Frankenbass redux (or "my first build!") *update: assembled!*

klocwerk · #1 11-15-2006, 07:11 PM

So.
Long time between updates. My old thread is here if you want to read the history. I'll give a precis here.

Bought a Brazilian-luthier made body (fairly sure it's mahogany) from a fellow TBer with his assurance that it had a fender standard neckpocket, thinking to swap on my fretless neck. Yes, standard pocket, but body was too short for the scale.

Found a good quality 24 fret neck, removed it from the bass it was on, debating how to deal with pointy 80's style headstock. starting to think it's not that bad.

sanded down body, stained it last night, first coat of Tung oil tonight.

photos!

update! (12/10/06)
- put on about 10 coats of tung
- waxed and polished
- rerouted p'up routes
- veneered headstock with matching mahogany
- leveled and recrowned frets
- drilled wire channels
- installed Dimarz Model-J's
- installed bridge
- reinstalled crappy tuners (these've gotta go)
- threw on crappy strings I had laying around
- wired directly to an output jack
- played it! (goldang that felt good!)
- disassembled
- shimmed the neck slightly
- reassembled
- played for a good long while.

So far so good.

specs will be:
24 fret maple neck, rosewood board.
1-piece Mahogany body
Dimarzio Model J's

contakt321 · #2 11-16-2006, 08:40 AM

Wait...so, what did you end up doing w/ the headstock? Can we see pics of that? The body looks great oiled, guess it was mahogany after all.

klocwerk · #3 11-16-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by contakt321

Wait...so, what did you end up doing w/ the headstock? Can we see pics of that? The body looks great oiled, guess it was mahogany after all.

All I've done with it so far is sanded the black paint off. I'm still debating what to do...
The existing shape is similar to this one:

It's not bad once you strip the ugly off.
I picked up some Mahogany veneer to match the body with, I'm thinking I'll keep the shape and just do a veneered headstock. If I decide that I want to change it later it wouldn't be a big deal to do so.

Giel · #4 11-17-2006, 11:45 AM

Cool!
I like that body shape.. And I don't think it will look bad with that headstock shape too..
And defenitely go with the headstock veneer, it will look killer!

klocwerk · #5 11-17-2006, 12:06 PM

Thanks!
I didn't make the body shape, but I like it too. Kinda unusual without being a BCR or a 'wick Vampyre or something.

The headstock actually fits the curve of the upper horn, I got the fiancee's aesthetic approval on it last night so all should be well.

I'll fit 'n glue the veneer for the headstock this weekend, and keep layering tung oil. 2 coats on as of last night, and the grain is starting to shine.
I'm realizing that I need to finalize a control layout, which means I need to decide which bits in my pile 'o parts I want to use! I think I'll just go Vol/Blend/tone for now, possibly a push-pull vol for series/parallel if I get ambitious. Three knobs and a jack should do it though, can always go stacked later if I throw in a pre.

klocwerk · #6 11-19-2006, 12:34 AM

glued up headstock veneer, finished it to match.
Looks pretty good!
pictures tomorrow, need sleep.

klocwerk · #7 11-28-2006, 09:32 PM

so I have 5 coats of tung oil on the body, and it was taking awhile to dry. Went away for a week for thanksgiving, and came back, and it's still a bit tacky. Getting nervous I came and read some Luthier's Corner.
I found a thread on Tung Oil finishes, and as I read that pure Tung Oil takes months to cure, unlike the more common Polymerized, I started to get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I run downstairs, and sure enough, 100% pure tung oil. On the back in small letters, "add japan drier for quicker curing times."
DOH!

Guess I start my next project sooner than I thought while that cures...

Greenman · #8 11-28-2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klocwerk

so I have 5 coats of tung oil on the body, and it was taking awhile to dry. Went away for a week for thanksgiving, and came back, and it's still a bit tacky. Getting nervous I came and read some Luthier's Corner.
I found a thread on Tung Oil finishes, and as I read that pure Tung Oil takes months to cure, unlike the more common Polymerized, I started to get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I run downstairs, and sure enough, 100% pure tung oil. On the back in small letters, "add japan drier for quicker curing times."
DOH!

Guess I start my next project sooner than I thought while that cures...

I wouldn't panic. Just get a lint free cloth damp with naptha gas (not wet) and clean off the tacky stuff. Let it dry 4-5 days and carry on. Hopefully.

klocwerk · #9 11-28-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

I wouldn't panic. Just get a lint free cloth damp with naptha gas (not wet) and clean off the tacky stuff. Let it dry 4-5 days and carry on. Hopefully.

I'll give it a shot, sure can't hurt.

Greenman · #10 11-28-2006, 09:45 PM

After that hand rub it or use a piece of burlap. The heat you generate by doing this helps dry the exterior. Do not apply any more oil until its completely dry and after that just a little bit(drops) at a time.
Good luck

eleonn · #11 11-28-2006, 09:49 PM

...and if that didn't work out I guess you could always do what any luthier to best ...

...SANDING ...SANDING ...SANDING

klocwerk · #12 11-28-2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleonn

...and if that didn't work out I guess you could always do what any luthier to best ...
...SANDING ...SANDING ...SANDING

There is, of course, always that.

I didn't sand enough before my first coat actually, there's a few rough spots. I'm not gonna sweat it though.

So I Napthaed it, seems like it might be all it needed after all! In fact, once the Naptha dried off it was so dry that I put on another coat of tung mixed 50/50 with mineral spirits. I think I'll keep using that mix and do more coats, rather than straight tung. That's what was taking forever to dry.

I still owe you readers photos, the headstock is looking nice. need to drill out the tuner holes from the veneer, then I'll snap some shots.

klocwerk · #13 12-10-2006, 10:27 PM

update!
- put on about 10 coats of tung
- waxed and polished
- rerouted p'up routes
- veneered headstock with matching mahogany
- leveled and recrowned frets
- drilled wire channels
- installed Dimarz Model-J's
- installed bridge
- reinstalled crappy tuners (these've gotta go)
- threw on crappy strings I had laying around
- wired directly to an output jack
- played it! (goldang that felt good!)
- disassembled
- shimmed the neck slightly
- reassembled
- played for a good long while.

Finally mostly done!
- I need to pick up some pots with long shafts, as the ones I've got laying around won't go through that much wood.
- Need to make a control cavity cover and install it.
- Shielding (got stew-mac paint. yay.)

This thing sounds great though! The model J's have very little noise, even unshielded. Great classic jazz tone.
Need to get some better pics, these were just quick snapshots.

vintager · #14 12-11-2006, 01:16 AM

not bad ! when i look at the placement of the pickups, it should sound a bit deeper and warmer than a classic jazz. nice bass. looks pretty light, is it true ?

cheers,

mike

Bassic83 · #15 12-11-2006, 05:10 AM

I like the "no controls" look- try going straight to jack on the side first- yes, the downside is no controls, but the upside is reduced loading of the pickups. Try it first, you can always load a pot or three after!

klocwerk · #16 12-11-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintager

not bad ! when i look at the placement of the pickups, it should sound a bit deeper and warmer than a classic jazz. nice bass. looks pretty light, is it true?

It is fairly light, yes.
Compared to my fender/mightymite it's a featherweight.

As for the tone, I don't know yet. I wired both p'ups in parallel to the output just to test, it sounded quite good. I doubt I'll be able to get the Jaco soloed bridge p'up sound out of this one though, for whatever that's worth.

klocwerk · #17 12-11-2006, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassic83

I like the "no controls" look- try going straight to jack on the side first- yes, the downside is no controls, but the upside is reduced loading of the pickups. Try it first, you can always load a pot or three after!

I like the look as well, but I need bare minimum a blend pot. I think I may just go vol/blend though, keep it minimal.

Bassic83 · #18 12-11-2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klocwerk

I like the look as well, but I need bare minimum a blend pot. I think I may just go vol/blend though, keep it minimal.

Perhaps a 3-way toggle? Mini in size? Front, both, rear? THAT would be simplicity. You don't necessarily NEED a volume...

klocwerk · #19 12-11-2006, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassic83

Perhaps a 3-way toggle? Mini in size? Front, both, rear? THAT would be simplicity. You don't necessarily NEED a volume...

NEED is such a relative term...
I'm a lazy man, I NEED a volume knob within easy reach.

wilser · #20 12-11-2006, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klocwerk

NEED is such a relative term...
I'm a lazy man, I NEED a volume knob within easy reach.

I've spent the last 5 nights doing the christmas show in my church. Orchestral type stuff mostly and some R&B stuff. Some of the transitions were very fast, I had literally 2 seconds to change the music 3 - 4 pages of one song, 3-4 to the next song. If I didn't have a volume knob to turn the bass 'off' while changing the music, it would have been very noisy with my tux rubbing the strings and my elbow hitting the neck. At least a volume knob or a 'standby' switch is a MUST.