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Custom Performer/Supersonic bass

#141
Hopkins said:
Man dude, that looks great. I would still like to see it in black, but that white looks amazing.
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Thanks, I really appreciate that! When I can afford to order a blk/wht/blk blank I'll cut one for it because I also dig the black & gold mix. Now that I've got a working template, it will be much easier.
 
#142
Beej said:
Hey JIO, not to derail the thread, but can you tell a little more about this bass? What's the story? I like it...
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No worries Beej - would love to share it's story. This bass started out w/the neck, which is an Allparts Fender authorized '51P/Tele neck that I defretted, filled the fret-gaps w/black binding material, vintage-tinted and Stew-Mac rattle-can lacquer coated. It was originally on a J-body. A friend had a box of parts including a few raw guitar bodies (from the early 90's) He sold me a maple Tele body cheap and I proceeded to modify it to create a Tele-bass similar to the prototype signature bass that Tim Bogert of the Vanilla Fudge is seen playing on the Ed Sullivan Show. (great performance!) That bass (for whatever reason) wasn't produced, but the humbucker Tele bass of the 70's was. (the gen 1 '66-'68 Tele was essentially the first Fender reissue of the '51P) TB's sig bass had the big chrome bucker and a single (sounds cool to me!)- and in '68!

Anyway, I wandered away from a full-on replica (could still be done and it would be cool!) and ended up chopping off the lower horn. It's a string-thru and passive w/a Tonestyler tone pot. It's pretty growly or fat depending on the settings. Of note is the lollypop tuners which were off of a '66 Fender Mustang bass and I had to shave the headstock to allow them to turn properly. The guard is custom designed/cut, and the body heavily ergo-sculpted.

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As much as I would keep every bass I've ever owned, I would consider offers on it.
 
#143
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...the other shot was prior to actual assembly, which this pic shows. The EMG system is so easy and just takes following the clear and detailed instructions/schematics. (no soldering!) It's set up V/V/T - classic J-style. I plugged it in and tapped the pu's and everything so far is go! The neck will be here next week and final assembly & set-up will follow.
 
#145
roberthabraken said:
Wow! Superb :). Good choice on the pickguard!!
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Thanks - I read over this 4+ month long thread, and as much as I had a feeling about what it would look like, I'm really pleased at it's realization so far. Looking forward to playing it!

I re-read this entry and it sounds like it fell short from 'feeling' to reality - which couldn't be further from the truth. I should have said it like this > From my first conceptualizations about creating this bass to now, I feel it has superseded expectations for a super-cool bass so far. (as I have yet to complete it, so will fully know soon)
 
#148
roberthabraken said:
I know the feeling, the suspend of my own build pace is killing me too. After over one and a half year I soooo want to know how it'll sound. Already actually dreamt about playing it twice :D.
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How is that red 5'r coming by the way - I checked your build site and it got to the point where you were struggling w/the stain/finishing stage. I empathize as staining is much harder than one might think. (not for the timid!) We see all the high-end boutique builders and their beautiful stained exotic wood and think, oh, that looks doable! I've done both staining and my share of rattle-can and compressor/sprayer paint-jobs and now leave my high-end finishing to the pro's like Pat (Wilkins). When it comes back looking like a million bucks I have the background/experience to know what it takes to achieve that level of craft. Anyway, hope you'll resolve your finishing set-backs soon. It's going to look great!
 
#149
My blog actually ends with a satisfying staining result, but you are right, it doesn't come easy... Far more difficult than I thought, but since I'm still learning I consider this part of the deal. Currently I'm waiting for the third clear coat to dry, tonight the fourth, tomorrow the fifth, maybe a sixth later this week. Than wait a few weeks before wet sand and polish. Only then we will know how I did..

Next time, I will use oil or so until I mastered staining and the clear coat thingy on less important subjects. ;)
 
#150
roberthabraken said:
My blog actually ends with a satisfying staining result, but you are right, it doesn't come easy... Far more difficult than I thought, but since I'm still learning I consider this part of the deal. Currently I'm waiting for the third clear coat to dry, tonight the fourth, tomorrow the fifth, maybe a sixth later this week. Than wait a few weeks before wet sand and polish. Only then we will know how I did..

Next time, I will use oil or so until I mastered staining and the clear coat thingy on less important subjects. ;)
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I'm curious about the final polishing stage. Do you use a large buffer-wheel for that show-room glassy look? I'll keep up w/your tb build thread to see it through.
 
#152
roberthabraken said:
No idea, would be the first time :hiding:

Guess just hand polishing with a cotton cloth.. Glossy yes, showroom quality, not likely :-)
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I've done hand-polishing myself w/good results - your finish looks good so far! I've used toothpaste for polishing, (in place of polishing compound) 1st w/8000 emery paper and then w/a soft wet cotton cloth.

My Supersonic neck w/be re-entering the atmosphere tomorrow so I'll be playing it by the weekend! :hyper::bassist::D

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#153
Good choices all around! Quickly coming to the "OMG" point! Question based off my question back around page 4 as to the neck. You replied:
"Actually I had it made to a mix of the Parker Hornet 24 fret neck (from the butt up) w/a early 60's Jazz profile (from the nut down) So something of the best of both worlds (for me anyway). With flats it will definitely be a glide-monster! The super thin Performer neck is cool, but I wanted something less particular, especially when going from bass to bass. A 4 to 5'r transition is usually challenging enough! I should have it back next week from Pat to assemble.
So what sort of string spacing does that come to down around the 5th and 12th fret?
 
#157
MEKer said:
Good choices all around! Quickly coming to the "OMG" point! Question based off my question back around page 4 as to the neck. You replied:
"Actually I had it made to a mix of the Parker Hornet 24 fret neck (from the butt up) w/a early 60's Jazz profile (from the nut down) So something of the best of both worlds (for me anyway). With flats it will definitely be a glide-monster! The super thin Performer neck is cool, but I wanted something less particular, especially when going from bass to bass. A 4 to 5'r transition is usually challenging enough! I should have it back next week from Pat to assemble.
So what sort of string spacing does that come to down around the 5th and 12th fret?
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I just today did the final tweaking and assembled the SS - I will post pics soon and will write a full glowing review also. To answer your question, at the 5th we have neck width at 1 3/4" with 1/2" string spacing. At the 12th fret we have 2 1/16" neck width, with 5/8" string spacing. Awesome feeling this one - I can't put it down! :bassist:
 
#159
Got busy w/work and didn't want to rush finishing it at this critical stage. Lots of little but important fine-detailing work. Here's some final-stages shots to wet your whistle for completed pics later.

Credit where credit due - neck by SF luthier Dan Ransom
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...and my own mark and date
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After honing the pocket for a snug neck fit, I installed the neck and strap-peg. You can see in this pic the satin finished neck - velvet-city!
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I installed my composite nut...
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Check out the Supersonic w/ports! Talk about space-craft!
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I polished the string-thru ferrules before installing them. I tried to show the smooth next to the rough, and what it took to get there. (emery cloth, steel wool, and polishing paste) I like this mid-size ferrule for scale.
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and here's the installed ferrules
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...and the completed beautiful back-side (excuse my reflection!)
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That's all the pics I was able to take while daylight was around... more later.

I set it up w/GHS flats and it plays and sounds great! I am however experiencing a bit of technical difficulties and would appreciate insight. The EMG system had very clear/detailed instructions and I followed them closely, but here's what's going on; the 2 volume pots are the source of concern. First off, they are not grounded - they hum/buzz when touched. The tone knob does not have this issue, and no hum, buzz or noise otherwise from the instrument. Also, the volume knobs do not go to "off". A full twist in both directions goes through tonal differences but leads to the same place volume-wise (in both neck/bridge volume) as in, I can achieve the required tone difference/pu blend, but no silent from either. In some ways, both of these issues are minor, as the knobs do deliver both volume and tone, abet in a odd way, and I'm only touching them for a short time. Regardless of that, if you can help get it straightened out here, I'd much appreciate it.

Otherwise - this is an awesome - awesome instrument! It's stunning to look at and plays like butter! It feels relatively light and is balanced well. Tonally it is just what I wanted - warm but focused w/the 3 in 1 layers of tone I love; the low round bottom definition, the mid-range character, and the articulate finger/pic attack tone. The neck feel/profile fits my hand like a glove, especially w/Pats satin finish. He separated the glossy headstock from the neck in a very cool delineated way - I'll try and get a pic of it in daylight as a flash won't capture it. Speaking of which, the best pics I could take won't describe how truly cool his bass is. I made this for myself, but after seeing/feeling/hearing it I am going to look into producing a limited production of the Supersonic if it's at all possible. Let me know if you would like this idea and if you think it would be something that would sell.
 

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