4 string Jazz: curly redwood, spanish cedar, flame maple neck

[/\/\3phist0]

***Targeting 6lbs for this build. I will chamber the body.*** (Rethinking this!)
I have chosen light woods so solid body.

Sliced this old growth redwood board (below) into 1/4" top wood. Got 4 veneers of it and each veneer will yield 2 tops. Now to decide if i'm going to top it full pattern, or bookmatched.
Deciding whether to rear route or topload. Will be passive. I dislike the look of a jazz plate w/o pickguard, the pickguard color, if I go that way is undecided. (probably black) Back will be spanish cedar.

*Scroll down for the insane neck!

Looking at linear humbucker Jazz pickups
Hipshot Ultralites (or Gotoh res-o-lite GB640)
Gotoh 404B05C aluminum bridge (or a Schaller roller that I have)

And I'm going to mate this flame maple/ pau ferro neck that I got from Ebay !

 

[dwizum]

That's a pretty neck! How much does it weigh? Are you worried about neck dive if the body is so focused on lightweight construction methods (light wood, chambered)?

 

[Slidlow]

I used to hollow, chamber, core, drill and route bodies back in the 80s but have since moved away from that practice.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

That's a pretty neck! How much does it weigh? Are you worried about neck dive if the body is so focused on lightweight construction methods (light wood, chambered)?

Yeah that is one killer neck.
I am a bit concerned , but will mitigate with light tuners, I have not weighed it, but it is light, no stiffening bars.
The chambering will be in the neck side of the body like Sadowsky.
I may use the Schaller bridge as a counter balance.
I'll also be using neck screw ferrules instead of a plate.
I may extend the upper horn an bit .
I will locate the front strap pin at an angle pointing toward the neck.
One reason for rear route is to remove the plate and guard. (And weight)
I may miss the target , but I'm aiming there.
Likely I'll be under 8lbs.
I recently built a bass that is a 5 string,
That is under 8 lbs full dress.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I used to hollow, chamber, core, drill and route bodies back in the 80s but have since moved away from that practice.

Why? Is there problems that I am not aware of? Please share!

 

[Slidlow]

Why? Is there problems that I am not aware of? Please share!

Personal. Don't see it as a replacement for good design. Weight = mass = sustain. Basic physics. Super light is the other end of really heavy. Both are extremes. I have concluded over 4 decades of building that a balance between the two with good design (function and ergonomics) works best.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Personal. Don't see it as a replacement for good design. Weight = mass = sustain. Basic physics. Super light is the other end of really heavy. Both are extremes. I have concluded over 4 decades of building that a balance between the two with good design (function and ergonomics) works best.

I appreciate the insight from your experience.
I'm not straying too far from Leo's basic design, so arguably good design.

One thing I have recently learned is that strong magnets act as a brake on string vibration. I have a Lightwave equipped bass, with no mag pickups.
The thing can sing for minutes with normal plucking energy.
Again thanks !!

 

[Slidlow]

I use piezos through a Richter buffer so magnetic pull is not a consideration (not that I have really seen any effect on bass strings but yes on lighter guitar strings). I personally don't view Fender as a good design except from a production cost point of view. Having said that their basses do work well. Of course there are a lot of variables that can work. Again just a personal feeling but ultra light can generate balance issues (i.e. neck heavy) that can be more uncomfortable then weight alone. I have viewed a number of weight reduction threads on here and even with doing it years ago myself still don't wholly agree with the concept. There are a lot of opinions I have seen put forward by others that there are exceptions to. Anyway I don't think lightening an instrument is a really bad idea it is just it seems to get carried way too far sometimes.

 

[Arie X]

as with most things, there has to be balance.

kinda like in the 80's when elliptical, bio-pace bicycle cranks came out "for efficiency" and weight-weenies tried to shave off micro-grams of bulk with failure prone hardware and simplex came out with derailleurs made from glass filled nylon that cracked in the sun. no offense if this was you

 

[Charlzm]

It would be a crime to cover any of that top wood with any kind of control plate or pickguard. Rear route all the way.

 

[Manticore]

Your choice, but with those veneers I'd prefer book matched top, rear route, no pickguard or control plate. Your goal weight is so light it would feel like a toy to me, so no chambering. Again, these are only my preferences.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Am I the only one that sees Chewbaccas face in the top part of that redwood?

 

[Killing Floor]

as with most things, there has to be balance.

kinda like in the 80's when elliptical, bio-pace bicycle cranks came out "for efficiency" and weight-weenies tried to shave off micro-grams of bulk with failure prone hardware and simplex came out with derailleurs made from glass filled nylon that cracked in the sun. no offense if this was you

Celebrating Stage 19 with a Velo Burn!

 

[Killing Floor]

That's going to make a beautiful top. Looking forward.

 

[charlie monroe]

Am I the only one that sees Chewbaccas face in the top part of that redwood?

Top left facing to the right?

Nah, I don’t see him

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Yes!!!

 

[CryingBass]

Targeting 6lbs for this build. I will chamber the body.

Sliced this old growth redwood board (below) into 1/4" top wood. Got 4 veneers of it and each veneer will yield 2 tops. Now to decide if i'm going to top it full pattern, or bookmatched.
Deciding whether to rear route or topload. Will be passive. I dislike the look of a jazz plate w/o pickguard, the pickguard color, if I go that way is undecided. (probably black) Back will be spanish cedar.

*Scroll down for the insane neck!

Looking at linear humbucker Jazz pickups
Hipshot Ultralites (or Gotoh res-o-lite GB640)
Gotoh 404B05C aluminum bridge (or a Schaller roller that I have)
View attachment 3987525 View attachment 3987528

And I'm going to mate this flame maple/ pau ferro neck that I got from Ebay !
View attachment 3987536 View attachment 3987537 View attachment 3987538 View attachment 3987539 View attachment 3987540 View attachment 3987541

That wood gave me a flashback. Sick! GLWTBuild

 

[Spidey2112]

That wood gave me a flashback.

 

[BassikBrad]

Targeting 6lbs for this build. I will chamber the body.

Sliced this old growth redwood board (below) into 1/4" top wood. Got 4 veneers of it and each veneer will yield 2 tops. Now to decide if i'm going to top it full pattern, or bookmatched.
Deciding whether to rear route or topload. Will be passive. I dislike the look of a jazz plate w/o pickguard, the pickguard color, if I go that way is undecided. (probably black) Back will be spanish cedar.

*Scroll down for the insane neck!

Looking at linear humbucker Jazz pickups
Hipshot Ultralites (or Gotoh res-o-lite GB640)
Gotoh 404B05C aluminum bridge (or a Schaller roller that I have)
View attachment 3987525 View attachment 3987528

And I'm going to mate this flame maple/ pau ferro neck that I got from Ebay !
View attachment 3987536 View attachment 3987537 View attachment 3987538 View attachment 3987539 View attachment 3987540 View attachment 3987541

WOW, that is some beautiful wood, what color are you gonna paint it ?

 

[Mechanical]

A clear pickguard would work.