• 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.

decided to build a somewhat unique bass

Status
Not open for further replies.
#42
Warmoth tells me that the body is currently being made and they'll be shipping to me it soon. i didn't want it to look like a fender bass with a musicman pickup just stuck in it, trying to maintain a jazzmaster's 'vibe'. so i just made a custom pickup cover for it. a Nordstrand MM4.4 fits it perfectly, but it mounts with four screws like a jazz bass (or a jazzmaster guitar) pickup instead of the three screw musicman pickup mounting system. i'm going to use four 4-40 machine screws with threaded inserts in the body and the four spring SR method to mount it.

here's a pic of it:

jazzmasterbasspickup-01.jpg




it took two white musicman pickup covers to make it.
 
#46
ghostdog93 said:
Freakin' awesome!

I know that you're using a body blank to shape your own, but doesn't Warmoth offer a Jag body? Not saying that you're not capable with the woodworking, mind you. I'm just curious.
Click to expand...

to save me some work, they're cutting the permiter's shape, rounding the edges, cutting the neck pocket, arm relief and tummy cut. i'll be routing it for the pickup and electronics and drill the holes to mount the bridge. i'll probably deepen the tummy cut and deepen and smooth the arm relief's transition too.
 
#48
i also ordered a different slider switch for it. on top of the pickguard, it'll look exactly the same, but electronically, instead of a double pole double throw, it's going to be a triple pole double throw switchcraft. that way i can use the third pole to add a trim pot to adjust the output of the bass when it's switched into the series mode to balance with the other pickup settings. i did the same thing on my swamp ash stingray and it works great.
 
#49
johnk_10 said:
Warmoth tells me that the body is currently being made and they'll be shipping to me it soon. i didn't want it to look like a fender bass with a musicman pickup just stuck in it, trying to maintain a jazzmaster's 'vibe'. so i just made a custom pickup cover for it. a Nordstrand MM4.4 fits it perfectly, but it mounts with four screws like a jazz bass (or a jazzmaster guitar) pickup instead of the three screw musicman pickup mounting system. i'm going to use four 4-40 machine screws with threaded inserts in the body and the four spring SR method to mount it.

here's a pic of it:

jazzmasterbasspickup-01.jpg




it took two white musicman pickup covers to make it.
Click to expand...

How did you make the seamless joint between the musicman covers?
 
#50
it's a standard white stingray pickup cover with the two mounting tabs on one side cut off, as well as the single mounting tab on the other side cut off. then i cut one more tab off of another cover and glued the four of them on the top and bottom of the pickup instead of the pickup's sides. i then used a light coat of SEM vinyl paint and gave the whole pickup cover a light coat. it bonds and etches into the plastic so it won't scratch or wear off, and even it it did wear down, the cover is white underneath anyway.
 
#51
johnk_10 said:
it's a standard white stingray pickup cover with the two mounting tabs on one side cut off, as well as the single mounting tab on the other side cut off. then i cut one more tab off of another cover and glued the four of them on the top and bottom of the pickup instead of the pickup's sides. i then used a light coat of SEM vinyl paint and gave the whole pickup cover a light coat. it bonds and etches into the plastic so it won't scratch or wear off, and even it it did wear down, the cover is white underneath anyway.
Click to expand...

I see. So the square part is one continuous piece but the mounting tabs have been glued on. What did you use to glue them with? I wonder how that will hold up.
 
#55
johnk_10 said:
i used Zap flexible adhesive. i know that the mounting tabs will never come off. the only way you could remove them is if you broke them off and it would take some of the pickup's main body's plastic with it.
Click to expand...

I wonder if adhesive will age as well as plastic in the long run. My guess is it will not and will become the weak point in the design over time, but I could be wrong.
 
#56
yes, you are wrong. ;)

i appreciate your concern, but i started using this adhesive on RC helicopters 10 years ago and because it remains slightly flexible, it doesn't break down over time like normal CA glues do. it's still holding on my helis after 10 years and they take way more abuse and stress that this pickup cover ever will.
 
#57
johnk_10 said:
yes, you are wrong. ;)

i appreciate your concern, but i started using this adhesive on RC helicopters 10 years ago and because it remains slightly flexible, it doesn't break down over time like normal CA glues do. it's still holding on my helis after 10 years and they take way more abuse and stress that this pickup cover ever will.
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell, ZAP is just a brand name for a fairly typical CA glue. Nothing special about it. It will age and weaken just like any other super glue. Do you have evidence to the contrary?

Not trying to be a smartypants -- just wanting to get down to the nitty gritty.
 
#58
Tusec said:
As far as I can tell, ZAP is just a brand name for a fairly typical CA glue. Nothing special about it. It will age and weaken just like any other super glue. Do you have evidence to the contrary?

Not trying to be a smartypants -- just wanting to get down to the nitty gritty.
Click to expand...

wrong again 'smarty pants'. ;)

this is NOT like any other superglue:

Invalid Link Removed

so is the nitro finish on the bass supposed to last forever too?
and even plastic pickup covers break down over time.
 
#59
johnk_10 said:
wrong again 'smarty pants'. ;)

this is NOT like any other superglue:

Invalid Link Removed

so is the nitro finish on the bass supposed to last forever too?
and even plastic pickup covers break down over time.
Click to expand...

Tell me how it's different. Convince me. And the difference has to be more than just the flex agent. After all, if the flex agent holds up but the CA breaks down, what have you got? Bupkis, that's what.

Absolutely true that the plastic covers will break down over time. Nothing is forever. It's a question of relative staying power. My intuition says glues will give up the ghost before plastics will, but that's just intuition. You may know better.
 
#60
Tusec said:
Tell me how it's different. Convince me. And the difference has to be more than just the flex agent. After all, if the flex agent holds up but the CA breaks down, what have you got? Bupkis, that's what.

Absolutely true that the plastic covers will break down over time. Nothing is forever. It's a question of relative staying power. My intuition says glues will give up the ghost before plastics will, but that's just intuition. You may know better.
Click to expand...

So what if it does? It is not as if he is only allowed to ever make one pickup cover.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back