Billy Bo Bass Build Blog

[TFM94]

Hi everyone,

after people have been super helpful on this forum, I would like to share some steps from my latest build. I am already quite far with this bass, but I also include some pictures of earlier stages.

Quick overview: It's a Billy Bo inspired bass, but not a replica of anything. Long scale (33.5 inch), Mahogany body, flamed maple top, multilaminate Mahogany/Maple/Walnut neck and Ziricote fretboard. 20 Frets. 2x TV Jones Thundertron pickups.

Here we go: I put the volute a bit to far back into the headstock, and I was worried that the transition area might not be strong enough:

Therefore, I have made reinforcement piece out of a scrap piece of Ziricote that is scarf-jointed to the fretboard:

This is the body without the top. It has some weight relief holes on the neck side. I didn't want to chamber it as much as the Billy Bo guitar to keep the guitar balanced:

Then I glued the maple top on and routed it flush. With the hardware laid out it already looks like something:

The top is already stained blue with natural maple "faux" binding and sealed with sanding sealer:

I'm currently in the process of applying several coats of tru oil. I will send a new picture once the finish is done.

As this is my first bass build (I've built a few guitars, though), any questions, ideas, suggestions, feedback and constructive criticism is appreciated!

 

[2saddleslab]

Brilliant!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I dig it!
Much more finessed than my 'Bo.
the set neck will look killer.
Mine's a 32".
FWIW the heavy bridge and the afterlength of the body serve to balance pretty well, even with full chambers.

 

[TFM94]

It's alive!

Thank you all for the kind words. I finished the last coats of tru oil, put the hardware on and strung it up. The setup is not final yet, the strings are still a touch too over the frets, but basically the build is complete. Here are some pictures:

The controls are (bottom to top): master tone, bridge vol, neck vol, master vol. I thought with this wiring I could blend the two pickups together, but currently there is a very abrupt threshold when the second pickup kicks in... each single pickup volume by itself works fine. I'll probably make a new thread about this problem with a wiring diagram.

For @/\/phist0 an extra shot of the set neck joint with maple binding around it:



Headstock:

I used Schaller ultralight bass tuners to avoid neck dive. Worked out great, the neck is going absolutely nowhere when playing standing up. I maybe could have chambered the body more and it would still be ok, but I'm not complaining.

I was a bit scared after I drilled the tuning peg holes (17mm each). because the headstock is really narrow (72mm). I added some strips of maple/walnut/maple veneer to the sides of the headstock, that is the same as the neck laminate interlayers. I don't know if it does very much, but so far the headstock is not bending or anything.

And here it is hanging out with it's lil' buddy:

You see, whenever ZZTop are coming to town, I am prepared!

I always find it difficult to describe tone, but the best I can come up with is: A more twangy P-bass... if that makes any sense It doesn't feel like a P-bass though.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Very nice. The trim on the neck joint is beautiful.

 

[2saddleslab]

Well done! You should be proud of that.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

It's alive!

Thank you all for the kind words. I finished the last coats of tru oil, put the hardware on and strung it up. The setup is not final yet, the strings are still a touch too over the frets, but basically the build is complete. Here are some pictures:

View attachment 3981429
The controls are (bottom to top): master tone, bridge vol, neck vol, master vol. I thought with this wiring I could blend the two pickups together, but currently there is a very abrupt threshold when the second pickup kicks in... each single pickup volume by itself works fine. I'll probably make a new thread about this problem with a wiring diagram.

For @/\/phist0 an extra shot of the set neck joint with maple binding around it:
View attachment 3981430


Headstock:
View attachment 3981431 View attachment 3981432
I used Schaller ultralight bass tuners to avoid neck dive. Worked out great, the neck is going absolutely nowhere when playing standing up. I maybe could have chambered the body more and it would still be ok, but I'm not complaining.

I was a bit scared after I drilled the tuning peg holes (17mm each). because the headstock is really narrow (72mm). I added some strips of maple/walnut/maple veneer to the sides of the headstock, that is the same as the neck laminate interlayers. I don't know if it does very much, but so far the headstock is not bending or anything.

And here it is hanging out with it's lil' buddy:
View attachment 3981428
You see, whenever ZZTop are coming to town, I am prepared!

I always find it difficult to describe tone, but the best I can come up with is: A more twangy P-bass... if that makes any sense It doesn't feel like a P-bass though.

Way cool, man you got woodworking chops , very fine work!

 

[sunbeast]

Beautiful!