The League of Extraordinary Luthiers - Thanks TB!

[Alexander Eddy]

Originally Posted by Beauchene Implements

Reticle: I made those! PM me your email address, I'll send you some stuff on how to do it. You'll realize real quick that they are necessary.

Alex: Glad you like! I remember XXXX fondly, from the last time I visited Oz (5 years ago or so) Lovely beer, I could almost go drink-for-drink with locals and not fall over. I also remember that the bars are packed on Tuesday morning. My kind of continent.

mikebpeters: Thanks! The CAD/CAM part is the long pole in the tent, I feel lucky for already having my head around the CAD part before I started in CNC. I may post some Rhino tutorials I've made, about 3D modeling things like necks and such. Seems the interest in CNC is picking up around here, I like it!

Alex again: Here is a possible layout of fretboard dots. 1/4" (6.5mm) mother of pearl dots, 4mm Paua abalone inbetween dots. Let me know what you think, if you like I will drill out tonight.

I think we should run with it, Adam.

I agree that the dots are a little big, but that may actually help with playability. All my fretlesses are 34" scale and I have pretty good muscle memory and seldom need to look at the board when playing (until the guitarist gives me the "you are playing out of tune" death stare!). My muscle memory will be of no use on this 38" scale, so while smaller dots may be better overall visually, having a larger visual cue will be a plus

Back to you folks!

[Marial]

That is insane. Very cool!

[Beauchene Implements]

Originally Posted by Alexander Eddy

I think we should run with it, Adam.

I agree that the dots are a little big, but that may actually help with playability. All my fretlesses are 34" scale and I have pretty good muscle memory and seldom need to look at the board when playing (until the guitarist gives me the "you are playing out of tune" death stare!). My muscle memory will be of no use on this 38" scale, so while smaller dots may be better overall visually, having a larger visual cue will be a plus

Back to you folks!

Alrighty then. I have some 2mm abalone dots, but they are almost black, they'd be useless. I use those for side dots. I think this mother of pearl and abalone layout looks like a time lapse of moons, orbiting a big angry red planet. Hopefully that's what it sounds like, too.

[CosmoReverb]

I just love this build for so many reasons! Starting with the great community spirit/support that started it, through the intriguing design, all the way to the showcase of a spectrum of craftsmanship!

As a very tentative suggestion I was wondering if you gave any thought to maybe making the larger dots more of a very slightly oblong/subtly horizontal oval shape. Seems like folks are finding the current design a little "chaotic" and a slight shape variance might help break up the continuity. Just a thought.

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by Beauchene Implements

Alrighty then. I have some 2mm abalone dots, but they are almost black, they'd be useless. I use those for side dots. I think this mother of pearl and abalone layout looks like a time lapse of moons, orbiting a big angry red planet. Hopefully that's what it sounds like, too.

Go get em Adam, works for me....LMAO. Alex likes it, and that is what counts....LMFaO. Get on that horsey there Paul Revere

[Beauchene Implements]

Dots dotted, and filled a small void with black epoxy. I'll sand everything out tomorrow.

[JamesGoodall]

I spent all of last night reading through the thread of Alexander's from which this build was born, and now that I know the backstory I have 10x more respect for every luthier involved and a much greater appreciation for this build.
Please though, finish faster! I wanna see what this beauty looks like finished!

[SallyGrowler]

Originally Posted by Beauchene Implements

Dots dotted, and filled a small void with black epoxy. I'll sand everything out tomorrow.

At first I thought this was not gonna work. Now I see the inlay and I get it. Strung up and assembled, this thing will be a showpiece!

[MrArose13]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

Impressive work so far guys, MrArose, wow, you sir are way more patient than I am, great work

Thanks Phil It is truly a labor of love to build basses so the patients comes and goes with the enthusiasm. Although I've been told I'm a pretty patient person, ehh... maybe.

Adam, great work! I think this will balance out nicely once it's all assembled.

I cant wait to see this bass finished

[MPU]

I'm having good time watching you guys doing your thing. You have so nice equipment and skills. It's so nice to see your talents at work.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by MPU

I'm having good time watching you guys doing your thing. You have so nice equipment and skills. It's so nice to see your talents at work.

+1. You're doing things so many years ahead of the stuff in my shop. It's inspiring.

[Beauchene Implements]

Originally Posted by MrArose13

Adam, great work! I think this will balance out nicely once it's all assembled.

I cant wait to see this bass finished

The work you did on this bass is stunning. I'm honored to make a small contribution to the whole. Can't wait to see it finished, either!

[miziomix]

This is so cool

[Beauchene Implements]

Ok, all done, I'm on my way out the door to ship back to JC.



Quality assurance team approves.


I like the Paua dots with the mother of pearl. Both of these really get pretty as soon as you wipe on a coat of oil, but I didn't do that yet--didn't want to make the Cocobolo any harder to glue up than it already is on its own.


Sorry for the delay, we're packing up our house to move in two weeks, so I've been scrambling to get a bunch of other projects done and tie up loose ends at work. This was the last CNC project I'll get to do for a couple months.

Back to spectator mode, can't wait to see what's next!

[Musiclogic]

Looks great Adam

[Nomad98]

That fingerboard looks great! In earlier picts I was thinking it may be too much but the finished product is super!

This has been a great thread to watch unfold. It's got it all from the scandalous beginnings to the triumph over evil, then throw in a bunch of great building techniques! Can't really ask for anything better at Luthiers Corner!

[MPU]

That fretboard is really LONG. Nice to see what goes on next.

[pilotjones]

That looks great. Is the pickup going to be recessed into the fingerboard, or is it going to be behind it, in the body? Or, is this going to be piezo only?

[Musiclogic]

The pickups will be loaded from the rear. The poles are screws so they can be adjusted up to 1/8" from the surface of the FB. I am going to try to add a piezo also, we had a piezo and buffer, but the builder doing those pieces was unable to complete the task due to personal difficulty. I have a piezo, and I possibly have an extra Cafe Walter Buffer also.

[pilotjones]

Extended polepieces -- I hadn't thought of that. Cool idea. I suppose you could rout a nice oversized pocket into the back of the fingerboard so that you don't have to hit individual pockets dead on. Cool, thanks.