the legs and the hole for the router-drum sander jig:

[roberthabraken]

Looks sturdy, and a better height than my bench. Looks like you've got some nice place for building too, my workshop isn't that big .

About the tuners: I wasn't worried about the strength, but about seeing the machine heads at the front, sticking out from the back. But I think if you see it at a higher resolution, it might be okay.

[octaedro7]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

Looks sturdy, and a better height than my bench. Looks like you've got some nice place for building too, my workshop isn't that big .

About the tuners: I wasn't worried about the strength, but about seeing the machine heads at the front, sticking out from the back. But I think if you see it at a higher resolution, it might be okay.

Yeah the space is great although no heating, I guess this is going to be a "cool" build anyway ...

For some reason I ignore, when I upload the screenshots of my designs, photobucket reduces the image size and resolution making them blurr. I´ve uploaded and posted pictures multiple times before and I´m clue less as to why it´s happening. The pictures are ok in my PC, and I´ve re-uploaded them many times now yielding the same crappy results. Don´t know, I´m starting to think that the black background has something to do with this...

[lvca]

very nice design but, the fingerboard end at the body won't dificult the popping techniques?




PD: sending PM about hipshot hardware in europe

[octaedro7]

Thanks Ivca. No, actually what you see is the top view. 4 mm after the 24th fret there´s a steep concave slope that ends flush with the body surface, so both "horns" that you see now are only a flat projection. The fretboard ends around half a way the slope. Do you get what I mean?
Many thanks for the tip, indeed good prices

[octaedro7]

---Design Defined---
I´ve finally defined the design and the name for my first single cut.
Now back to my workshop...

[roberthabraken]

Originally Posted by octaedro7

---Design Defined---
I´ve finally defined the design and the name for my first single cut.
Now back to my workshop...

Which is...?

[octaedro7]

Sorry is in the first post, where the crappy "render" is . This happens when you post at 2:00 am.

BTW: The design is somewhat definitive look wise. That said, I tend to take a sculptural approach when I´m working with the wood. I mean, I leave room for improvisation.

[roberthabraken]

ah, I didn't notice you changed the first post of this thread... I think you'd better add those in a new reply, because of two reasons: easier to follow and, more important, the thread really shows the process and progress of your build, if new readers join in.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by lvca

very nice design but, the fingerboard end at the body won't dificult the popping techniques?




PD: sending PM about hipshot hardware in europe

I wouldnt mind that link either...

Really like the design!

[octaedro7]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

I wouldnt mind that link either...

Really like the design!

Thanks. PM'ed

[octaedro7]

Ok, I said that the design was defined but after seeing the wood simulation, the shape didn´t look balanced to me so I did a couple of changes.
Here is the latest version:

--You´re not crazy, it used to be a picture here---

Ahh you´ll notice in this render: I´m also not convinced about how the Pao Ferro fretboard matches the rest (I chose it because it´s a great wood for fretboards). I´ve asked my supplier to change it for a madagascar rosewood one. I´m hoping that he accepts...

[funk generator]

I actually like the first lower horn, but then again my old BC rich warlock turned me off from the pointy crazy looking horns. Not really my style

Edit: I wonder how the lower horn in the first one would look if it were shorter

[octaedro7]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

To be honest, I liked the previous one better, regarding the upper bout. The lower horn looks cool in your latest design and the wood combination is better indeed.

Actually I just decreased a bit the upper bout, the big difference (besides the lower horn) is that I´ve thicken the waist on both sides. It´s incredible how things change when going from the black background of the Cad software, to this photoshop "renders", so I expect another huge change in my perception of the design once working with actual wood.

[octaedro7]

Originally Posted by funk generator

I actually like the first lower horn, but then again my old BC rich warlock turned me off from the pointy crazy looking horns. Not really my style

Edit: I wonder how the lower horn in the first one would look if it were shorter

Yeah, that horn would have been probably trimmed quite a bit while shaping the real body.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by octaedro7

Thanks. PM'ed

Excellent, thank you! Really good prices on bridges compared to here.

[pilotjones]

Originally Posted by octaedro7

It´s incredible how things change when going from the black background of the Cad software, to this photoshop "renders", so I expect another huge change in my perception of the design once working with actual wood.

Very true. Print it out, glue to some cardboard and cut it out, and your perception will likely change again. Before you commit to actual wood.

[roberthabraken]

Originally Posted by pilotjones

Very true. Print it out, glue to some cardboard and cut it out, and your perception will likely change again. Before you commit to actual wood.

Yes, absolutely true. Holding the templates for me is a first real test if the design works out.