Super Jazz Bass Build, 70's style!

[FunkyMan]

Hello folks, i started a Super (for me) Jazz Bass build with all the parts that i ever wanted on a jazz bass style bass, i want to make this simple and want your sincere opinions and suggestions during the process, so the Ingredients are:





-Swamp Ash Body Blank
-Migthy Mite all Maple jazz bass Neck 20 frets (this neck is sweeeeet and very well constructed, fantastic quality for the price)
-Dimarzio Ultra Jazz Pickups (Pickups placement sould be in 70's positions definitely)
-Aguilar OBP-3 SK/PP Preamp
-Hipshot Astyle Bridge
-Hipshot HB1 Tuners
-Hipshot String Retainer
-All Parts beveled Knobs
-Fender Pickguard
-Chinese Output Jack, neck bolts etc..
-Jim Dunlop Straplocks
-Dimarzio DPDT Switches, and pots

The bass should look something like this ultra cool Pavel (i hope) :



And i hope it can sound something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNmQirBW90w

[FunkyMan]

First thing i did was installing the Tuner brushes:



Then some masking tape for drawing some lines in order to align the holes points







Drilling the holes:



Done:



The result went pretty well for a unexperienced guy:



Also installed the string retainer (I hope that it does not interfere decal place)


Checking alingment:

[mhduffl]

Looks nice!
Susubscribed!

[Meddle]

Looking tidy, but can those pegs actually turn? It looks like the 'tulip' section is going to foul on the wood. Looks like the tuner holes were drilled quite far in land. Just a thought.

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by Meddle

Looking tidy, but can those pegs actually turn? It looks like the 'tulip' section is going to foul on the wood. Looks like the tuner holes were drilled quite far in land. Just a thought.

Hello mate, i got what you say and yes, they turn properly, and I thought the same as you, actually this tuners are for musicman basses, those were the only one i found with 11"16 size, i don't know if the holes on the migthy mite neck came drilled this far in land, or, the pegs are small

[Benberg]

hey, nice build! I'm currently working on making a jazz body for my g&l l2000 neck. I was wondering how your going to get the dimensions/template for a body? I can't seem to find any schematics online haha

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by Benberg

hey, nice build! I'm currently working on making a jazz body for my g&l l2000 neck. I was wondering how your going to get the dimensions/template for a body? I can't seem to find any schematics online haha

You are lucky, just today i printed a plan of the body, i can give you the pdf file if you want

[Benberg]

Originally Posted by FunkyMan

You are lucky, just today i printed a plan of the body, i can give you the pdf file if you want

I would LOVE that! would be a great help haha.

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by Benberg

I would LOVE that! would be a great help haha.

Private Message sent

[FunkyMan]

So i printed the plans today:



Checking out everything align well (the pickguard holes align perfectly)



Now help me decide, which face of the ash blanket would be nicer to use for the front?

A-

B-

I'm going to do natural high gloss finish

[Hopkins]

option B for sure.

[Benberg]

I would have to agree on B, i love how the grain has more contrast

[wraub]

Absolutely B.

wraub

[pilotjones]

What does the back side of B look like?

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by pilotjones

What does the back side of B look like?

Hello! no, those two pics are from the same blanket, i'm actually showing the two faces of it

[pilotjones]

OK, sorry, I missed that.

I think that the B side looks very cool. But there's a consideration here: sanding. The unusual appearance of the B side is due to the bands bands of that medium-toned material that's lined by the dark thin stripes, separating from the ordinary light tone. If you sand it much, these will likely disappear as you remove a layer (this being nearly perfectly flatsawn in that area). OTOH, the A side could also change as you sand in.

So, as long as it's really close to flat and smooth, I'd go with B. If either side is rough, I'd do my smooth flat sanding first, and then see what they look like and reassess.

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by pilotjones

OK, sorry, I missed that.

I think that the B side looks very cool. But there's a consideration here: sanding. The unusual appearance of the B side is due to the bands bands of that medium-toned material that's lined by the dark thin stripes, separating from the ordinary light tone. If you sand it much, these will likely disappear as you remove a layer (this being nearly perfectly flatsawn in that area). OTOH, the A side could also change as you sand in.

So, as long as it's really close to flat and smooth, I'd go with B. If either side is rough, I'd do my smooth flat sanding first, and then see what they look like and reassess.

I think those are the final options i can get, because the blank already has the proper measure 4cm (1.6" i guess)

Tomorrow i'll cut the basic silhouette of the body, and now i wonder what should be the size of the drill for the standart round edges of a jazz bass?

[pbass6811]

This is pretty uncanny...I was thinking about doing these exact same mods, but I'm planning on just using a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V. I can't do any real woodworking, so I can't actually "build" a bass(without risking cutting off a finger...). I love black hardware and I'd like a Jazz with all the stuff you are putting on yours. I'm gonna follow your build. I hope it turns out as cool as you hope it does!

[FunkyMan]

I decided to do it with my own method, and glued the plan on a MDF table to make the template for the body:





Then i drew the pickup in the 70's position



Cutting the template:



And with a little bit of sanding here and there, i think it turned good:



I thought the pickup holes would be easy to do, but unfortunately it didn't turned out very well with straight lines, and the semicircles for the pickup screws are misaligned, so how can i fix this?

[FunkyMan]

So i put some double side tape to attach the template to the blanket:





And after cutting, rounded the edges and sanding with 180, 220, 320, and 400





Here in this pic, the body looks smaller than the below, but it is actually the same size:



Some previews: