Über-Jay V Spalted Maple

[miziomix]

Update time. Since I got back, I worked on the body contour. Yes, still. Or, again if you like

This is the one task that takes me the longest to finish - and it isn't 100% there yet.

I do use templates, but they only provide an overall direction. Beyond that, every build takes a direction of its own based on specs, owner's vision, woods, bla bla bla

I am slowly getting this one where I think it belongs. Right now the lines look a bit crude but it'll be fine after enough sanding.

The neck pocket and lower horn are still a long way to go. I will start shaping them once the neck is in - probably tomorrow.

The shape HS contour has changed slightly. It is now quite different from that of the Mark1 and 2. You can compare it to the one near my name or here

My mentor always reminded me to mark with pencil the area I was going to shape. So you see where you're going - he'd say. I do it all the time.

And I found something else that works as well - for me at the least.

I basically cover the area to be filed with sawdust of contrasting color.

As the file shapes the wood, the sawdust gets pushed to the area that is not to be filed, showing exactly where the line is. The advantages of this method are many. I don't have to mark the area many times. The sawdust adjusts to the changing line. AND, i know what to do with all that sawdust I collect.

So, this is it. Almost....

I was sitting here writing this sipping a nice Bowmore Islay Single Malt, when this rather fitting piece of wisdom came to me.

It has nothing to do with bass building but is as much fun.

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me today, and we all could probably use more calm in our lives. Some doctor on TV this morning said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished so I have managed to finish off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of wum, a pockage of Prungles, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valiuminun scriptins, the res of the chesescke an a box a chocletz. Yu haf no idr how bludy fablus I feel rite now. Plaese sned dhis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov iennr pisss. An telum,u blody luvum.!! Xxx

 

[jmorbita]

very very cool, and thanks for all the advice!

 

[cccy]

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me today, and we all could probably use more calm in our lives. Some doctor on TV this morning said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished so I have managed to finish off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of wum, a pockage of Prungles, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valiuminun scriptins, the res of the chesescke an a box a chocletz. Yu haf no idr how bludy fablus I feel rite now. Plaese sned dhis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov iennr pisss. An telum,u blody luvum.!! Xxx

:scowl:

 

[PDGood]

Funniest thing I've read in a looooong time!!!

 

[miziomix]

Week end update. Or, how to spoil a quiet Sunday in the neighborhood with a router.

The jack recess is done and so is the cavity cover. The contour is still a bit crude.

The neck was routed slightly tighter than the exact neck size. Some shrinking occurred since. Then I sanded what was left and now it's really tight.

I'll have to sand it a bit more, to account for the lacquer.

Now that this is done, I can sand the horns and back to the final shape. As you can see, there's quite a bit of wood behind the neck pocket and now it's time for it to check out.

Ditto for the neck's extra length. It will be routed using the p-up template.

I have routed the bridge recess as well, but haven't taken any picture.....

At this stage with hardware and p-ups/el, it weights 5.3lbs/2.4kg. Lacquer, strings, frets and fingers grease not included

 

[zuma]

Makes me want to take a bite out of that wonderful wood sandwich you have created!

 

[miziomix]

Hey Zuma! I shall save a slice for you

Finally I could get the contour just where I wanted it......

Still a bit crude though. The neck heel and top horn show marks left by the rasp. Final sanding likely tomorrow.

And the SM with black veneer are getting ready to cover the area under the bridge.

 

[deepestend]

subscribed

 

[dremy2006]

Ohhhhh wee!

 

[miziomix]

The SM/black veneer is now 2mm thick and glued to the body. Tight as it is, there is still a tiny gap which needs to be filled with fine SM sawdust and CA. Then the extra wood is routed and edges filed.

The Hipshot headless unit is really nicely designed, flawlessly built and - this one being aluminum - incredibly light. It has a cool factor to it, whereas the ETS and ABM I am familiar with look and feel more no-non-sense-designed-to-last kind of thing. Don't get me wrong, I like them a lot.

Unlike the two German brands, the Hipshot features the traditional screw to adjust intonation, which some (most?) seem to prefer.

The flip side of it is a rather imposing visual presence that IMHO would be too much of a statement on a 6 strings and beyond.

The longer than usual tuner knob hides most of the tuner screw when tuning. That's a neat detail. Then again, a little familiarity with headless systems makes achieving this perfectly possible with short tuners too.

Tuning is still done by gripping the tip of the tuner with your fingers, and not the whole tuner. So the length doesn't seem to contribute to better ergonomics.

OTOH, my design requires the bridge to sit in a recess, which means that I should route the wall deeper to accommodate longer tuners - which I won't use anyway. I didn't like that.



But hiccups are dear to me because they always hide something good. And this is what the Hipshot brought to the fray....

Serendipity moment

I like it a lot and, as importantly, the future owner does too.

I'll likely do the same next time. in a different style though. This one just fits the name of the bass so well! It's very...er... Ragnarök... if you see what I mean

Well then, thanks Hipshot! (even though you have never replied to my emails)

 

[cnltb]

It's build time again This time around it's a fiver with a Spalted Maple top.

In the words of the future owner, the concept behind this build is: Minimalism with an Edge. Sounds very Über-Jay to me

The look will focus on the SM, period. All other woods only work to highlight it. At the same time we'll put an unconventional spin on the classic SM/Ash/Maple neck combo

The Maple top sports excellent figure and spalt.

Damn I wish it were mine…

This is roughly how the top will be cut - photoshop work courtesy of the owner. I'm more of a pencil and paper guy

Instead of a classic Maple FB, we're going with Ebony.

Add black veneer to body and matching headstock and that SM is sure to stand out

The neck is a three piece Curly Maple/Wild African Olive/CM.

The Wild African Olive is a fantastic looking hard wood. I'll add black veneers in between lams.

The body is Swamp Ash. It will be moderately chambered. The build will more or less follow the Mark2 direction.

Hardware is all black - Hipshot bridge, er...black Tusq nut. Sadowsky p-ups and electronics.

Is it just me or it looks kinda B&W?

That SM will be the only color really - of course there's always neon pink strings.

While this is the general plan, I am toying with a few ideas and betting on some serendipity moments along the build.

Six months of sawdust storms are forecast from next week

Thank you for following this thread.

I think these über Js are interesting looking and wondering if there'll be an Über P too at some time.

 

[miziomix]

I think these über Js are interesting looking and wondering if there'll be an Über P too at some time.

Thanks! Yes, I won't stop at the J. I have designed a Ü-P and two other models. The next build, starting soon, is one of those two and a different über altogether.

I like the P concept. It's such a different take on bass compared to the J... Spartan, gusty and single minded But with a few orders for J in the pipeline I haven't had the time to build a P yet.

 

[PDGood]

Ouch! That hurts my eyes it's so beautiful. I must look away..

...but I can't.

 

[miziomix]

I've been dealing with a few details these days. Small things, But this is where I get the opportunity to craft something unique to a specific bass.

This one is named Ragnarök, The Doom of Gods, in the Scandinavian mythology.

So I try and incorporate motives that are reminiscent of that iconography - warrior gods, earthquakes, shields bla bla bla.

One element is the carving under the bridge/tuners. The grain in this specific Olivewood is another one. And now the arrangement of the neck screws. Sometimes I wander what kind of drugs I'm on.

Anyway, back to the build.... the countersunk in the neck screw holes reveals the Blackwood laminate under the Swamp Ash. I did the same on the previous build, the Eldorado. I think this is going to be a recurrent motif in my builds.

The Close up of the black accent line reveals the subtle grain of the Blackwood. I like this wood. It's very classy.

Now... I need to drill a few more holes and do a final sanding. then the bass is ready for lacquering.

Which bears the question.... Gloss or Satin?

The future owner and I are still torn - one day is Satin the next one is glossy.....

So we thought of asking the TB community... What do you guys reckon? Satin or Gloss?...Satin... gloss....satin? gloss?

Thank you!!

 

[PatQ]

Semigloss?

 

[KingRazor]

Satin.

 

[mananc_jar]

I go for satin. So please make mine satin

 

[Stealth]

Satiiiin.

 

[kris pung]

Another vote for satin

 

[cccy]

Satin. No, wait. Gloss. Hmm.