32” RD Inspired w/ Quarter P

[Interspace Station]

I was finally inspired to work on my first build after reading about some knock-off Carl Thompson’s and Les Claypool’s Pachyderm Bass. A long time brewing, it was the purchase of a 32” scale Allen Ellis neck blank and the discovery of some long-stored Douglas Fir and Pine lumber in my garage from the previous homeowner that finally sealed the deal. While this build has no similarity to CT or Claypool, Carl’s build aesthetic and my long time appreciation for unique basses were driving factors. I’ve never built an instrument but have had some woodworking experience and am doing this primarily with hand tools.

Basics:

- 32” scale maple neck blank
- Firebird inspired headstock
- Gibson RD inspired shape
- SD Quarter Pounder P pickup
- Badass III bridge
- Volume/Tone
- Walnut stain

Started with some sandwiches, front:

Back:

Glueing:

Sketching the desired shape:

Rough cuts and initial sanding:




Scraping & shaping, quick 120 grit sand:

Additional shape refinement:

Going to work the lower horn down a bit more and add a forearm and tummy cut. Next will be routing the neck pocket, pickup and electronics cavity.

Parts mock up with a sketch of the headstock:

Thanks for looking, I’m stoked to be working on this and can’t wait to play it. Any input or experiential advice is welcome!

 

[Interspace Station]

Weird photo issues.

Rough cuts:

Initial sanding:

And worked on fret filing, they were quite rough from the factory.

 

[ctmullins]

I’m a fan!

How heavy is the body compared to the neck? That body shape can result in some neck dive. Some people (not me) are bothered by neck dive....

Also, I’m a big fan of reversing the P layout, putting the E/A side closer to the bridge. Low strings are tighter, high strings are fuller.

 

[Interspace Station]

Thanks @ctmullins!

Neck dive isn’t an issue for me, but the body has some heft to it. It’s a tad thicker than it should be compared to most basses - currently at 2.125” but aiming to shave it down to 2”. The forearm and tummy cut will trim some weight but I think it will balance pretty well. Neck is light with the paddle blank and the tuners are MIM standard Fender, not too heavy.

I like the suggestion of reverse P, not 100% on placement yet but I’d like to find a spot that is unique to this instrument. I have a jazz with 70s spacing and a jazz with a P so was thinking of putting the pickup in a MM position.

 

[Interspace Station]

Worked on the arm and tummy cuts today, then mustard up the custard to start on the neck pocket. It fits but needs to be cut deeper. Bridge not secured yet.

 

[Interspace Station]

Some updates – more shaping, more sanding, routing the neck pocket better (still needs a bit more depth though), shaping the headstock, drilling holes and testing string alignment for eventual pickup routing.



Still have a lot of sanding to do, and I just received the ferrules for making this a string-through. Having fun bringing this thing to life!

 

[ctmullins]

That actually looks pretty cool already as a blondie.

 

[Interspace Station]

An update since it’s been a heck of a while. Still shaping this thing, neck pocket was giving me some trouble during my last assemble, treble side was a bit high and needs to be adjusted further. Got some replacement tuner bushings and screws and a proper orange drop cap once I get into the electronics. Bridge was somehow a half step off despite multiple measures, so I had to fill and redrill the bridge. In the correct spot now.

Hope to be further along before the end of the year but times they are, who knows!

 

[Interspace Station]

Had a decent bit of time today... sanded some bumps down, cleaned up the neck pocket and pickup cavities, moved the bridge again. Put it back together to test the string alignment, spacing and intonation and it’s sounding pretty good! Has decent resonance on its own, so now I get to move on to fitting the electronics in the cavity for space before staining. Aiming to finish up by the end of December.

 

[charlie monroe]

mustard up the custard

I am so stealing this

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I was finally inspired to work on my first build after reading about some knock-off Carl Thompson’s and Les Claypool’s Pachyderm Bass. A long time brewing, it was the purchase of a 32” scale Allen Ellis neck blank and the discovery of some long-stored Douglas Fir and Pine lumber in my garage from the previous homeowner that finally sealed the deal. While this build has no similarity to CT or Claypool, Carl’s build aesthetic and my long time appreciation for unique basses were driving factors. I’ve never built an instrument but have had some woodworking experience and am doing this primarily with hand tools.

Basics:

- 32” scale maple neck blank
- Firebird inspired headstock
- Gibson RD inspired shape
- SD Quarter Pounder P pickup
- Badass III bridge
- Volume/Tone
- Walnut stain

Started with some sandwiches, front:
View attachment 3937649

Back:
View attachment 3937648

Glueing:
View attachment 3937650

Sketching the desired shape:
View attachment 3937651

Rough cuts and initial sanding:




Scraping & shaping, quick 120 grit sand:
View attachment 3937656

Additional shape refinement:
View attachment 3937659

Going to work the lower horn down a bit more and add a forearm and tummy cut. Next will be routing the neck pocket, pickup and electronics cavity.

Parts mock up with a sketch of the headstock:
View attachment 3937665

Thanks for looking, I’m stoked to be working on this and can’t wait to play it. Any input or experiential advice is welcome!

You're not going to get anything like a claypool tone with that pickup. Its scooped as heck. You want an NP4A. Tight and middy.

But, great looking bass though. Good job.

 

[Interspace Station]

I am so stealing this

You're not going to get anything like a claypool tone with that pickup. Its scooped as heck. You want an NP4A. Tight and middy.

But, great looking bass though. Good job.

Thanks for the input! Not specifically looking for a Claypool tone, just the idea of Carl’s work has been an inspiration to work up something unique for a while. Clearly there are specific references all over this bass, but I’m interested to see what the QP sounds like. It’ll be a unique flavor added to my arsenal either way, and if it doesn’t work out to my liking I might give your suggestion a shot.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Thanks for the input! Not specifically looking for a Claypool tone, just the idea of Carl’s work has been an inspiration to work up something unique for a while. Clearly there are specific references all over this bass, but I’m interested to see what the QP sounds like. It’ll be a unique flavor added to my arsenal either way, and if it doesn’t work out to my liking I might give your suggestion a shot.

It does sound great though. My best explanation is "studio bass"

It sounds like a studio bass. Powerful, deep, and smooth. I just put a set in one of my PJs. They sound great. Together more than the P alone though. But, I'm coming from the NP4A. It's really just a whole different beast. Not really lacking at all, like my first impression. Just more along the lines of shining in different areas.

 

[Interspace Station]

It does sound great though. My best explanation is "studio bass"

It sounds like a studio bass. Powerful, deep, and smooth. I just put a set in one of my PJs. They sound great. Together more than the P alone though. But, I'm coming from the NP4A. It's really just a whole different beast. Not really lacking at all, like my first impression. Just more along the lines of shining in different areas.

That’s the QP, yes? Sounds like it will be great. I’m coming from a variety of Jazz basses (one a PJ) so a scooped P tone may be a good variant to what else I got.

I’m also curious what the position of the pickup will give me. As mentioned previously, I put it a tad closer to the bridge in hopes I’d get something similar to a Stingray, but whatever that sound might be from a P pickup. I didn’t end up doing the reverse P for concern I’d lose more low end than I wanted from the E and A strings in that position. We’ll see.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

That’s the QP, yes? Sounds like it will be great. I’m coming from a variety of Jazz basses (one a PJ) so a scooped P tone may be a good variant to what else I got.

I’m also curious what the position of the pickup will give me. As mentioned previously, I put it a tad closer to the bridge in hopes I’d get something similar to a Stingray, but whatever that sound might be from a P pickup. I didn’t end up doing the reverse P for concern I’d lose more low end than I wanted from the E and A strings in that position. We’ll see.

Ooooooo. That's gonna be perfect. That pickup is deep. So being closer to the bridge should work out great!

 

[Interspace Station]

Been a while since I’ve update this thread. Spent some time sanding and getting the electronics cavity routed deep enough for the pots, and had several mishaps along the way. Nothing huge but enough to require some work arounds for things I hadn’t planned.

Yesterday and today I finally gave in to staining and ultimately painting. Originally I wanted this to be a deep walnut stain but with the wood filler and various gouges too deep to sand out I figured a burst-like finish would work. Lots of paint to cover up blemishes, but I like the tight inner core of stained wood showing through.

Being this is my first build, there are lots of details and errors I would try to hone for next time, of which I’m sure there will be. Woodworking has my deepest respect, and getting a chunk of nature to look as polished as some people can clearly takes a lot of time, and having the right tools makes a huge difference.

Electronics are in but I’ve got some issues I’m hoping some of yous guys can help me sort out. I followed this schematic to wire the pickup but I’ve got backwards trim on the volume and tone pots, and a terrible grounding buzz when touching the strings or bridge. Silent when not touching. Any ideas where I went wrong? Thanks in advance.

 

[Interspace Station]

I should also mention the sound! It’s great, the QP has a familiar tone but I think the position gave me just what I was looking for…A slightly tighter, more focused tone sort of resembling something between a P and a J in one pickup. Nothing revolutionary but I dig it, and the Dunlop flats do the job nicely. Will do a demo once the electronics are working properly.

 

[Beej]

Looks great!

 

[ctmullins]

Yep, that looks super cool, especially for a first build. Congrats!

Try swapping the hot and ground leads at the jack.

 

[Gustopher]

I really like this, good job and way to stick with it!