$100 Bass Challenge - Black P

[HaMMerHeD]

I decided to make a couple of changes. First, I'm going with a maple fretboard. Second, I'm adding a pickguard.

Here's the general idea...
Front:

Back:

Of course it will have frets and such. The maple fretboard I am using will come from the same board whence the rest of the neck is made, so that saves $6.50, which I can put into a sheet of this stuff:
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(12"x12"x0.8" black thermoplastic with a simulated carbon fiber twill - $5.79)

 

[Harry Cahyadi]

I decided to make a couple of changes. First, I'm going with a maple fretboard. Second, I'm adding a pickguard.

Here's the general idea...
Front:

Back:

Of course it will have frets and such. The maple fretboard I am using will come from the same board whence the rest of the neck is made, so that saves $6.50, which I can put into a sheet of this stuff:
Invalid Link Removed
(12"x12"x0.8" black thermoplastic with a simulated carbon fiber twill - $5.79)

It is definitely looking much more expensive than $100

 

[mapleglo]

Dude finally brought over the tuners, and...perhaps a wrinkle. I gave him these tuners last spring, and he says they've sat unused since. His project never got off the ground. So...I went ahead and gave him $25 for them, because I told him I would...but I also bought them originally, in Feb of 2014, at which time I paid $55.80 for the set.

So...if you guys say it's OK, I'll use them. Otherwise, I can order some junk tuners on amazon or ebay or something.

Also pictured is the Kydex cavity cover (needs a good cleaning), the stainless steel neck screws, the neck screw ferrules, and the knobs.

I'd say use the tuners, and value them at what you paid $25.00.

Love the black and maple!

 

[HaMMerHeD]

It is definitely looking much more expensive than $100

Thanks! That's the idea.

I'd say use the tuners, and value them at what you paid $25.00.

Love the black and maple!

You know, going through the Black & Maple thread in Basses, I thought I hated the look. And I've found myself really conflicted regarding the Roger Waters signature P. So, after thinking this bass through and doing the above photoshop mockup, I've realized that I don't hate black & maple, I just hate the Fender P bass. The Roger Waters bass looks kind-of cool because of the stealthy black look of it, but the effect is ruined by the kindergarten fingerpaint-and-construction-paper "Baby's First Bass" look of basically every Fender P I've ever seen. Also, if you're doing black & maple, use a solid black pickguard, and use black screws and hardware, not chrome. Black & chrome looks tacky, blingy, and lame, in my opinion.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I got the electronical bits in.

It's interesting to me that, every time I order Bourns pots from Mouser, they come in a different packaging arrangement. This time it's separate bags for the pots, the washers, and the nuts.

The pot is a 0.047uf (47nf) polyester film from Cornell-Dubilier. It is the same manufacturer and type of capacitor as an orange drop, but a different format, and about half the price.

Yes my esteemed friends. That is what six dollars and fifty-nine cents worth of electronics looks like. Drink it in.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

So here's the neck wood:

And the grain orientation:

Before I glue it, I will flip the purpleheart piece on the right.

Including the fretboard wood (hard maple, not shown), this neck measures 143.99 cubic inches of maple, which is 0.99993bdft, so I'm within my 1bdft quota for the neck.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I went ahead and ordered the carbon fiber textured Holstex sheet for the pick-guard last night. I also ordered a sheet of bright yellow kydex in case I don't like the look of the faux carbon fiber.

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It's about $1 cheaper than the Holstex, so it won't affect the budget much if I use it for this.

It shipped from Georgia this morning, so it should be here Thu or Fri.

 

[JiJ]

looks nice

 

[mapleglo]

I got the electronical bits in.

It's interesting to me that, every time I order Bourns pots from Mouser, they come in a different packaging arrangement. This time it's separate bags for the pots, the washers, and the nuts.

The pot is a 0.047uf (47nf) polyester film from Cornell-Dubilier. It is the same manufacturer and type of capacitor as an orange drop, but a different format, and about half the price.

Yes my esteemed friends. That is what six dollars and fifty-nine cents worth of electronics looks like. Drink it in.

You order the Bourns pots direct from Mouser? Do you have a link? I have to order a couple of pots as well. That seems like a pretty good price.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

You order the Bourns pots direct from Mouser? Do you have a link? I have to order a couple of pots as well. That seems like a pretty good price.

Yep. Here are links to the stuff I ordered:

Potentiometers: Invalid Link Removed
Jack: Invalid Link Removed
Capacitor: Invalid Link Removed

 

[mapleglo]

Great thanks! Placed my order

 

[HaMMerHeD]

The pickguard material came in.

Faux carbon fiber:

And BRIIIIIIGHT yellow:

I confess I was expecting something more like chrome yellow. This is very much a chartreuse or neon/fluorescent yellow.

 

[mapleglo]

I kind of like the neon yellow. I think it fits well with the aggressive shape of the headstock and body. Especially set off by the black. It's reminiscent of a yellow jacket.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I'm going to use the black one for this one. Maybe I'll build a dayglo 80s bass someday and use the neon.

 

[Paulsar]

Yeah the faux CF pickguard is gonna look awesome with that texture superimposed on the smooth black body.

Ooh, a CF trussrod cover at the headstock end would balance out the look with black and CF at both ends of the fretboard IMO. Or, your logo in CF on the headstock if the TR adjustment is at the heel, that would balance it too.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

It's too cold for the glue to dry outside, so I had to bring it inside.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I had a lot of slipping on the glue-up, so I was worried that, when planing it down to make the faces flat and parallel, I might lose too much thickness. But it ended up being 13/16", which is exactly what I wanted it to be. I'm stoked about that, so here's my ~$8 neck beam.

 

[bholder]

That neck looks amazing. I kind of liked the original plan better, but looks like it's going to be awesome the new way too. I love the body shape, is that your own design? Nice the way you rounded the edges.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Thanks. Yes it's my original design. I have built a 5-string with that body style already.

 

[MrArose13]

I'm sure you know I think this build will be awesome.

I have a question, do you always use those mini pots or was that a cost decision. Also, thanks for introducing me to Mouser! By far some of the best prices I'v seen.