New build - a quickie ;)

SDB Guitars · #1 06-24-2008, 12:59 PM

So, I decided that I needed to make some adjustments to my prototype singlecut design, based on the feedback from my other thread... shorten the upper horn a bit, *maybe* thicken the waist a hair, etc.

Also, rather than using a bunch of expensive woods to test the design, I decided to toss together something simple, just to see if it would work a little better.

I started with some Spanish cedar, and a nicely quartered bloodwood neck blank. I didn't take pictures of gluing the body blank, or of the blank before it met the bandsaw in a dark alley, but this was all the work of one day:

Then I made all of my measurements on the neck (in pencil), and determined where my headstock angle should be. I decided (based on another thread I've been watching) that instead of the usual scarf joint or "luthier's joint", I would instead glue up a matching "side grain" piece, then cut the angled headstock out of that:

Due to the nature of glue drying, and my day job work schedule (don't get home until almost 10pm each night) it will be a couple of days before I can route the truss rod channel, neck pocket, etc.

I'm trying a couple of things that are different for me, on this one... first off, I'm doing a completely flat fingerboard (Wilser, I'm trusting you on this one, man...

). Also, the afore-mentioned headstock joint, and I think I'm going to try Waterlox on this one, to see if it hardens up the cedrela enough.

Anyone have thoughts on what pickup and preamp options might be good for this? I'm a big Nordstrand fan (not tooled up for winding my own), but I'm also open to suggestions. Might even just go passive.

So, chime in, and let me know!

SDB Guitars · #2 06-24-2008, 03:15 PM

Wow... all those views, and no one tossing in their $0.02 worth!

What are the odds?

jordan_frerichs · #3 06-24-2008, 03:32 PM

lol. damn. i couldn't sleep last night (get a lot of my better ideas when i am half awake) so i decided to make some sketches of possible shapes for my projects and my single cut looked pretty simalar to that.

thought i had something cool. my skectch has a few design differences so hopefully it will not come out looking like i am ripping you or anyone eles of.

i like the work by the way. good idea with just gluing other pieces on to carve the headstock

RAHAZ · #4 06-24-2008, 03:35 PM

It is hard to see the true curves of the body due to the angle of the photo. Do you have any shots from the top? What about other info: Scale? Fretted or fretless?

SDB Guitars · #5 06-24-2008, 03:37 PM

Scale will be 34", 4-strings, and probably fretless, at this point.

I have a *lot* of bloodwood to burh through, so this one is getting a bloodwood neck and fingerboard.

I'm going to use the truss rod that I built in my previous tutorial

tZer · #6 06-24-2008, 04:07 PM

I wish I had enough experience and expertise to offer you something useful, but I don't.

What I can offer is encouragement and the fact that I'll be watching this thread to see what others have to say. I will be getting my pickups for my build tomorrow and after explaining to a very close friend and long time band mate that I was not thrilled with the pickup I was using, he wisely suggested I sell it and get one that I want... DUH...

Mine is also a fretless (5'er) so I am very interested the puckup and preamp suggestions you'll be getting.

Keep posting pics!

SDB Guitars · #7 06-24-2008, 04:39 PM

Here's the thing... since this is a prototype, I'm not sure what preamp I will end up with. I've had great success with OBP-1 + passive tone, but I've also heard absolutely AMAZING things about Audere preamps.

Wilser, if you are watching, do you make your "flat fingerboards" thinner than if you were doing a radius?

WayneS · #8 06-24-2008, 04:52 PM

Man, I wish I had (or had access to) a wookworking shop. I could make all kinds of stuff!

RAHAZ · #9 06-24-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDB Guitars

Scale will be 34", 4-strings, and probably fretless, at this point.

I have a *lot* of bloodwood to burh through, so this one is getting a bloodwood neck and fingerboard.

I'm going to use the truss rod that I built in my previous tutorial

Cool! I'm still working on my 34" fretless 5'r. It's been hot (115) so I haven't been in the garage much to work on it. Time to suck it up so I can get the nut cut and mount at least one p/u to play on until it cools down again.

UncleBalsamic · #10 06-24-2008, 05:03 PM

This is going to be cool.

logicman69 · #11 06-24-2008, 05:08 PM

Looks interesting, though I'm not a fan of the oversized top hump. But hey, what do I know...

The bloodwood sounds interesting though. Can't wait to see it all put together.

SDB Guitars · #12 06-24-2008, 05:49 PM

The upper "horn/hump" is actually greatly reduced from my original design, seen here:

I reduced both the size and length of the upper "lobe", and thickened the waist (slightly, maybe .5", and only on the "bass" side of the body). Also, I lengthened the *lower* horn by about 5/8"

alexei · #13 06-24-2008, 06:17 PM

looks awesome! congrats in the new bass!!

SDB Guitars · #14 06-24-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexei

looks awesome! congrats in the new bass!!

Thanks... the pic just above your post is not the new one, through... it's a prototype I was working on quite a while ago, and when I started the one on Sunday (see pics in 1st post), I decided not to go quite that fancy... using expensive woods on a prototype shape that may not work out could be a big waste...

logicman69 · #15 06-24-2008, 06:39 PM

cool.. I love the wood combo above. What is that?

SDB Guitars · #16 06-24-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logicman69

cool.. I love the wood combo above. What is that?

The body is cedrela (Spanish cedar), the contrasting lamination is bloodwood, and the top is spalted mubanga (or so said the guy who traded it to me).

The neck is figured rock maple, and then fingerboard is bloodwood with birch lines

fish slapper · #17 06-24-2008, 07:38 PM

I think it'll be cool. As to feedback on the pre/ pup sitch, speaking as a "non- techy" player, I think you can't go wrong with the J passive configuration on a fretless. However, lately I've been thinking of some sort of piezo and magnet hybrid option. Even crazier is a piezo under the bridge and a MM pup in the "sweet spot" (closer to the bridge). I think you'd need some sort of pre as a buffer on the piezo or it would be much hotter than the magnet pup and most amps can't handle a straight load to a piezo.

BTW: love the choice of Spanish cedar even though I know you did it to be quick and cheap. I have fond memories of a classical guitar I once owned with that as a top.

logicman69 · #18 06-24-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDB Guitars

The body is cedrela (Spanish cedar), the contrasting lamination is bloodwood, and the top is spalted mubanga (or so said the guy who traded it to me).

The neck is figured rock maple, and then fingerboard is bloodwood with birch lines

Damn.. that wood combo has got me GAS'in.. must... not... use... credit card.....

SDB Guitars · #19 06-24-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logicman69

Damn.. that wood combo has got me GAS'in.. must... not... use... credit card.....

LOL... for the moment, at least, it's not for sale. So you don't have to worry

smakbass · #20 06-24-2008, 09:09 PM

I like passive in fretless basses as well...one pick up no tone knob just pick up vol. and out...simple