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1st Build

BruceBass3901

BruceBass3901

Oct 17, 2009
932
34
Portsmouth, UK
#1
Hi there guys,

After seeing so many incredible basses built on here, I decided to give it a shot :) (with the help of my father)

Basic Idea:

5 Strings
4 + 1 Maple Precision Style Neck / Head
3 Piece Jazz Bass Body Shape
Musicman Style Humbuckers
Musicman Stingray 2 Band Preamp
5-Way Pickup Selector Switch (Standard Musicman HH Wiring)

Woods:

Sapelli Centre section sandwiched between 2 sections of Ash

Details:

No pickguard
Small Ash control panel with turned Ash control knobs

My father is making a copy of a Fender Telecaster Slimline using the same Ash/Sapelli/Ash with maple neck setup which I will throw the odd picture of in here :)

I have already placed the machine heads into the head and glued up and started to shape the body, so I will try and get some pics up soon :)

Wish me luck :D
 
#3
Right, I completely forgot that I started this thread :p

I have since finished the bass (after a few changes were made)

Here is the finished article (btw, I apologise for my appaling photography :p):

DSC_0050.jpg


DSC_0049.jpg


DSC_0047.jpg


A couple of more 'arty' shots that show off the ash dots between the pickups and the control cavity cover a bit better :)

DSC_0053.jpg


DSC_0045.jpg


DSC_0044.jpg


It would be great to get some feedback on this, and I can only apologise for the lack of a build diary. I've already started my second build, and I will be sure to put a diary up here for that one :)
 
#5
Thank you :)

I will try at some point, but I need to check the wiring a bit first because the bass control is kind of acting like a second volume control whilst also adding the bass signal in.

At the moment, it sounds 'ballsy' for lack of a better word :p It has a really hot output (so hot that my EHX Bass Big Muff cuts out when I have both humbuckers and volume and bass maxed :P)

Thanks again for saying you like it :)
 
#11
Ok guys, as some of you seemed interested to see a build diary, I shall do my best to describe how I made this bass :)

Enjoy :)

Here's the plan I drew up from a Jazz Bass template. After drawing on the standard chrome control cover, and seeing that it wouldn't fit, I decided to design my own
Photo0010.jpg


After a rough cut on the band saw and a (very) rough placement of the pups and bridge
Photo0007.jpg


After some sanding
Photo0013.jpg


Populated PCB
Photo0033.jpg


Neck pocket routed out
Photo0035.jpg


Bridge positioned and strings attached to align original maple neck
Photo0041.jpg


Neck bolt holes drilled and brass ferrules insterted
Photo0042.jpg


Neck in place
Photo0044.jpg


Pickup template
Photo0091.jpg


First cavity done
Photo0093.jpg


Both cavities finished
Photo0094.jpg


Starting to drill out the control cavity. By this stage, I have already started to shape the edges of the bass with a router
Photo0095.jpg


Drilled and routed
Photo0096.jpg


Final depth
Photo0097.jpg


'Shelf' done
Photo0098.jpg


The mahoganny used to make the control plate
Photo0099.jpg


Shaped and populated
Photo0100.jpg


Disguising the screw holes used to secure the templates
Photo0106.jpg


Holes filled with Ash plugs
Photo0107.jpg


Control cover supports glued in
Photo0112.jpg


Pickup and control cavities shielded and the first coat of Danish oil applied
Photo0118.jpg


Photo0117.jpg


The birds nest that is the control cavity
Photo0127.jpg


And finally, a family shot :)

Photo0128.jpg


On the right is my dad's Telecaster copy that was done in exactly the same way, but has a varnish finish instead of oiled. He is going to sand down the varnish and oil it instead so that they match :)

Hope this is sufficient guys and I hope you enjoy the bass :)
 

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