Gene Simmons LoBue Tribute Build

[bassgod76]

I thought a lot about this, but I already have this neck. I don't want to go buy any more parts. Of this turns out well, I may try something set neck, down the road.

[bassgod76]

I could glue the neck to the body. Never really thought of it

[THand]

how about a pic of the neck and body image to get a full view? Looks like you've got it by the pic you put up... Gluing that neck...hmm...it's getting interesting

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by THand

how about a pic of the neck and body image to get a full view? Looks like you've got it by the pic you put up... Gluing that neck...hmm...it's getting interesting

Getting interesting? Now I know you're totally making fun of me!

[AltGrendel]

Cool project, good luck.

[bassgod76]

Thanks!

[bassgod76]

Well, I purchased some foam board and made a template. I'm kind of glad I did.
First, I cut it out and it looks okay compared to my Punisher body.


Next to the Punisher.


Looking at it further, something looks off. Almost like the body is not wide enough.
Take a look and see for yourself.

[NOT]

Man, I can't wait to see this bass! When finished, do you plan on recording audio clips?

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by NOT

Man, I can't wait to see this bass! When finished, do you plan on recording audio clips?

Not really, but I plan to leave my Punisher at home

[Beej]

Well you could certainly make another one a little larger and see what you think.

Regarding the set neck, you can glue that neck in place, it's still a tenon for the neck pocket mortise. Gluing it just allows the use of a thinner back, perhaps tapering it towards the neck to allow better access.

I also think the template should have the neck mortise/pocket out nearly as far as the danelectro neck will allow. With the neck the way it is on the body, I think you'll want as much support as possible...

[bassguitarthund]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

First, if you dislike Gene Simmons, please save the trolling for another thread.

It has been a few years since doing a bass build/mod. I'm back!

For the longest time, I have associated the LoBue as an iconic KISS guitar. It's symmetrical body shape, no frills style, and unreal neck access screams rock and roll to me.



With that being said, I felt it was time to build my own spin on such a cool instrument.

First, I wanted to work with a mahogany body. The original was made from mohagany, so I wanted to do the same.

The neck on the original bass was short scale and 24 frets. To achieve this without having to make my own, I picked up a Danelectro neck.



To get the LoBue look, I will dowel the tuner holes, trim the sides of be headstock, and add wood to carve out the new headstock.

I know the original bass was set neck, but I wanted to make the build as simple as possible. Besides, I like the extra adjust point with a bolt on.

The tuners I'm using are the same ones he currently uses, so I figure these would be appropriate.



The original LeBou had a DiMarzio mudbucker. Since Gene now uses EMG, I decided to update the LoBue's pickup configuration.

I'm not a fan of a Jazz bridge pickup, I decided to add a EMG 35DC to the bridge. Besides, Gene seems to have bold tastes. He might as well have a bold set of pickups!



I thought this bass would be significantly smaller than my 34" basses, but the body and the neck position make it just as long as my Jaco tribute bass.



Measuring the scale. The point at where the nut begins is where I measured. The scale almost seems a shade smaller than 30" scale.



To aid my journey, a very nice TB'er auto cadded a picture for me to base my build on.

This is my problem..
I positioned my pickups and bridge according to the 30" scale. Does it look there is too much space between the bridge and the end of the bass?





Or is this an optical illusion?

Maybe I should shorten the drawing I have?

Not sure if it was you or THand that was talking about building this bass on the Gene Simmons Old School bass thread? Just subscribed and looks great so far!!!

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Beej

Well you could certainly make another one a little larger and see what you think.

Regarding the set neck, you can glue that neck in place, it's still a tenon for the neck pocket mortise. Gluing it just allows the use of a thinner back, perhaps tapering it towards the neck to allow better access.

I also think the template should have the neck mortise/pocket out nearly as far as the danelectro neck will allow. With the neck the way it is on the body, I think you'll want as much support as possible...

It's almost as if the template needs to be more squatty?

The "pocket" is not really a pocket with the neck sitting off the body like that. More like I would be gluing it to a outcropping.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by bassguitarthund

Not sure if it was you or THand that was talking about building this bass on the Gene Simmons Old School bass thread? Just subscribed and looks great so far!!!

TH is the brains behind the operation. I'm just the doofus trying to build this.

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

TH is the brains behind the operation. I'm just the doofus trying to build this.

Hahaha! Well, well done, I say! And in that latest template pic, the body does look small, but that's only one pic.

[THand]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

TH is the brains behind the operation. I'm just the doofus trying to build this.

LOL, I don't hear that often! Looking at the template, I think it looks a little small too.

[Beej]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

It's almost as if the template needs to be more squatty?

The "pocket" is not really a pocket with the neck sitting off the body like that. More like I would be gluing it to a outcropping.

That's kind of what I meant, if you look at the LoBue, see how there is a pocket, even though the sides are probably only 1/4" thick and the bottom is about 1/2" or so? On yours, you could do the same, and even make it a bolt on that way. At least there would be some side to the pocket...

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Beej

That's kind of what I meant, if you look at the LoBue, see how there is a pocket, even though the sides are probably only 1/4" thick and the bottom is about 1/2" or so? On yours, you could do the same, and even make it a bolt on that way. At least there would be some side to the pocket...

I see what you're saying. Funny how much more you can see when a guitar is not black

[THand]

I would be really concerned about the depth of that pocket if you are going to glue it. It would probably be worth your time to take measurements of your bridge and of your neck and sketch out an elevation view drawing with strings to be sure you will be able to get the string height you want...once you glue it in, you won't be able to go back and add a shim or anything like that...so again, I think since you have your parts together it would be a worthwhile use of your time, and could prevent some major heartache later.
Don't be afraid to deviate from the original, to make this a great player.

Edit: even better...make a jig and bolt your neck and bridge to it and string it up..you can add shims or whatever on it, and once you get the action and play-ability like you want, take the measurements of what you found. Then you will know you are doing it right.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by THand

I would be really concerned about the depth of that pocket if you are going to glue it. It would probably be worth your time to take measurements of your bridge and of your neck and sketch out an elevation view drawing with strings to be sure you will be able to get the string height you want...once you glue it in, you won't be able to go back and add a shim or anything like that...so again, I think since you have your parts together it would be a worthwhile use of your time, and could prevent some major heartache later.
Don't be afraid to deviate from the original, to make this a great player.

Yeah, I've thought About the perils of the neck pocket depth.

[THand]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

Yeah, I've thought About the perils of the neck pocket depth.

I did an edit ^^ lol