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Bass build, at slow pace.

ThaCoast

ThaCoast

Jan 2, 2011
4,685
8,016
The Polar Season Montreal, Canada
#1
Hi everybody!

Little back ground story about this: i first acquired the bass from a friend of mine about 4 years ago. I had found very little info about it. It was in bad shape cause he found it in the trash, took it and beat the body with a hammer and screw driver. Nothing unfixable gave the body more character. Any who, it was lying under my bed for years until i decided to do something with it.

At first i wanted to make the original body thicker, but the wood is garbage to begin with. So i decided to just keep the neck and trace the body to make a template of the new shape. I also have a design for the bass which is why i named my bass Supernova.

Specs:
  • (Swamp) Ash wood - body 1.75" thick
  • Fender precision/jazz style bridge
  • Grover bass tuners (small like gibson thunderbird)
  • Tv Jones thundertron bridge pickup
  • Flush mount tube jack

It's a short scale bass - 31 5/8". I have no controls the pickup is wired direct to the jack.

opinions are welcome, thoughts etc. Oh here's a picture of the bass after i stripped it of everything:
 

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#2
Since i last posted, i've been doing some work on it, in the mix of doing projects for friends as well. So far, i've done the headstock tuner holes. As this is all i am capable of until i get a blank piece of wood and start building the body.
 

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#9
joseplluissans said:
Is it just me, or does the body seem a bit small for a bass? Have you checked that there's enough space for the bridge? From the photo it looks like there's less space from the 12th fret to the end of the body than to the nut...
Click to expand...

The original body was small and very thin compared to the baseball bat neck profile and the bridge was set near the very end of the bass. and the original pickup (which it didnt have when i got it) was dead center :D. But as i mentioned, i've completely redesigned the body shape making it a lil bigger and thicker to compensate for the neck. But it does remain short scale. it's a fun little bass to practice with and jam out. Well, at least i'm hoping it will be hahaha
 
#12
Quick update with the saddest news :( I've had a side project to build a batsuit and it has succeeded. But in recent calculation of everything i've ended up using (material wise), there is much that i shouldn't have gotten which would have left me with roughly 140$ (the batsuit only came up to 65$ [tx included]. So the sad news is, i will once again, be putting this bass on the back burner. Until at least Xmas. Which isn't too bad, but still. My young naive brain spent everything i had, (bit over 200$) on a simple batman home design costume. Until xmas, hopefully you won't be disappointed when i get back.
 
#13
Andii Syckz said:
Quick update with the saddest news :( I've had a side project to build a batsuit and it has succeeded. But in recent calculation of everything i've ended up using (material wise), there is much that i shouldn't have gotten which would have left me with roughly 140$ (the batsuit only came up to 65$ [tx included]. So the sad news is, i will once again, be putting this bass on the back burner. Until at least Xmas. Which isn't too bad, but still. My young naive brain spent everything i had, (bit over 200$) on a simple batman home design costume. Until xmas, hopefully you won't be disappointed when i get back.
Click to expand...

Haha! That{s okay, I got a kick out of the batsuit story anyway!
 
#15
To keep this build going somewhere, i've cut out my design and laid it down on the body template to see where and how it would fit right. Also, at my love's suggestion, i will be painting the headstock blue with stars to match the body. It's going to be a rather interesting project for me, as this is the first time i will ever paint a guitar from scratch with a design and all. Also, to update the specs from my very first post, let's begin:

  • (Swamp) ash body
  • Basic MIM style precision/jazz bridge
  • 1 11/16 " (plastic/synthetic bone) nut
  • Tv Jones thundertron NE filtertron mount
  • Flush mount tube jack output
  • Blue burst with supernova grapics design & stars
  • Matching blue headstock with stars
  • closed gear tuners

As far as original parts go, I'm using the neck, the neck plate, string tree and strap pins. I'm pretty sure the frets are still good but if not, when the bass is complete, i shall do a refret. Hopefully i wont need to. All the hardware is chrome. Still not 100% sure about the blueburst finish (going from a light blue center to darker blue edges [not black].

Also, to paint the headstock, because it's current state is pretty lacquered, how would i go about with process/steps to have a painted headstock. What grit to use, cleaning the headstock, etc.

Thanks, enjoy my very slow build. :eek: :D
 
#16
So it has been a while since i've last posted in this. I've been finishing up (and i'm done) with my automotive mechanic studies, hopefully getting a job in the next few weeks and starting this build back up once again. In retro spec, i've done a lot of thinking and planning on what i want in this bass.

First off, i've noticed on the headstock that the temporary tuners were crooked and that i'd need to redrill the holes for the tuners. I also asked my girlfriend what she thought looked best: triangle tuners (think schaller m4) or clover tuners (typical fender) And so to my surprise, she said clovers, and i liked it. So i've decided to go with clover tuners for this bass, It'll look more vintage but these clover tuners will be almost like the hipshot ultralites except maybe not hipshot themselves. I've also filled in the tuner holes and other holes with some wood filler and sanded it smooth while removing some of the lacquer on it as well. and on the sides too.

On another note, the frets look like they can use some help...that is, and i'm only going to do this if the bass doesn't play well, a complete fretjob: new frets, leveled and crowned. All done by...moi. Speaking of the neck, i may or may not shave down the baseball bat profile of it. It all depends how i like the feel of it while it's all strung up. and if i do slim it down, i will lacquer it as to give it that nice vintage look.

And another thing, it may be possible, when i acquired this bass back in high school from my friend, who's father found it in the trash, that it's an ibanez from the 1960's or a copy of it. In anycase, here's a picture (of the ibanez) in it's golden days of the 60's. Which could've been my bass, but i'm glad i get to do whatever i want with it :D
 

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#17
So yeasterday, and today, i've written up everything that i would need and all the steps i must take in order for this build to come to life. Slowly. It's a good way for me to keep track of my progress and not miss anything down the line that may be crucial :eek:

Also, i redrew the headstock with the hipshot style tuners...and they overlap each other ever so slightly. Which obviously isn't a good thing. But i have found other tuners that will suit the vibe of the bass as well as being chrome and clover styled.[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. These look perfect, and also, i won't have to make the tuner hole bigger since it'll be the same size as it is now. Clovers make the headstock look better too since it has that fender-esque look to it.

For now, that's basically it. until i get money. Cheers
 
#18
Did some work on the neck yesterday. Sanded the headstock lacquer off, on both the front back and on the sides as well. Also on the bottom of the neck where it would meet the body. Just to have more wood to wood contact in the future. I did level the frets in previous weeks, but took another look at them and they are garbage. IDK if they still have life in them to be able to play, but my concern is: 1-the frets do not go from edge to edge of the fretboard, and 2- they are pretty sharp even if they aren't to the edges.

So, to my advantage, i get to do a complete fret replacement, disadvantage, i'm wee bit nervous since i don't want to damage the fretboard considerably. My dad pointed out that i could do a fretless and while that idea seems good, i don't like the tone or feel of fretless basses. I just feel out of place.

So that's the update, sorry no pictures guys. Oh and P.S. i may be getting a job soon so money that rolls in means that i can start buying parts for this build :D
 
#19
So this project is really on a back burner since 1-no job so no money. 2- been working on other projects (such as repairs on a friends' bass and remodeling a guitar i acquired from a friend in mechanics which i'll be giving to my girlfriend as a brithday/thank you gift.) In due time, hopefully sometime soon, i'll be able to pick things up again.

p.s. I've acquired more tools to my arsenal so it'll be easier to build this Supernova bass.

Cheers.
 

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