My first Bass build, Jazz Quilted Maple

[jtc_hunter]

I really love Jazz basses and a buddy has been hording some fabulous quilted maple for years. He has volunteered to give me enough top grade mahogany for the body and some grade"10" quilted maple for the top. It will be basically a '62 re-issue Fender Jazz bass when completed. I plan on a very light stain , but mostly natural , with maybe a tort (or clear) pick guard. Here is my first picture of the material and parts, minus the mahogany. He has it at his house right now. I am going to try and chronicle the progress one pic at a time until completion. The final finish will be tung oil, many coats.




Updates and pictures added in below posts

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/g...view=slideshow

[ctmullins]

Don't you dare put an (opaque) pickguard over quilted maple!

[eleonn]

Originally Posted by ctmullins

Don't you dare put an (opaque) pickguard over quilted maple!

+10

[vbasscustom]

how thick is that maple?????

[Stone Age]

Originally Posted by ctmullins

Don't you dare put an (opaque) pickguard over quilted maple!

That would be a sin!!! that's a nice block of wood.

[Ol'Bass'ead]

Ill throw my $.02 in here too. Bring it all in from the back and leave that gorgeous wood uncovered!

[jordan_frerichs]

with maple like that, i would carve it more than the simple fender roundover, especialy on the horns, and a chambered walnut body for contrast (if you go natural on the finish. if not, a sweet cherry burst would make it one heck of a looker!). but then again fenders are not my type of bass, but appriciate Fender for how far they have advanced the bass. The basses with great looks and playability are too expensive for me as well, so thats why i like to build and heavily mod. Hopefully i will satisfy my bass building hunger with one of them (or hopefully i never will). lol. It's addicting.

[jtc_hunter]

Thanks for your input guys. I will take your advice and put a clear pickguard on it, since I play mostly w/ a pick and dont want to scratch the finish(that will come later). I am now planning on a honey-amber water-based dye and sealed w/ the tung oil finish. Here is a picture update. The mahogany body and quilted top are now laminated and the body shape rough cut and sanded. I routed out the control cavity and wiring channels in the mahogany body Before laminating the top, that way I could place the pickups and clear pick guard last. I will have to cut an access point in the back of the body to get to the control cavity so I am planning on cutting up my tort pick guard and making a cover out of it for that access.

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/g...view=slideshow

[barnaclebeau]

Originally Posted by jtc_hunter

Thanks for your input guys. I will take your advice and put a clear pickguard on it, since I play mostly w/ a pick and dont want to scratch the finish(that will come later).

Should still do all your routing from the back though, so you don't have to look all those pots and wires.

That's some fantastic stock, btw.

[jordan_frerichs]

Originally Posted by barnaclebeau

Should still do all your routing from the back though, so you don't have to look all those pots and wires.

That's some fantastic stock, btw.

It sounds like he did a lot of that before gluing the top on, which sounds like the best way of going about it to me. I agree about making the control cavity on the back, unless you really prefer the look of the metal jazz plate, in that case, just route the top. no use having a front AND back access in this case.

[Ol'Bass'ead]

Hopefully, he is just putting a piece of clear plastic on the top where scratching would occur, not using it to mount his components.

[jtc_hunter]

Yes, I am planning now on using a clear pick guard, but no control plate. The control cavity is already in the mahogany, so I just have to cut an access in the back to it, then make a cover for the back access.

[Rogier]

Hey, what ever happened to this bass? Is it finished?

[Rickett Customs]

The quilted looks 5a to almost exhibition to me....nice top.

[jtc_hunter]

Originally Posted by Rogier

Hey, what ever happened to this bass? Is it finished?

We are getting ready to finish it up in the next few weeks. Here is an update:Clickable thumbnails

[bassmanhamilton]

That's a mighty fine friend that you have! He is hooking you up with some killer wood.