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Customizing my Spalted Maple bass top...
- Thread starter Sundogue
- Start date
Thanks. I absolutely hated that pointy LTD headstock. The new one has a kind of MTD look about it, which I greatly prefer.
Well, here's a quick pic I took of my bass on my bench, sans strings. I'll take more shots another time. Yes, I know the Ash isn't matched and was never meant to be natural, but I still love it.
Also, the NYC pups don't look like they line up with the outer strings. They are a direct drop-in replacement for EMG size 40 and they fit perfect. Even in this video ad for the pickups, the outer strings on that bass only line up with the inner pole pieces. You can see I have already added (and wired) the Series/Single Coil/Parallel switches for them (above the EQ knobs).
Also, the NYC pups don't look like they line up with the outer strings. They are a direct drop-in replacement for EMG size 40 and they fit perfect. Even in this video ad for the pickups, the outer strings on that bass only line up with the inner pole pieces. You can see I have already added (and wired) the Series/Single Coil/Parallel switches for them (above the EQ knobs).
it doesn't look like the shape of the top changed much, was it just a paper thin venire of maple?
Bummer about the pickups, but the wood underneath the spalt, or lack there of, looks great. The pointy headstock didn't bother me, but your reshape is very well done.
Yes the veneer was very thin. Real wood, but very thin. Both the "Spalted" Maple and the dark brown wood layer combined were about an 1/8"...probably 1/16" each. At first I thought it might be more like a printed laminate, but it was in fact real wood as the sawdust verified it.
I'm not really bummed about the pups. Even SD's own video shows the bass they put them in not having the poles centered between the strings on the two outer (low B or G) strings. It should still sound fine. Aesthetically it would be great if they were, but it should not affect the sound at all.
The pointy headstock always hit something on my desk in my office when practicing in front of my computer. That, and it making the bass look kind of gothic and out of place with the body shape wasn't something I liked. Looked more like it belonged on a B.C Rich.
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Oof, that's a bit harsh, but it's your bass and therefore your opinion that matters, not mine. The reshape/rebrand looks good and expertly done.
Thanks. I meant no offense. I like B.C Rich basses. They are very cool in their own way. I only meant that the headstock on mine (as it was), was more fitting on that kind of bass (B.C.Rich) because the ESP body is more traditional in shape so they looked out of place together.
Still haven't had the time to put the strings on. I'll post up a review of the pickups when I get the chance to play with it a while and figure out the Series/Single Coil/Parallel switches and the effects of that.
With my bass being solid Ash and a glossy fretboard making it (for the most part) brighter sounding, I got these pups specifically because they are advertised as being more warm and organic. I'm hoping the combination is a winner.
With my bass being solid Ash and a glossy fretboard making it (for the most part) brighter sounding, I got these pups specifically because they are advertised as being more warm and organic. I'm hoping the combination is a winner.
Well she's all strung up now. Just had time to quickly make sure it was in tune, the action was setup properly (neck has been off for a couple of weeks) and all was well and functioning. Played it for a bit through my amp.
These pickups are incredible!!! The difference between the stock ESP pups and these SD NYC's is night and day. They should be given the pups cost almost as much as the bass itself. I feel like I just bought some nice boutique bass. Looks great, plays great and now sounds great. The switches for the pups (Series/Single Coil/Parallel) give off decidedly distinct voicings even with the EQ set flat.
I'm wondering if glossing the fretboard and/or sanding off the laminates made a difference in the tone. Yes, obviously the pup change made the most difference, but even unplugged (resting my ear on the upper horn) the bass seems punchier than before. Prior to the changes the bass sounded a little "thin" and need more EQing at my amp to compensate (which is what prompted the pickup change in the first place).
I'm normally pretty proud to take a cheaper bass and mod it to my liking, but this has killer looks and tone, with lots of tonal versatility. By far, my best bass mod. I'll do a pickup review when I have more time to play with it. But this video pretty much shows the pickups off to their potential (although the tonal differences sound more distinct on my bass than in the video...perhaps because that one is wired passive and mine is active).
Here's a quick pic in crappy lighting.
These pickups are incredible!!! The difference between the stock ESP pups and these SD NYC's is night and day. They should be given the pups cost almost as much as the bass itself. I feel like I just bought some nice boutique bass. Looks great, plays great and now sounds great. The switches for the pups (Series/Single Coil/Parallel) give off decidedly distinct voicings even with the EQ set flat.
I'm wondering if glossing the fretboard and/or sanding off the laminates made a difference in the tone. Yes, obviously the pup change made the most difference, but even unplugged (resting my ear on the upper horn) the bass seems punchier than before. Prior to the changes the bass sounded a little "thin" and need more EQing at my amp to compensate (which is what prompted the pickup change in the first place).
I'm normally pretty proud to take a cheaper bass and mod it to my liking, but this has killer looks and tone, with lots of tonal versatility. By far, my best bass mod. I'll do a pickup review when I have more time to play with it. But this video pretty much shows the pickups off to their potential (although the tonal differences sound more distinct on my bass than in the video...perhaps because that one is wired passive and mine is active).
Here's a quick pic in crappy lighting.
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I wouldn't worry about the pole spacing as long as it sounds good ( and you said I does ). Look good and I'm sure when you are done with the art work, even better. Now DON'T GET GAS and sell it down the road. Glad too hear your happy with it. I know what it's like to wait till the new pup's arrive and the tension one feels right before they pluck it for the first time, as do a lot of us on TB. Off topic but has anyone here ever asked if TB meant tuberculosis....LOL. I hope notWell she's all strung up now. Just had time to quickly make sure it was in tune, the action was setup properly (neck has been off for a couple of weeks) and all was well and functioning. Played it for a bit through my amp.
These pickups are incredible!!! The difference between the stock ESP pups and these SD NYC's is night and day. They should be given the pups cost almost as much as the bass itself. I feel like I just bought some nice boutique bass. Looks great, plays great and now sounds great. The switches for the pups (Series/Single Coil/Parallel) give off decidedly distinct voicings even with the EQ set flat.
I'm wondering if glossing the fretboard and/or sanding off the laminates made a difference in the tone. Yes, obviously the pup change made the most difference, but even unplugged (resting my ear on the upper horn) the bass seems punchier than before. Prior to the changes the bass sounded a little "thin" and need more EQing at my amp to compensate (which is what prompted the pickup change in the first place).
I'm normally pretty proud to take a cheaper bass and mod it to my liking, but this has killer looks and tone, with lots of tonal versatility. By far, my best bass mod. I'll do a pickup review when I have more time to play with it. But this video pretty much shows the pickups off to their potential (although the tonal differences sound more distinct on my bass than in the video...perhaps because that one is wired passive and mine is active).
Here's a quick pic in crappy lighting.
So I don't get it, did you peel off / sand off the spalted top? I'm confused. Yeah, it does look like a totally different instrument.A Before and After shot...
Lots of sanding. But is was two VERY thin veneers. Spalted maple was about 1/16" of an inch with a dark wood layer about the same. The ash underneath looks better IMO. Cleaner and brighter than the dull mustardy color of the maple.
Lots of sanding. But is was two VERY thin veneers. Spalted maple was about 1/16" of an inch with a dark wood layer about the same. The ash underneath looks better IMO. Cleaner and brighter than the dull mustardy color of the maple.
Thanks, I do like spalted tops, but that was on the underwhelming side (though I liked your artwork ideas). Sure looks nice now though.
Thanks. If I could have just gotten the finish off without going through the thin maple I may have still done some artwork on it. But by the time I got through the finish, it was already through the maple in spots too. That veneer was so thin I almost thought it was like a decal of SM, but it was wood as I sanded it. So I thought I'd do the artwork on the ash...until I saw how nice it looked with the ash body.
