Audiovox 736 replica

[Freekmagnet]

The replica is almost finished. There is still the pickguard of the original and the pattern on it that I have to imitate.

When looking at the picture of Paul Tutmarc and his instruments:

and at the 736 of Peter Blecha:

and other pictures of Audiovox instruments on the net, you see the pickguard has a silver color.

Let's see if I can turn brass into silver (alchemy?).

I took a zinc-carbon battery apart for the zinc and ZnCl.

I dipped it in vinegar (added salt and sugar) and let it soak for a couple of days.

Then I took a piece of brass, connected it to the minus of a powersupply (5V DC) and put it in the solution.

I hooked a piece of zinc of the battery to the plus of the power supply.

Then switched the powersupply on and let it run for 30 minutes.

What you get is a grey mat layer of zinc on the brass. After polishing, it turns into a shiny silvery layer.

Then with a technique called brush electroplating and some masking tape, I made some patterns on the zinc by adding more zinc.

This is the result:

¡Bravo!

 

[TonH]

For a couple of weeks I played my Audiovox replica at home.

But the best test is to use it in a band setting.

So last night I took the replica to my band rehearsal.

In the room where we practice there is an Ampeg B2 (4 x 8).

I had to cranck up the gain, but there was enough power/sound to compete with 2 guitarist and a drummer.

I played it for 2 hours (sitting down, no strap buttons).

I got compliments for the sound of the bass from my band members.

To me it sounded like a P-bass and I could here myself very well.

I could play it pulling hard on the strings above the pickup and also pulling gentle above the fretboard (different sound, deep)

We played songs from Snow patrol (Run, Chasing cars), Greenday (Boulevard of Broken Dreams), The Tragically Hip (The Luxury)
Glen Hansard (Her Mercy), James Bay (Hold Back the River),Radiohead (street spirit).

The replica did his job with all these songs, and I didn't get any cramps in my hand or fingers while playing.

No trouble with intonation either.

So even in a band setting the bass performs very good.


I noticed there is wear (nice patina) where I put my thumb on the scratchplate, it gives the replica a nice vintage, roadworn, relic appearance (it is hard to see on this picture).

 

[Fat Freddy]

For a couple of weeks I played my Audiovox replica at home.

But the best test is to use it in a band setting.

So last night I took the replica to my band rehearsal.

In the room where we practice there is an Ampeg B2 (4 x 8).

I had to cranck up the gain, but there was enough power/sound to compete with 2 guitarist and a drummer.

I played it for 2 hours (sitting down, no strap buttons).

I got compliments for the sound of the bass from my band members.

To me it sounded like a P-bass and I could here myself very well.

I could play it pulling hard on the strings above the pickup and also pulling gentle above the fretboard (different sound, deep)

We played songs from Snow patrol (Run, Chasing cars), Greenday (Boulevard of Broken Dreams), The Tragically Hip (The Luxury)
Glen Hansard (Her Mercy), James Bay (Hold Back the River),Radiohead (street spirit).

The replica did his job with all these songs, and I didn't get any cramps in my hand or fingers while playing.

No trouble with intonation either.

So even in a band setting the bass performs very good.

Great to hear that.....

Congrats again on building a very special instrument!....

 

[TonH]

This afternoon I took the replica to the music store, specialized in bassguitars Invalid Link Removed https://www.facebook.com/paulsbassmatters.

The owner, a bassplayer himself, played it through a Jule preamp, amp and a Bag End S18B. What a sound!

 

[Gaolee]

I just found this thread and read the whole thing. I'm in awe. That's all there is to say. Well, one other thing - the sound clips are great, too. It sounds very good.

 

[mongo2]

Just found this thread...nicely done and interesting pickup design.

If you left the mending plates split and not touching, and flipped one of the coils to have the opposite winding sense of the other coil it could be a humbucker but the coils would have to match fairly closely.

 

[TonH]

Just found this thread...nicely done and interesting pickup design.

If you left the mending plates split and not touching, and flipped one of the coils to have the opposite winding sense of the other coil it could be a humbucker but the coils would have to match fairly closely.

Because I used copper and solder to couple the two plates, they magnetically are still seperated.
And the coils are connected as a humbucker.

 

[mongo2]

Because I used copper and solder to couple the two plates, they magnetically are still seperated.
And the coils are connected as an humbucker.

There ya go.

 

[Joerg Osterkamp]

Great there is a video of a concert already
greetings from Germany

 

[jim chapman]

Not having the skills to do it myself, I would like to purchase an Audiovox replica for my small museum.
Is there anyone out there who would be interested in making some kind of deal?
Thanks for your consideration.

 

[Ghastly]

Wow. Amazing work. Inspirational!

 

[iomamo]

Resurrecting this thread to congratulate you on a fantastic job. Impressive and inspiring.