A pair of modern/vintage customs

[Jared Lash]

So Chris Stambaugh is getting ready to start on my basses and neck glueups should start next week. The basic concept was to due a pair of 4 string passive basses with some flexibility using custom body shapes and a 33" scale.


The first bass has 3 Aero single coils and a 5 position pickup selector that can isolate any of them or give either of the two humbucking combinations. Mahogany body with an ebony fingerboard with white binding and MOP block inlays. It will be outfitted with a Stellartone Tonestyler, brass Hipshot B (chrome finish), ultralight tuners, a compound 10" to 14" fingerboard radius, white pickguard and silver finish for the body and headstock cap.

Here's my sketch:

And here's the color scheme:

The second bass has a pair of Delano twin jazz pickups wired V/V/T with individual switches to run each pickup as series, parallel or "single coil". Hard ash body and maple fingerboard with black binding and blocks. Same additional specs as the first but in candy apple red with a black pickguard.

Here's my sketch:

And here's the color scheme:

but with black blocks and binding

 

[Jared Lash]

For a better view of what the body shapes will actually look like, here's Chris' ODB shape which the second bass will have:

And the first bass will be shaped similar to this one except obviously it will be a four stringer and the horns will be like the one above instead of rounded as in this photo:

 

[Jared Lash]

More shots of the body shape I'm basing mine on:

 

[Hotblack]

Any top on either bass?

 

[Jared Lash]

Any top on either bass?

Nope, though if the ash Chris uses has great figure I may have to consider a trans finish rather than candy apple red on that one.

 

[Hotblack]

Nope, though if the ash Chris uses has great figure I may have to consider a trans finish rather than candy apple red on that one.

If the mahogany has nice figuring, a trans silver finish would look pretty badass.

 

[Jared Lash]

If the mahogany has nice figuring, a trans silver finish would look pretty badass.

Now that's an interesting thought.

 

[Jared Lash]

Here's a question:

I am going for a 70's vibe on this one:

and using northern ash for the body. My original thought was to do a solid candy apple red finish but I'm wondering if maybe a trans red finish would be better?

Something like this:

Or this:

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Or perhaps I should simply have a clear gloss finish over the ash with a black pickguard like a classic 70's Jazz?

Thoughts?

 

[Hotblack]

If you're going with Chris' standard headstock, the bass will not have the vibe you are going for. Not that I dislike his headstock shape (quite the contrary), but if you are going for a real retro vibe, you will need something a little more Fenderesque.
Per the finish: wait to see what the wood looks like. That will probably make your decision easy.

 

[Jared Lash]

Per the finish: wait to see what the wood looks like. That will probably make your decision easy.

Yup, that's the plan. Chris is visiting his wood supplier tomorrow for the northern ash so we'll see what he comes back with. Apparently figured hard ash is fairly rare so my guess is that it will end up as solid candy apple red rather than translucent.

If you're going with Chris' standard headstock, the bass will not have the vibe you are going for. Not that I dislike his headstock shape (quite the contrary), but if you are going for a real retro vibe, you will need something a little more Fenderesque.

You know, I've given that a lot of thought. Chris has done Fenderish headstocks and I think they look alright though a bit indistinct with his circular logo rather than lettering:

And while his standard logo is fairly modern looking:

It's not really not that far off from a couple of my all-time favorite vintage headstocks:

4003

and Guild basses (like the B-301 my very first electric bass)

I'm thinking that I can just ask Chris to make his standard headstock a bit more squat (not as long from nut to tip and a little wider in the middle) and it should work pretty well, especially with them painted to match the body colors. At least I think so.

 

[Hotblack]

I'm thinking that I can just ask Chris to make his standard headstock a bit more squat (not as long from nut to tip and a little wider in the middle) and it should work pretty well, especially with them painted to match the body colors. At least I think so.

Keep in mind, if you change the shape of his headstock, it may change the way the strings line up in relation to the nut. With his current headstock shape, the strings run in a straight line from tuner through nut. On the Ric and Guild, that's not the case. I don't know what kind of difference that makes in terms of playability/feel, but definitely talk with him about it before making a hard decision.
FWIW: I think that his Fenderish shape would look pretty nice with what you have planned.

 

[Hotblack]

FWIW: I think that his Fenderish shape would look pretty nice with what you have planned.

Scratch that. Go with his standard shape.
Damnit! Now you've got me thinking about basses I'm not even ordering.

 

[Jared Lash]

Yeah, I'm pretty certain I'm going to use Chris' normal headstock. The big question for me is if I use the Y-shape or clover tuners. Either way they'll be in chrome like the rest of the hardware.

 

[Jared Lash]

Any comments from anyone on the body and pickguard shapes I'm using?

 

[Jared Lash]

Some update pics

This one is ash/maple and I decided to change it from CAR to Candy Orange with a black pickguard:

This one is alder/ebony and will be Inca Silver with a white pickguard:

 

[smperry]

Looking great! I dig both color choices.

 

[Jared Lash]

Looking great! I dig both color choices.

Thanks!

Should be back from the finishers soon and in my hands not long after that.

 

[jumbodbassman]

very nice

 

[Jared Lash]

Some progress shots of the silver one after getting finished. The candy orange one should be done soon too. Then just electronics, pickguards, hardware and a setup before heading my way.