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$100 Bass Challenge - Marceline's Axe Bass

#461
mapleglo said:
The color is a little off in the pictures - the body is not quite that orange.
Click to expand...

Fixed.

2hguzuq2.jpg
 
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#463
mapleglo said:
So my husband took a picture while I was practicing for the sound clip. I'll add that while the bass weighs in on the bathroom scale at about 7 1/2 lbs, it feels heavier, due to the neck dive. It fortunately still feels pretty light. Still trying to get used to playing a fretless.
Click to expand...

So cool man! Not to take away from any of the other $100 builds, but this is just awesome.
 
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#464
mapleglo said:
So my husband took a picture while I was practicing for the sound clip.

25hiiip.jpg


I'll add that while the bass weighs in on the bathroom scale at about 7 1/2 lbs, it feels heavier, due to the neck dive. It fortunately still feels pretty light. Still trying to get used to playing a fretless.
Click to expand...

the size of the bass looks great! I probably would have made it too big or too small lol
 
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#466
Hey mapleglo

Congrats on this build - many thanks to you - it is always a treat and a delight to sit back and watch all the creativity and hard work that goes into what you create!

Can't wait to see you in costume beating away on it at Comicon and to hear the clips of this bass.

Also, I for one - am interested to see what you come up with for the next one!
 
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#467
Maple
Didn't you have a Ric inspired build in the works before the Marceline axe? Since this is clearly a democracy where we suggest difficult things for you to build, and then sit back and watch you pull it off every time, I vote 8 string Ric inspired with a stretched Leafenbacker headstock.
 
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#468
mapleglo said:
A few "beauty" shots.

2hguzuq.gif


muiz9k.jpg


35l7vdg.jpg


2zflees.jpg


elcho9.jpg


2q2rcbn.jpg


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.
Click to expand...

Well done Nex! Unless you really plan on playing it seriously after it's formal debut then maybe it is what it is and should stay a $100 project bass for the duration. I mean, as an example/icon instead of redoing anything. Just parlay your creative energies and resources into your next endeavor. (2 cents deposited) ;)
 
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#475
Amara said:
Wow, this is awesome. Now I have the dilemma of trying to figure out whether I have enough GAS for this to try to teach myself how to do my own build....
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It does take some doing. I probably put in over a hundred hours on this build. And the $100.00 price tag may be somewhat misleading. For example, I used four different cans of paint. Although I only used a portion of each can, so I didn't use the entire $16 worth of paint, I had to spend the $16 to buy the cans. And the strings and strap were not included in the price. Not to mention all the tools, and sandpaper, etc. It's an investment for sure.

JIO said:
Let you ears be your guide :thumbsup:
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Heh, my ears are telling me that some of the notes I'm playing are wrong :P If I ever build another fretless, I think I'll go with a 34" scale. More room for error. With the 30" scale, even a very slight difference in finger position is off key.

In any event, I'm almost done with the combo amp battery box. I'm starting on the speaker enclosure today. I'll also work on a sound clip today.
 
#476
mapleglo said:
Heh, my ears are telling me that some of the notes I'm playing are wrong :p If I ever build another fretless, I think I'll go with a 34" scale. More room for error. With the 30" scale, even a very slight difference in finger position is off key.

In any event, I'm almost done with the combo amp battery box. I'm starting on the speaker enclosure today. I'll also work on a sound clip today.
Click to expand...

One thing you can do to help is to find each exact position w/a tuner or another tuned bass and mark it on the side (side dots) I did it for each position/'fret' on an unlined fretless and it helps find your notes at a glance. You can use white paint to create the dots or drill holes and fill them with a visible material of your choice. I used bronze welding rods which worked well.

IMG_4160.JPG
 
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#477
JIO said:
One thing you can do to help is to find each exact position w/a tuner or another tuned bass and mark it on the side (side dots) I did it for each position/'fret' on an unlined fretless and it helps find your notes at a glance. You can use white paint to create the dots or drill holes and fill them with a visible material of your choice. I used bronze welding rods which worked well.

View attachment 599883
Click to expand...

Yes, side dots would help. I had hoped the fret laminates would be more visible, but alas, with my 59 year old vision, I have trouble seeing them. I'll have to see what's available around the house for use.

I pretty much finished the battery box, so I started on building the enclosure.

5pnaa.jpg


I'll let that cure and start gluing up the other pieces. In the mean time, I'll have to stop over at GC to pick up a 25' mic cable. The computer is in the bedroom, with the recording stuff, while the bass and amp are in the music room. It's a little complicated why I can't just move the computer into the music room. I'll have my husband run the computer while I play in the music room. I hope to have a sound clip today. I don't want to run the bass right into the Presonus USB box - I think it'll sound better through the amp.
 
#479
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#480
mapleglo said:
I would love to use those, but I'm maxed out on the $100.00 for the challenge. I have to find something around the house in stock, for a zero cost.
Click to expand...
Chop sticks from your Chinese takeaway, bamboo skewers, toothpicks, dead sticks from your shrubbery around the house.....want metal markers; coat hanger, 14, 12, or 10 gauge household wiring....you could take some of your scraps from the build and cut splinters from them and have mahagony markers.... stuff thread into the side holes and saturate w/CA....You're very creative, I'm sure you'll come up with something.
 
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