Getting first custom made bass built!!

Macrocosmcwh · #1 12-11-2012, 07:41 PM

Just had to tell someone... Hahaha I am having my first fully custom bass built by Andy Zoldo.
Specs so far in the build:
6 stirng 35 scale
Single cut design
5 piece body with myrtle burl/ebony veneer/sapele core/ ebony/myrtle
11 piece set neck (maple/lyptus/maple veneer/lyptus/veneer/sapele/veneer/wenge/veneer/lyptus/maple)
24 fret jatoba fingerboard with wedge binding and inlays 20" radius
Matching pickup cover custom bridge custom three piece knobs
String through body
Single truss rod with dual carbon fiber reinforcement bars
45 mm nut width
Bartolini J pickups with HR5.4 AP/918 custom preamp.

I am so excited...

jbossolo · #2 12-11-2012, 07:43 PM

WOW! Impressive specs. Post some pics of the build. Congrats!

Macrocosmcwh · #3 12-11-2012, 07:52 PM

Thank you.... He has promised to send me pics of the build. I will be sure to post those.

Hobobob · #4 12-11-2012, 07:58 PM

Killer specs! I'd love to see progress pics of this one.

atomicdog · #5 12-11-2012, 08:02 PM

Sweet. Post pix of the work-in-progress, if possible. Curious, how did you pick this luthier? What kind of process went into deciding on the specs and what role did Andy play?

Macrocosmcwh · #6 12-11-2012, 08:08 PM

I found him because he had a killer 4 string on eBay. The wood working was amazing. I mean amazing. So I searched for him on here and found him. I sent him a message he and on eBay. He said that he builds basses as a hobby but was a bass player himself. I asked he said yes.

He asked me about me... Who I was... What my influences where style of playing... What kind of design I wanted and the general specs. The rest he came up with based upon our agreed upon price. The best part is he is as excited about this build as I am. If he puts as much passion into this build as I am getting it.... It will be a great bass.

I will be sure to post pictures as he sends them to me.

Mr Guy · #7 12-11-2012, 08:28 PM

Don't forget fret size!

ZoldosCustom · #8 12-11-2012, 08:33 PM

Just wanted to chime in real quick and say how grateful and humbled I am that Christian is letting me build this bass. I am truly excited for this one. I will be posting some pics of the progress thus far probably tomorrow. It is still early, so not a great deal is complete. We finally settled on a bass that we are both very happy with, so the build itself is very new. So far the neck is glued up, sanded to thickness, and the scarf is cut and glued. Will be working on some templates for the neck, and routing for truss rod tomorrow. Still need to order most everything else for this bass, but i am doing what I can while we wait. Thanks again, and have patience.

alembicbones · #9 12-11-2012, 08:37 PM

This build sounds very cool. I'm psyched to see how it all comes together.

Here's hoping it's a work of art sounds as good as it looks.

Bones

Macrocosmcwh · #10 12-12-2012, 09:58 AM

Thank you I am very excited about the new build.

TolerancEJ · #11 12-12-2012, 11:32 AM

This is gonna be a wild piece of craftsmanship!

millsbass5 · #12 12-12-2012, 11:42 AM

I've never heard of a wood called (Hall's mentho) lyptus. What could it be compared to, as far as looks/tone?

TolerancEJ · #13 12-12-2012, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millsbass5

I've never heard of a wood called (Hall's mentho) lyptus. What could it be compared to, as far as looks/tone?

If it's eucalyptus, better make sure there are no Koala Bears nearby. They'll start munching on the bass.

Macrocosmcwh · #14 12-12-2012, 01:47 PM

You would have to ask Andy. I looked it up on google. It's a very pretty red wood.

ZoldosCustom · #15 12-12-2012, 04:34 PM

I am using the Lyptus primarily as an accent in the neck. It is a very straight interlocked grain, and kind of looks like a pickish mahogany. As far as a tone wood for a body goes, I couldn't tell ya. It's a little denser than Mahogany, at least from what I can tell. We made a few countertops at work out of it and it is great to work with. Easy machinability. Its actually a hybrid. If you look up pictures of the tree, its tall,, straight and only has leaves at the top. Again, not sure as a body wood, but great for accents...and countertops.

Macrocosmcwh · #16 12-12-2012, 04:59 PM

Final Sketch of the bass

Neck pieces detail

Making the cut

Custom JIG

glue her up!

Niiiiice!

Inlay of fret markers

nice!!!!

detail of fret markers

Custom made bridge (this one is a five string... but making one for 6 string)

more to come.... I am so excited!

Macrocosmcwh · #17 12-12-2012, 06:58 PM

Macrocosmcwh · #18 12-13-2012, 02:05 PM

quick question for you guys.... How do you determine the best place for pickups? I am using Bartolini J style pickups. I just want to make sure I am giving my new bass the best chances for big sound. I like a warm sound with good articulation. Thanks!

Hobobob · #19 12-14-2012, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrocosmcwh

quick question for you guys.... How do you determine the best place for pickups? I am using Bartolini J style pickups. I just want to make sure I am giving my new bass the best chances for big sound. I like a warm sound with good articulation. Thanks!

Specify standard 60's jazz bass spacing. Great tone, and a warmer bridge pup tone than 70's position.

awesomesawyer · #20 12-14-2012, 02:45 AM

does he have a website for his basses?