4 string 36" scale Cocobolo-Ebony-Pau Ferro CT inspired

[Grant Bass]

I lost a bit of enthusiasm in the construction of this bass, because my "customer" some month ago told me to work slowly because he has other expenses to deal with, and now he no longer responds to my messages...
Perhaps doesn't he want this bass anymore?...
This situation is a bit frustrating... Any advice? [/QUOTE]

well if he started with a deposit and dosent want it no more.. he loses his deposit, and you gain a sweet bass; if he didnt drop a deposit... you got a sweet bass.... that you paid for.
always get deposits, other than covering your expenses; it encourages the client to see the project to the end;
good work again btw

 

[Splods]

I would send the client an image and saying ' I haven't heard from you recently, do you still want me to build this.

IMHO, if you are not constantly in contact with your client, then the client will be disappointed by something little that could of been done differently, and their perfect instrument will be ruined.

Communication is really important.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

About the customer: he replied to my message.
I didn't ask a deposit, cause is my first commission, and if at the end he don't like my work i don't have to give back anything (and i got a sweet bass!).

always get deposits, other than covering your expenses; it encourages the client to see the project to the end;
good work again btw

Good advice, but i'm not a pro, this is only my sixth building, and i'm not totally sure of what i do

Do you plan to leave a sharp step between the shaped top layer and the body core, or to do some rounding or blending?

It will be blend, i will use chisels and scrapers... And the scroll will be the CT 3D scroll.

Hi. I may be having a brain fart here, but how did you get the scroll saw blade in to cut the cavity cover in the first place?

I've always wondered how builders can cut a line so thin with a saw and not using a router.

I just drill a little hole in the wood, insert the blade and then...

 

[Muziekschuur]

Beautifull... You are skilled sir...

What will the 36 inch bring? I am only accustomed to 34" scale basses.

 

[KramerDon]

Very impressive!! Good job!!

 

[Matteo Marziali]

What will the 36 inch bring?

I dunno! This is my first (extra) long scale bass (i only made 3 medium scale basses before this).
Carl Thompson used to build 36" scale basses, even more, he use a 38"!!! He say extra long scale is a big improvement for tone...

 

[Matteo Marziali]

Detail of the headstock
I decided to drill holes to lighten this headstock so big and so "stuffed" with Ebony.
I should not have problems of neck diving because I put also the light tuners...
but I prefer to do everything possible!

 

[crazygtr]

Detail of the headstock
I decided to drill holes to lighten this headstock so big and so "stuffed" with Ebony.
I should not have problems of neck diving because I put also the light tuners...
but I prefer to do everything possible!

This is the kind of thing that makes you go...Damn! why didn't I think of that before.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

Yes, but it's a very little thing... I lost only 15gr circa...

 

[miziomix]

Ciao Matteo, this is shaping up really nice! Saluti a Firenze

Maurizio

What will the 36 inch bring? I am only accustomed to 34" scale basses.

A very tight B string? oh, no B string... a very tight E string then

 

[Matteo Marziali]

Grazie Maurizio! Many thanks!
I plan to put a .105 E string, but it could be too tight...
I hope the neck could hold this tension, it's a multi-laminated, and it's quite wide and thick (42mmx21mm at the nut)
otherwise i will put on a balanced medium set (.100-.075-.055-0.40)

 

[miziomix]

Grazie Maurizio! Many thanks!
I plan to put a .105 E string, but it could be too tight...
I hope the neck could hold this tension, it's a multi-laminated, and it's quite wide and thick (42mmx21mm at the nut)
otherwise i will put on a balanced medium set (.100-.075-.055-0.40)

Go ahead with the .105 gauge if that's what you like. The neck should be just fine and you've got a truss rod to finely adjust the relief.

In terms of playability, .105 feels just marginally tighter than .100.

 

[J Posega]

You could get away with an E in the .095 range I bet, and it would sound fantastic.

 

[darren1970]

What a simple yet brilliant idea to counter neck dive.
Good work, she's gonna be beautiful.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

You could get away with an E in the .095 range I bet, and it would sound fantastic.

Thank for your opinion, it make me checkin D'Addario Tension chart

You could be right if i put D'Addario XL Nickelplated Round Wound strings:

.095 = 38,57 Lb/in
.100 = 40,93
.105 = 45,19 (!!)

But i'm gonna use D'Addario ProSteel Round Wound strings, and the right choice should be .100

.095 = 35,66 Lb/in
.100 = 38,57
.105 = 41,82

Anyway, my customer use to play metal, so i think he could also like .105

 

[pilotjones]

Keep in mind when looking at the tension charts for D'Addario strings: when looking at the values for their regular strings, they give values for tension when strung on a 34" scale instrument. For their Super Long length strings (-SL series?) they quote tension values when used on a 36" scale. This is why you'll see different values for the tension of the same type and size strings, when bought as part of different sets.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

All the values i post reffering to 36" scale.

This is why you'll see different values for the tension of the same type and size strings, when bought as part of different sets.

Sorry i can't understand...

 

[pilotjones]

All the values i post reffering to 36" scale.



Sorry i can't understand...

If you look up the tension of the .100 E string in the XL170 set it will show a different tension than the .100 E string in the XL170-SL set, even though the strings are the same winding -- because in the first case they give the tension when tuning up to E on a 34" instrument, and in the second case they give the tension when tuning up to E on a 36" instrument.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

Ok, now i understood!
Yes of course the tension will increase if i put the same string on a longer scale bass.
Same string i mean with the same "unit weigth".

The strange thing about the values that i show in the post is the difference between same gauge, but different material: Nickel string are heavier then Steel string.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

The neck is shaped.
Here all my tools: spokeshave, rasp, sandpaper on a block radius, file and her Majesty the Scraper

Details of back headstock