MODFEST 2011...is this going to turn into an 8 string?

DeltaPhoenix · #1 07-16-2011, 08:11 AM

So, I got an okay Squier Jazz Bass (20th anniversary) for next to nothing. It was spray painted black and the pickgaurd was bowing (maybe wrong one?). The bass played well enough though. I knew it was time for my first real Modding project since I was a kid. My initial ideas are simple; clean the bass up, put some new pickups in it and do a veneer top and veneer the headstock, and also make a wooden pickgaurd(with veneer on top). I immediately took the bass apart and started to sand it because the black spray paint was so horrible, I thought that whomever painted it had tried to reshape it but to my relief it was just paint clumps. I wish I would have taken a pic of the bass totally together...but I didn't,oops. I have to go quickly...I promise to post pics as soon as I get home.

Beej · #2 07-16-2011, 11:58 AM

Modding is fun, but practicality-wise, there ain't much room on a Jazz nut to accommodate four more strings. Is this a fiver to begin with?

ctmullins · #3 07-16-2011, 06:17 PM

You may have already seen it, but here's my first 8-string conversion:

Ibanez Destroyer 8-string conversion

It was fun and cool, but in the end it wound up not being very comfortable for me to play. Beej is right - a 1.5" nut is a little too narrow for a proper 8-string. But it wouldn't hurt to try it!

DeltaPhoenix · #4 07-16-2011, 06:38 PM

Cool Thread. I have to use my girlfriends Mac to get these pics up (I have about 10 so far of the different stages)...and I have some tricks up my sleeve... possibly. I will know in a couple of days if this going to be an 8 string.

DeltaPhoenix · #5 07-16-2011, 07:44 PM

Okay..these are the earliest shots after a bit of sanding.

DeltaPhoenix · #6 07-16-2011, 07:50 PM

I decided to buy some paint stripper to save a bunch of time and work. I had to do each side twice, it was the spray on kind, and scrape the paint. So after round 1 the body looked like this:

I kind of liked the look of the Body at this point.

DeltaPhoenix · #7 07-16-2011, 07:54 PM

Round 2 did this:

During the stripping process I finally dicovered that the original paint job was a sparkly silver

DeltaPhoenix · #8 07-16-2011, 07:59 PM

I had to do the rest with sand paper and this is what I ended up with so far. I think maybe some sealer is still on the wood.

DeltaPhoenix · #9 07-16-2011, 08:07 PM

Okay, so I messed around and got on TB and guess what I saw...A Basslines MM Humbucker! That sounded like a good idea for the bridge pickup. So I got the dimensions of the pickup and started to do a ghetto routing job. I used 2 paddle bits and my only wood chisel.

DeltaPhoenix · #10 07-16-2011, 08:14 PM

The Pickup arrived today and I tried to test fit it, I need to add some more room. I also have some MEC Jazz pickups from my Warwick before I did some stuff to it so I will probably try to use it in the neck position, as long as no phasing issues occur,does anybody know about that? Here is kind of a mock-up.

Beej · #11 07-16-2011, 08:25 PM

^ You really ought to find the centreline and run some mock strings over that to ensure the pickup is aligned correctly...

DeltaPhoenix · #12 07-16-2011, 08:28 PM

So let me put forth some questions. Is it okay for me to glue veneer onto the body if the body still has some sealer on it? I guess I am going to put some foam underneath the pickups and install them with woodscrews and springs so I can adjust the height, does that sound correct? I guess I will attach the neck and put the bridge back on with strings so I can position the pickup correctly. I am thinking that I am going to build a wooden pickguard and cover it in veneer as well. For the veneer, right now I have 5 8"x10" pieces. 2 are Karelian Birch (Burl), 2 are Mappa (Burl), and 1 is a Tamo Ash. I am not sure what I am going to do with those. I designed an almost straight strip down the middle with it faning out at the rear, and then had the bass divided into 4 sections for the rest, the same veneers would be diagnol from each other...I am not sure about that so I am open for input and also I plan to veneer the headstock.
The potential for the 8 string is that I scored a Soundborn Octopus conversion kit, consisting of: Bridge, Brass Nut and Brass anchor system for the smaller strings that goes on the headstock. I am not sure of the size of the nut, and I don't care because if it is too big for my neck then I will save it for another project, so the 8 string factor on this build is just a possibility. The Octopus should be here in the next few days, so we shall see....

DeltaPhoenix · #13 07-16-2011, 08:30 PM

@ Beej will the idea I put forth above work ( it should)?

ctmullins · #14 07-16-2011, 09:27 PM

Very cool! The Basslines MM is a four-wire pickup, so you should consider adding a series/parallel and/or coil-cut switch for additional voicings!

Beej · #15 07-16-2011, 09:52 PM

Trial and error will get you there.

Putting the neck and bridge back on will allow you to figure out where the approximate string paths are to help align your pickup. But if you're going to veneer this bass, you probably really need to find the centreline first and adjust the pickup later.

Frankly, the veneer will be a pain, but don't let that stop you - if this bass is an experiment, then go for it anyway. My only advice with veneer is to go slowly and really carefully because even the slightest messup will show clearly on the seams.

The best way is with a vacuum-bag setup, but learning to do that will probably take you longer than just trial and error, even if you have to do it more than once. The downside with veneering will be how you handle the edges of the bass and the forearm cut. You can roll the veneer down the forearm cut, but you'll have to trim it back from all the edges as it won't roll over the edges and look even remotely good.

If you want to hide the veneer where it meets the edge of the bass, consider a sunburst paint job that will hide the veneer edge behind some dark paint.

I imagine this whole project will be fun and in the process you'll develop some good skills...

DeltaPhoenix · #16 07-16-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctmullins

Very cool! The Basslines MM is a four-wire pickup, so you should consider adding a series/parallel and/or coil-cut switch for additional voicings!

Yes! I was thinking about the coil-cut for sure but series/parallel would be cool too.

DeltaPhoenix · #17 07-16-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beej

Trial and error will get you there.

That is all I can hope for!

Quote:

If you want to hide the veneer where it meets the edge of the bass, consider a sunburst paint job that will hide the veneer edge behind some dark paint.

I was thinking about a burst of sorts, definately need to have the edges fade into a darker color.

Quote:

I imagine this whole project will be fun and in the process you'll develop some good skills...

Yeah the worst that happens is I do it again on another body, or learn not to do something...I have faith that I have enough skills and common sense coupled with advice/feedback from my fellow TBers to pull this one off.

Stilettoprefer · #18 07-17-2011, 12:14 AM

Subbed! I kinda want to put a MM pup in a P body that I'm working with right now. How odd would a MM+P sound?

Sketchy · #19 07-17-2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilettoprefer

Subbed! I kinda want to put a MM pup in a P body that I'm working with right now. How odd would a MM+P sound?

A little like the John Myung tone on WDADU, mainly because he had an EBMM with an extra P-pickup installed, although they were sent to separate amplifiers.

Stealth · #20 07-17-2011, 06:17 AM

Cool info, Sketchy, I didn't know that.

Also, 8-strings FTW. Carry on, Sir.