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Build #2: Fretless Headless 5

#43
renniw said:
"Eh" is on the english side of Canada, right now you're talking to a pure french canadian, so no "eh" here...

Great bass anyway, whatever language you use (with or without eh).

And because you asked, I'm a fan of black hardware, I vote black.
Click to expand...

The "eh" was unintentional, but I did not know that. Seems I'm learning.

Actually, I think black hardware is not offered by Bunker. So, Chrome, Gold or plan "C" :rolleyes: ABM in black. :hmm:


BTW, Did you have any ideas what wood you are going to use for yours?
 
#45
Alembicplyr said:
The "eh" was unintentional, but I did not know that. Seems I'm learning.

Actually, I think black hardware is not offered by Bunker. So, Chrome, Gold or plan "C" :rolleyes: ABM in black. :hmm:


BTW, Did you have any ideas what wood you are going to use for yours?
Click to expand...

I have some ash that I'll use for the body. Neck will be maple. For the fretboard, I still don't know.

Bloodwood and wenge looks great with ash (IMO) but I'm a big fan of block and bound fingerboard, I may try that also.

The problem I have is there's not exotic wood supplier near me. 5 hours drive for a fingerboard is a bit rough and not very cost effective....

All I can get here is maple, walnut, birch, sometimes mahogany and poplar... :crying: eh...

I'm still getting funds for the headless system, so I'm not sure when I'll start building, these cost an arm and a leg here in Canada....
 
#46
Did some shaping with a ferriers file, small curved file for the inside and tight turns, 80 grit and 220 grit sandpaper.


"Belly" Contour:

Headlessbuild2-20-09001.jpg

Headlessbuild2-20-09002.jpg





Arm and more edge roundover:

Headlessbuild2-20-09003.jpg

Headlessbuild2-20-09004.jpg





More edge roundover:

Headlessbuild2-20-09005.jpg

Headlessbuild2-20-09007.jpg

Headlessbuild2-20-09008.jpg

Headlessbuild2-20-09009.jpg




I may round it off some more, still mowing it over.
 
#48
is that arm contour, like a reverse one. im not sure if you will know what i mean, but does it kind of cup in, instead of following the body? cause they look really sweet, and from what i have heard, are actually way more comfortable than a regular contour.
 
#49
vbasscustom said:
is that arm contour, like a reverse one. im not sure if you will know what i mean, but does it kind of cup in, instead of following the body? cause they look really sweet, and from what i have heard, are actually way more comfortable than a regular contour.
Click to expand...

V,
It does contour in *some*, considering to cup it in some more. I'm also wanting to round off the sides on the front side some more, for now I left the back side not as rounded off.
 
#51
Now it looks like the hardest challenge with this build, will be with a part. I have been scouring the internet for a:

Left handed, 5 string head piece.

Seems that most of the headpieces I have found, are setup for a right handed direction of string sizes.

This part will be a very hard thing to find, is my prediction.
 
#52
yeah i can imagine. but, if money is not really an issue, which it may be, contact david king. he mills his own headless gear, and i hear he is very pleasent to work with and will mill custom ones as well, im really not sure what he will charge, but i assume it will be a little lump of coal
 
#56
vbasscustom said:
i say go for it. it will be a superior product, and, you can have him do it to your own specs. you could have it powder coated too, for the black. very durable
Click to expand...

Actually that does not include anodizing, he was referring to one that is slotted, grubs are threaded in.... etc but not shaped (still rectangular), i'm going to do some more searching before deciding.

I tried contacting Status 3 (well just did the 4th) times. I'm hoping this last time will do the trick. The one thing I find strange about the Status site is: they list having headless hardware and head pieces, but there are none shown or displayed (No offense Rob).
 
#57
Bought 5 ABM "mono" tuner/brdges off the bay from a store. Looks like the store doesn't have any in stock (says they should be in by the beginning of march). I feel some what nervous (maybe i'm overreacting) about getting burned.

Email was sent to my aol account: (left the name out to possibly protect the innocent.
______________________________________________________
Hello & Thank you for ordering from "---------"! We appreciate your
business!

Unfortunately, I have sold out of the ABM single string bass bridges you
ordered. I have contacted Allparts, and they are telling me they should
ship to me at the beginning of March. I am more than happy to refund your
money if you can't wait that long, or if you want to wait, you are right
now the first in line to get the supply that comes in. For your trouble,
I would refund your shipping cost. Let me know what you would like to do.

I apologize for this inconvenience.

Regards,
"----"
______________________________________________________


Should I be worried, or should I wait it out and see what happens?

I replied back that i would wait, but I'm going back and forth.
 
#58
After i decided to relax about it,but, i'll feel much better once I have them. I had received a response from Rob Green (status), he had stated that they do not have headless parts available right now. I have also sent inquiries to ABM and ETS, but I don't know if you have to be a distributor or not, to purchase from them. So I'm a bit stuck for right now.

I did however buy the piece of ebony for the fingerboard, although I won't be doing anything with it yet. Also hunting down a few places to price some EMG pups and electronics.

I know this might be crazy talk, but the piece of quilted maple may end up on the top of this bass, I would just need to shave off about 3/16" on the top and just "drop top" it.
 

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