$100 Bass Challenge - Marceline's Axe Bass

[mapleglo]

I shaped and then mounted the output jack plate. I'm not assigning a dollar value to this as I pulled if off of an old, no longer used pedal board. This plate will allow me to enlarge the jack hole if necessary, if I need the extra room to mount the controls.

I may still do a little more shaping on the blade edges.

 

[baceface]

Will you cut in the axe splinters or use black paint

 

[mapleglo]

Will you cut in the axe splinters or use black paint

Yeah, there's that upper part of the blade that looks like it has a couple of severe nicks.

I've actually put some thought into what I'm going to do with that. I still haven't decided if I'll paint them in or cut the body. Right now, I'm tending toward cutting the body.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yeah, you gotta cut the body. Battle axes are always "notched". Looking cool Maple, that turntable setup is ingenious.

 

[baceface]

The ones that are on the inner part of the body, you should carve out a bit with a chisel and then paint the inside. Give it a little 3d

 

[mapleglo]

I made an axe blade sharpener sanding block.

So far, working pretty well. Still more sanding to be done.

 

[wraub]

Have been digging this hardcore style since the top, but the sanding block made me say "Niice" out loud.

I see this getting even better, and was not sure that was possible.

 

[mapleglo]

"Sharpened" the blades a bit, and started working on the output jack/control cavity.

Still a little sanding left to do on the blades, but I think I'm getting pretty close. The control cavity now appears to be big enough for the small controls I bought. I should be able to drill the mounting holes, and wiggle the controls in there. Shielding it may be a bit of a challenge.

 

[mapleglo]

I drilled the control holes today, after sanding out the control cavity.

It's a little tight in there, so I sanded it out a little more, and finished up the blade sharpening.

I think that's about the best I can do. I think I'm close to being ready for sealing, and paint.

I just have to take the tuners and spike off, do some final sanding, and start sealing it up. I'm going to seal it with some fiberglass resin I have, I think.

Oh, also I noticed that one of my controls is a split shaft, and the other is a solid shaft. Oh well, what do you want for a hundred bucks

 

[mapleglo]

Oh wait, I still need to cut the nicks in the blade. Tomorrow is another day.

 

[wraub]

Lookin' super groovy...

 

[mapleglo]

Cut and sanded the notches.

That wasn't easy to do, in that smooth beautiful mahogany.

Then I put on a coat of sealing resin.

Once that cures, overnight, I can start sanding that smooth and start painting.

 

[baceface]

I want to rock this bass! We should set up a pay it forward shipping deal where pepes can play it for a week and then ship it to the next person

 

[mapleglo]

I want to rock this bass! We should set up a pay it forward shipping deal where pepes can play it for a week and then ship it to the next person

Yeah, there's a few builds that I'd love to play. I wonder if there's a way to do that, some kind of rotating test play thing.

In any event, I'm also looking forward to playing this. I haven't played a fretless in many years.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Yeah, there's a few builds that I'd love to play. I wonder if there's a way to do that, some kind of rotating test play thing.

In any event, I'm also looking forward to playing this. I haven't played a fretless in many years.

Word! Sign me up! The builds from across the pond might be a bit harder to finagle, but there are a ton of builds I would love to play were the owners ok with an play and forward system. What a great way to get peer feedback and decent reviews!

 

[BassHappy]

Looking Great Mapleglo....

Really a fun build. I am having a good time watching this develop - and that sealer really made the body pop~!

 

[mapleglo]

Word! Sign me up! The builds from across the pond might be a bit harder to finagle, but there are a ton of builds I would love to play were the owners ok with an play and forward system. What a great way to get peer feedback and decent reviews!

We will definitely have to discuss this concept further.

Looking Great Mapleglo....

Really a fun build. I am having a good time watching this develop - and that sealer really made the body pop~!

Thanks! You know, the more progress I make on this build, the more I begin to lament that I will have to cover that beautiful mahogany with red paint. I felt the same way when I had to cut those notches in the blade edge. I may have to do another mahogany build at some point. While maple will always be my first love, I've really grown toward mahogany.

 

[BassHappy]

We will definitely have to discuss this concept further.

Thanks! You know, the more progress I make on this build, the more I begin to lament that I will have to cover that beautiful mahogany with red paint. I felt the same way when I had to cut those notches in the blade edge. I may have to do another mahogany build at some point. While maple will always be my first love, I've really grown toward mahogany.

Hey mapleglo

I have posted a lot about it so you probably know how I feel - I am a wood guy all the way! But I understand and use paint too at times, and certainly doing a proper tribute to a bass that already exists is the perfect time to duplicate the material on the original one. I have always been really REALLY partial to mahogany too. It's so warm and I like the weight and feel of it. It usually feels right in my hands somehow.

The two Fender hollows I have under way and the Les Paul build all feature mahogany quite prominently.

At any rate this build here is really turning out nicely and hey - it's a lot of fun too. I was giggling out loud at some of the puns and wisecracks and jokes that were flying back and forth for a while there....

 

[TinyE]

I am liking this. I was wondering rather than paint it red, perhaps you could find a red mahogany stain and do some type of transparent finish?

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

I am liking this. I was wondering rather than paint it red, perhaps you could find a red mahogany stain and do some type of transparent finish?

Many of the stains would probably provide a nice middle ground between a transparent dye and a paint job. Not that I really have a vote, but this is such a wonderful bass and the thought of painting it makes me sad.