High school (first) jazz build

[irishpride28]

Hey everyone
My name is Brendan and for my junior year at school we are required to take a month off school and do a "junior project", which for some just means working as an intern at their parent's work.
For me, however, it's different. I want to make it worthwhile, and I thought that one of the coolest and most rewarding things I could do would be to make a jazz bass, from the 'ground up'.

Here's what I'm going for:
-Swamp Ash body (carved from a blank)
-Pre-purchased neck (I have neither the skills nor the tools to make my own)
-Fender MIM electronics and tuners (already purchased)
-Whatever 4-string bridge pops up at a good price that I like
-Finished in Re-Ranch trans blue with gloss clear coat
-Black pearloid pickguard
-D'Addario strings (already purchased)

I have already purchased the electronics, tuners, strings, and neck, which leaves me to buy the wood blank, bridge, finishes, and pickguard.

The woodshop teacher at my high school is going to be my advisor for the project, and I have permission to use any tools in the shop, so tools will likely be no problem. I have one month to do this and I am very confident that I can complete the bass in that time span, the only place where I don't know where to start is buying the Ash itself.

Where do you builders buy your Ash? I know Stewmac sells it in blanks that are 13 3/4" x 20" x 1 3/4" for about $100 a piece.
Will this be big enough for a bass body? I only ask this because those dimensions are also the dimensions given for the guitar body blanks.
I know the thread may be boring now, but if anyone can answer the couple of questions I have asked in my (too long) description of my project, it would be INCREDIBLY appreciated

Thank you so much talkbass!
Brendan

[vbasscustom]

find a jazz body, measure it, and and see if it will fit the dimensions. it sounds like it should fit.

[M.Wrenn]

Originally Posted by vbasscustom

find a jazz body, measure it, and and see if it will fit the dimensions. it sounds like it should fit.

+1

if not you can by swamp ash body blanks from warmoth

[irishpride28]

Alright Warmoth is 4 bucks cheaper, do you think there'll be any severe difference in quality? Have any of you ever ordered unfinished wood from warmoth?
Thanks

[Yvarg]

The quality will be good from both places, since they both are intended for use in instruments. I would let Warmoth know that you are building a jazz bass if you order from them, because they know how big a blank for a jazz bass needs to be. Good luck on your project!

[Armacielli]

I'm not sure how realistic a month timeline is for a build. I'm notsure how often you have to work on it, but a first build will take probably even longer with the whole learning process and all. I could be wrong

[Zombbg4]

Originally Posted by Armacielli

I'm not sure how realistic a month timeline is for a build. I'm notsure how often you have to work on it, but a first build will take probably even longer with the whole learning process and all. I could be wrong

He's only building the body, so a month seems realistic.

For the ash- See if there are any lumber yards in your area. It'll be much less expensive than from stewmac or warmoth most likely.

[XylemBassGuitar]

Originally Posted by Zombbg4

For the ash- See if there are any lumber yards in your area. It'll be much less expensive than from stewmac or warmoth most likely.

I would suggest the same. If you go to a lumber yard you'll also be able to pick through and select the exact piece of ash you want for your bass.

[irishpride28]

Yeah I was just advised to do the same by my dad (go to a wood supplier)
His best friend is a cabinetmaker, so he has tens of contacts for local and not-so-local hardwood/lumber yards, so I'm definitely going to go that route if at all possible.
And in terms of work, I plan to work from 4-6 hours a day, one because I don't have normal school during the project and two we have a minimum 'hours worked' requirement as well
Thank you very much for your suggestions, I'll keep this updated as soon as anything else happens!