My newest addition - Fretless Short Scale

[shortscaler]

Hi, I wanted to introduce myself here and post some pictures of my latest build. I built this short scale fretless bass which is take on Ampeg's rare SSUB. I have built several instruments but this is my only bass.

I tried to stay pretty close to form but in reality I couldn'y get my hands on one to blueprint so I had to go with the closest known specs out there. There aren't many and the only guy to really mention them is Bruce Johnson from x-strange.com.

I built the body out of alder and used straight grained maple for the neck - a little figure did pop after finishing though. For the pickup I used one of the Bartolini direct replacements for the Ric 4001. I chose to use a bridge pickup - in any event the build was stressing my pocket book and I can always add a neck p/u.

Most of the hardware is straight forward - but I chose to use Hipshot Ultralite tuners due to contraints on the headstock. I made the pickguard from stock that I got from Stew Mac - it was the three ply stuff and I got a nice bevel on it. I used first grade w. african ebony for the board and ended up radiusing it around 8" or so.

I also tinted the neck and did the burst. The bass is finished in nitrocellulose lacquer. I still need to finish the nut and wire it this week but wanted to share some pictures here. Thanks for looking and feel free to leave comments.

[blendermassacre]

Nice. I would like to see a little more headstock detail, but overall very nice work.
are there fret markers at all?

[tapp01]

Can't wait to see the finished product. Good luck!

[shortscaler]

I did put in position markers at 3,5,7,9,12,15,17. I used the precut small pearl dots. They turned gold under the amber tint and look pretty nice. I used a 30" scale fretting template and simply marked the positions in. I drilled them in manually with a small Schroeder hand drill with tape depth stop. Believe me there is some ebony dust and ca in there! I wanted the pos markers to be accurate if noting else! But it hid well and under the finish is fairly non-existant. I will try to shoot some better photos. Here is a pic of the headstock detail from the front. I am waiting on a set of bass nut files right now so hopefully in a couple of days I'll have it zipped up.

[VinKreepo]

Gorgeous burst finish there

[jallen97]

I think that's really cool lookin! I don't think I've ever seen one of those. I also think that's a real nice sunburst. That PG shape is really gettin me!! I recently got an SX shorty fretless and have been thinkin about making a PG and now you've got me thinking about different shapes....

[funkomatic]

Very cool. I'll be interested to hear how that sounds.

[shortscaler]

Sorry for my lack of lingo - what does PG refer to? I bet I'll feel pretty dumb after asking.

[blendermassacre]

Pick guard = pg

[shortscaler]

Okay I feel dumb now that was pretty simple under the circumstance. The "pg" body seemed easier since you just top the cavities with the pickguard. I think it sets off the back pretty nice.

[shortscaler]

[skiscem]

I like it a lot, for some reason it reminds me of the fernandes vertigo bass

[shortscaler]

There weren't many of these basses made. The only real pics I can find are these from www.xtrange.com - these two basses are in Bruce Johnson's collection. There are couple of other examples out there but not many.

[Willicious]

That burst is gorgeous. As is your craftsmanship.
Love the slab shape of the body. Just so simple and beautiful.

What strings will you be using?

[odin70]

Nice bass!

[rythman6969]

looks very sweet.

[shortscaler]

I have a set of pyramid gold shortscale flats for it. I was going to use La Bella and decided to up the stakes a bit. Thanks for all the nice comments.

[mongo2]

Noyce!