Allow me to present the mockup of my second build, a five-string headless fretless.
Funny enough, my first build was also a five-string headless fretless. Fretless 5 is my main, and has been for 20 years. Headless is kind of incidental, brought on by the desire for a smaller instrument. I fell in love with the ergonomics, though I know it’s not everyone’s cuppa.
So, why make something so similar?
Speaking of my shop, here it is.
Not even joking. I don’t own a bandsaw, only a jigsaw. Some of my tools are very nice, but they’re all parked in the shed. When they’re needed, I haul them across the lawn. I’m limited to good weather and daylight, which is why I’m only starting to cook this baby now. (Winter in Norcal is almost over.)
The plan
Body: figured walnut top, khaya body, wenge back cap
Neck: Bolt-on 3-piece (wenge, with a bubinga stripe)
Board: Bubinga, dyed dark, with a CA coating and brass dots for fret markers (instead of lines)
Electronics: Aguilar pups & pre
Hardware: T4M headless
Azshara
It’s a place I’ve been spending a lot of time in recently, and the colors are all gold and burnt reds, just like this bass.
Glamour shots
... head over to this post to skip the process pics!
Funny enough, my first build was also a five-string headless fretless. Fretless 5 is my main, and has been for 20 years. Headless is kind of incidental, brought on by the desire for a smaller instrument. I fell in love with the ergonomics, though I know it’s not everyone’s cuppa.
So, why make something so similar?
- The first one was built under tutelage, in a pro shop. This one will be a solo flight (other than a little internet help!), made with my own tools in my own shop. Nothing like learning by doing.
- I also made a ton of mistakes and bad decisions on build #1, and have many things I’d like to improve as well.
Speaking of my shop, here it is.
Not even joking. I don’t own a bandsaw, only a jigsaw. Some of my tools are very nice, but they’re all parked in the shed. When they’re needed, I haul them across the lawn. I’m limited to good weather and daylight, which is why I’m only starting to cook this baby now. (Winter in Norcal is almost over.)
The plan
Body: figured walnut top, khaya body, wenge back cap
Neck: Bolt-on 3-piece (wenge, with a bubinga stripe)
Board: Bubinga, dyed dark, with a CA coating and brass dots for fret markers (instead of lines)
Electronics: Aguilar pups & pre
Hardware: T4M headless
Azshara
It’s a place I’ve been spending a lot of time in recently, and the colors are all gold and burnt reds, just like this bass.
Glamour shots
... head over to this post to skip the process pics!
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