• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Build #2: Fretless Headless 5

#161
Time for some attention to the cavity,
Mocked up the same size as the cavity, to find the best fit.

Headless3-28-09001.jpg

Headless3-28-09002.jpg

Headless3-28-09004.jpg






Found a better fit, just had to file the side of the cavity a bit.

Headless3-28-09003.jpg







Rounded of the neck edges a bit more.Shape the end to match the headpiece.

Headless3-28-09005.jpg






Another coat of tung oil.

Headless3-28-09006.jpg






Blackened the finger access some.

Headless3-28-09007.jpg






Filed and shaped the zero fret.

Headless3-28-09008.jpg
 
#163
vbasscustom said:
that looks really awsome. cant wait to see it done. oh, and btw, you shouldnt be wasting your skillz on building, ummm....gui..tars. oh god:smug:
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's the consensus :D. Gotta get some people lined up for basses for the near future. But then again, I'm debating the logos and/or personalized inlay ideas on the table by the time i get to complete these guitars. I won't turn away anything right now, maybe later ;)

It'll also give me the chance to make necks that have truss rod channels, without routing channels. I'm looking forward to that.
 
#165
vbasscustom said:
wait what... truss rod channels without routing channels?
Click to expand...

Sure, It's loosely based on what Carl Thompson did for Ken Smith's set neck and bolt on body prototypes (Simulated neck through).Carl refers to it as "Making a neck pocket, with out carving a neck pocket". It's all about, when putting the laminates together, the center lam will be the exact width of the channel and height-wise would be shorter that the outer laminates, the depth of the channel, thus no routing.

Carl talking about it. Watch it, you'll completely understand. It might even change your mind about construction, It did for me.
 
#166
This is really looking great, Jason!

I am watching and exercising patience while I see how you do things. I just came in after a frustratingly unsuccessful session trying to make a fret sawing jig...

It's very helpful to come away from such an aggravating thing and to see your project moving along so nicely! It give me hope and encouragement.

Keep it up!!
 
#167
tZer said:
This is really looking great, Jason!

I am watching and exercising patience while I see how you do things. I just came in after a frustratingly unsuccessful session trying to make a fret sawing jig...

It's very helpful to come away from such an aggravating thing and to see your project moving along so nicely! It give me hope and encouragement.

Keep it up!!
Click to expand...

Thanks,
I thought about making a sawing jig too, but I used a 3/4 thick block, clamped to the fingerboard (thankfully the fingerboard is flat). I bet you'll find a way to do it, let the frustration wear first.
 
#168
Alembicplyr said:
Thanks,
I thought about making a sawing jig too, but I used a 3/4 thick block, clamped to the fingerboard (thankfully the fingerboard is flat). I bet you'll find a way to do it, let the frustration wear first.
Click to expand...

Yeah - I think that's probably the best way to go about it. A jig would be nice, but it's proving to be a real hassle to make it and I don't think it's all that necessary, when it's all said and done.

Again - I can't say enough how great your build seems to be coming along! It's very inspirational and (selfishly) I really need that now! LOL
 
#169
Slimmed down the neck profile some more, currently depicted @ .965", uniform all the way down the neck, to the beginning of the neck/body transition. In a comparison, my Spector Euro is, .83 @ the 1st fret, .97 @ the 7th fret and 1.03 @ the 15th fret. My Alembic epic is no question thicker than both, in fact, the only bass I own that's thinner (uniformly) is my old Ibanez soundgear.

Headless4-1-09001.jpg






Inlaid some brass position marks.

Headless4-1-09002.jpg

Headless4-1-09003.jpg






Coated the inside of the cavity while i was at it.

Headless4-1-09004.jpg





Just waiting on some pickups now.......
 
#171
pilotjones said:
How does it feel having no neck thickness taper? I've often wondered what that would be like.
Click to expand...

I had a chance to test it with strings on it, it did feel noticeably different (The closest I have to it is my DP custom, which increases by .5"). But,
maybe it would be even more noticeable with a strap.
Oddly, even though the thickness is the same, I actually had to put upbow (perhaps it's that 1/4" ebony) with the truss rods :confused: to combat the buzz (used rounds).

Perhaps it would either reduce (or add) fatigue. But i speculate now.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back