9 string hybrid

[BassCycle]

I've been kinda apprehensive about posting another thread here when I already have two unfinished threads. This one has a deadline, so I figure, what the heck.

It seems that there really is a market for these crazy basses, they've been selling like hotcakes. This one will have 4 fretless strings and 5 fretted strings. It will have an Alder body with a Walnut top and a Bloodwood stripe. The neck will have a tapered Maple center, Bubunga and Walnut stringers, and Curly Maple edges. The fb will be Bloodwood. Here's a rendering that my client sent me.

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The body is much too wide in the rendering, so it will need to be modified somewhat. Here's what I came up with. I pencil drew the shape full size.

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[Thumpin_P]

Das a lotta bass!!!

 

[BassCycle]

I got the neck block done. It's the widest neck I've done so far. It has a tapered maple core, Bubinga and Walnut stringers seperated by Maple veneer, and Curly maple outers. It's gonna be 4 1/2" at the heel and 3" at the nut. The headstock is scarfed at 10 deg.

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[BassCycle]

Fingerboard has been radiused and is now being slotted. Notice the "step" where the fretted side is lower that the fretless side.

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[BassCycle]

I glued on the fingerboard and taper-trimmed the neck.

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[BassCycle]

I cut out the bookmatched Walnut top. I made some minor adjustments to the shape to accommodate upper fret access. I think it actually looks a little more like the rendering.

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Using a template to make pickup covers.

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Pickup covers cut out.

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[Thumpin_P]

Cool Process! Subbed!

 

[BassCycle]

Cool Process! Subbed!

Thank you Thumpin_P!

Making basses is sometimes like making sausage. It can be messy and you don't necessarily want to see the entire process, but the end result can be delicious.

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Body blank done.

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Edge detail

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[dremy2006]

awesome stuff.. sub

 

[Thumpin_P]

agreed entirely!!!!

 

[BassCycle]

Pickup covers are perfectly grain matched.

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Pickup covers are radiused to match the neck.

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That's about a month's work uploaded in an instant. I will complete this project within the next month and a half so stay tuned.

By the way, I'm having the pickups custom built by Watson Pickups.

 

[dremy2006]

Pickup covers are perfectly grain matched.


By the way, I'm having the pickups custom built by Watson Pickups.

... how do you cut out the pickup covers.. from the top?? looks beautiful....I love walnut

 

[Thumpin_P]

^^ What he said...^^

 

[BassCycle]

I routed out a pocket on the backside of the top, making the pickup area on the top very thin, like a veneer. Then I used an Exacto blade to trim out the covers. Then I just made little boxes and glued on my veneer tops.

 

[dremy2006]

I routed out a pocket on the backside of the top, making the pickup area on the top very thin, like a veneer. Then I used an Exacto blade to trim out the covers. Then I just made little boxes and glued on my veneer tops.

.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh thanks

 

[MarcMurder]

Looks sweet.
Sub'd

 

[pilotjones]

Wow, that's a monster. Looking great.

I like your pup cover trick.

 

[JoeDeF]

Yes, I know it's way too early to ask for sound clips, but I'm gonna ask anyway :

Can we pleeeease hear sound clips (when it's done)?

 

[Thumpin_P]

Thank you for sharing about the pickup covers. I am sure the same would work for control cavities on the back, if one had the plan laid out well enough. Correct?

 

[Nomad98]

Using a template to make pickup covers.

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Pickup covers cut out.

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Great looking bass...

I am interested in exactly how you cut out the cover from the top? it looks like you used a router?

Thanks,
Nomad98