$100 Bass Challenge - Marceline's Axe Bass

[Luke19Boarder]

I dunno, there's a lot of strong contenders: This Axe with it's coolness, the Texas Jelly with it's copper plating, repurposed cartridges, etc, Gsnad's left-handed travel bass, MRC's headless wonders, and Sam's McGiver special "let me show you what you can do with handtools, scrap and determination... Oh, did I mention making my own pickup". All have different kinds of things to commend them. I apologize if I left anyone out, these were just the first couple that popped into mind.

It was mostly said in jest ... I'm sure I'll be surprised by the quality/ingenuity of most of the entries

 

[gsnad2000]

For some-odd reason, the grounding was my first thought also. Dunno why, since my electronics know-how could fill a matchbook.

If you could only have a matchbooks worth of electronic knowledge, checking your grounds should probably be on both covers.

 

[mapleglo]

Once again, the wisdom of TalkBass shines through. It was some kind of short between signal and ground. It lives!

As I'm sure you can see, I also put on the truss rod cover, and the top strap button, which was gracefully donated by my Rogue bass.

I spent some time setting it up. It actually sounds pretty good, especially considering the pickups were like $10 for the pair.

In the mean time, I'd better practice playing it so I won't sound too terrible when I post a sound clip.

 

[My name is Mudd]

Does the strap count against the build budget total?

 

[mapleglo]

Does the strap count against the build budget total?

Geez, I hope not!

So my first impressions.

Can you say neck dive?

How the heck do you intonate a fretless bass?

I should have thinned down the neck depth a bit more. Next time.

Other than that, I kinda like the short scale. I'm amazed by the sound quality from those cheap pickups. And from now on, when ever I use two pickups, controls will be volume and blend, the perfect combination.

 

[My name is Mudd]

How the heck do you intonate a fretless bass?

Maybe find the equivalent of the 12th fret and tune it there and call it good...?...is there a 12th fret position?

 

[hrodbert696]

Once again, the wisdom of TalkBass shines through. It was some kind of short between signal and ground. It lives!

As I'm sure you can see, I also put on the truss rod cover, and the top strap button, which was gracefully donated by my Rogue bass.

I spent some time setting it up. It actually sounds pretty good, especially considering the pickups were like $10 for the pair.

In the mean time, I'd better practice playing it so I won't sound too terrible when I post a sound clip.

I haven't been posting anything, because I know absolute squat about luthiery and it wouldn't have helped anything, but I've been following this build and I've got to say, this was a freekin' awesome thread. Great project! Can't wait to hear how it sounds. We want video of the whole costume, with the bass in action!

 

[Jon Clegg]

It freaking looks awesome!

How the heck do you intonate a fretless bass?

As Mudd said find the 12th fret and intonate there.

Other than that, I kinda like the short scale. I'm amazed by the sound quality from those cheap pickups.

Yeah, michaelwayneharwood has said much the same thing about a cheap soapbar he's tested out.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Someone has to photoshop all the contestants with their basses together.

 

[mellowinman]

Freakin' beautiful!

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Rockin' job!

 

[Geekydad]

Awesome, love it! Post a sound clip, please! (Preferably playing one of Marceline's songs )

 

[wraub]

That rocks.
Audio, por favor. Hasta!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Another great project maple. You are truly the Goddess of Luthiery. I intonated my fretless by putting a capo right behind 12th fret position and checking against un-capo-ed open string with an accurate tuner. It's a bit tedious, but seemed to work fine. maybe somebody has a better technique?

 

[mapleglo]

I'll work on some more pictures and audio/video, hopefully over the weekend.

 

[eightyearsapril]

Bravo!

 

[mapleglo]

A few "beauty" shots.

The color is a little off in the pictures - the body is not quite that orange. Those last few, you can really see how inappropriate the Rust-Oleum is for instruments. I'll add that the clear doesn't cure very hard either. For a budget instrument, I suppose it'll work. But for anything more, spend a little more for proper lacquer. Of course, I didn't do any sanding or buffing. I don't think the Rust-Oleum would take it very well. But overall, I'm happy with the way it came our for what it is, a cosplay working prop. Perhaps after the challenge, I'll strip it and properly finish it, along with upgrading the tuners and bridge. One of the string height screws on the bridge is defective from the factory - I'm unable to get my allen key to fit in the opening, so I adjusted it with a long-nose pliers. The "E" string sounds a little off - I'm not sure if it's the string itself, or because of the nut/bridge setting - looks like I may have cut the E string nut slot a little too large. And the tuners are, well, in need of upgrading. I am happy with the performance of the fiberglass resin as the fingerboard coating. So far, it's working quite well.

Sound clips coming. I'm also happy with the budget pickups.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Love it when the camera decides what color something really is. As for the finish, I think at least some of what you're seeing there is the open grain of the mahogany. Open grain woods like that can be really annoying; you think you got them perfectly filled until you put some gloss on them.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That's badass. You will crush all contenders for the Comicon Marceline crown. They must bow before you!

 

[Rôckhewer]

Looks great!
Now you just have to practice floating around whilst you play it, and sing!
Shouldn't be too hard...