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Build 4 - headless fretless chambered 6 string
- Thread starter reverendrally
- Start date
Back in the shed today. Mowing lawns, spraying clover, fixing leaky VWs and... finally doing some bass work.
Took me a couple goes to get the first PU wire hole right, but once I'd done that one, I got the other 3 right (or close enough) on the first go.
I was worried about what I'd do with the wire, but it turns out I could tuck the wires away quite neatly. Yay!
As you can see the control cavity is rather snug. I think I'm going to go; Vol, Vol, Piezo blend now. Should give me a bunch of different tone (myth) settings and get rid of the issue with the double gang pot I showed you last time.
In the mean time, I'm wetting the neck down and knocking down the grain, ready for hand rubbed poly.
The vic ash the neck is made from is a really open grain, so you have to do this at least 4 times to get it perfect. The Jarrah board, on the other hand, is great and doesn't yield much grain standup.
Took me a couple goes to get the first PU wire hole right, but once I'd done that one, I got the other 3 right (or close enough) on the first go.
I was worried about what I'd do with the wire, but it turns out I could tuck the wires away quite neatly. Yay!
As you can see the control cavity is rather snug. I think I'm going to go; Vol, Vol, Piezo blend now. Should give me a bunch of different tone (myth) settings and get rid of the issue with the double gang pot I showed you last time.
In the mean time, I'm wetting the neck down and knocking down the grain, ready for hand rubbed poly.
The vic ash the neck is made from is a really open grain, so you have to do this at least 4 times to get it perfect. The Jarrah board, on the other hand, is great and doesn't yield much grain standup.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,019
- 1
- 31,736
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Decided having a thousand bits laying around was risky for the damaging the finish. So I screwed them to together so I can damage it more comprehensively. 
As per usual, there were the usual assembly bit of fettling needed. The neck plate isn't torqued down tight yet. I'll do that once I get the neck on. I'm on my 4th coat of wipe on poly. It's looking good. I'll post some pics of that soon enough.
As per usual, there were the usual assembly bit of fettling needed. The neck plate isn't torqued down tight yet. I'll do that once I get the neck on. I'm on my 4th coat of wipe on poly. It's looking good. I'll post some pics of that soon enough.
K, so for my next trick...
Should I wire my HB PUs in...
1. series or
2. parallel?
Every vote gets a free coupon for a virtual high five!
Should I wire my HB PUs in...
1. series or
2. parallel?
Every vote gets a free coupon for a virtual high five!
I’d vote for a series/parallel or series/off/single coil switch for each but of the two choices I’d say series. That’s what I use most of the time on pickups I can switch.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,019
- 1
- 31,736
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Interesting, I was thinking series too. Although, when I had flats on my other fretless, it stayed in parallel most of the time. But I won't be adding a switch. Like most of you said, it stays in the one setting 99.9% of the time anyway.
In other news... I put it together last night.
Even my wife noted just how much larger than a regular bass it is. Due to extra neck width added from the finish, I'll need to do a little shimming on the side of the bridge block, but no biggy. Then it's time to start shaping the bridge and get some strings on it.
In other news... I put it together last night.
Even my wife noted just how much larger than a regular bass it is. Due to extra neck width added from the finish, I'll need to do a little shimming on the side of the bridge block, but no biggy. Then it's time to start shaping the bridge and get some strings on it.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,019
- 1
- 31,736
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
That’s beautiful. Elegant, even! Especially when compared against some of your other work.
I just reported you to the mods for being dangerously honest.
Back on the bench and checking a few things out...
I got the output socket on last night and started messing around with PUs. Just for a laugh I tried the barts I've got too.
Custom nordies...
Barts...
The barts are much taller than the Nordies. I'm leaning toward them at the moment, but I have one little issue.
Basically, when they poured the epoxy into the case, it ended up high on the bass side. I've shaved some of it down a little, but it still needs to go lower.
I'm not above filing it down. My only other concern is that the B string will end up really boomy with the PU so close to the strings. Thoughts?
I got the output socket on last night and started messing around with PUs. Just for a laugh I tried the barts I've got too.
Custom nordies...
Barts...
The barts are much taller than the Nordies. I'm leaning toward them at the moment, but I have one little issue.
Basically, when they poured the epoxy into the case, it ended up high on the bass side. I've shaved some of it down a little, but it still needs to go lower.
I'm not above filing it down. My only other concern is that the B string will end up really boomy with the PU so close to the strings. Thoughts?
I vote for all 4 pickups.
If you must use just one set and it’s the Barts, I like T_Bone’s idea of small routs for the bass side of the pickup.
If you must use just one set and it’s the Barts, I like T_Bone’s idea of small routs for the bass side of the pickup.
Hmmm, can't do routs. Timber is weakest in compression. That upper surface needs to be remain uncompromised (like my stupidity).
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,019
- 1
- 31,736
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
