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Drake single cut 6 string bass, Wenge, Burled Maple, Sapele

#43
Drake Custom said:
I did make the in/ out feed table. It mostly eliminates snipe on the work piece as the table is solid all of the way through the machine. I only loose about 3/4 on an inch from the available cutting depth which is more than I would ever need. The calibrations along the side of the machine are no longer usable if ever they were. I don't use them so no problem.
I basically took the tables off and built the new table around the machine. Well, around and through. I would not recommend it if your machine is still under warranty. I pretty much remove the features and components of my machines that do not have anything to do with guitar building. The original feed tables were about useless for precise thickness work. The snipe was screwing up my nice top woods. I had to buy long pieces to allow for snipe. That made several nice pieces too short. There are tricks like gluing strips to the edges of the work piece so that the longer strips absorb the snipe, but it was always a pain to do. This way works better.


Thanks Rip for the comment.
Click to expand...

I have a similar problem with my thicknesser. I often run a longer length of scrap next to my working piece. I don't bother gluing it. As long as it's longer and between the rollers, it seems to do the trick. It's a pity no one can design a thicknesser which doesn't snipe, but I've tried about 5 different brands and they all do it. Cheap or expensive.
 
#44
I'm not a big fan of single cut bodies, but this one's an exception. Wow.

Quick question, what's the piece of wood in between the pickups for? Is it just for looks, or does it serve a purpose?
 
#45
It's a ramp. It prevents digging in and forces a player to play with a lighter touch and thus better tone. It also allows you different attack tones since you can play anywhere while still having the same right hand feel as anchoring your thumb on a pickup. Just google "bass ramp". There's plenty written about it.

Great looking bass!! Single cuts are really growing on me. I used to hate them.
 
#46
Ironfingers said:
It's a ramp. It prevents digging in and forces a player to play with a lighter touch and thus better tone. It also allows you different attack tones since you can play anywhere while still having the same right hand feel as anchoring your thumb on a pickup. Just google "bass ramp". There's plenty written about it.

Great looking bass!! Single cuts are really growing on me. I used to hate them.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't necessarily say playing with a lighter touch gets you a better tone. I'd say ramps are compressors for your fingers :D
 
#48
Hey! I can't believe I just found this thread! That's my bass! I'm going to pick it up this week! So awesome to see everyone's comments and thoughts about the whole build.

Anyone ever in the Iowa City area, I'll be bringing this bass to the Yacht club on Wednesdays until I leave to play on the ship again!
Can't wait to take her home...

-J
 
#49
Oh, and as far as the ramp goes.. It's more for my thumb than anything. I always played on the pickup of my Ibanez. Either one, but never in between. I'm hoping the ramp will afford me a consistent feel, and I can then play more comfortably between the pickups. I tend to play a firm attack near the bridge pickup, so moving up slightly toward the neck will allow me some dramatic dynamic control, with out a total sudden tone change.

*posted before reading your link Ironfingers. Very accurate.
 
#50
Sorry that I have been away from the LC for awhile and just am now reading the latest posts. The question about the ramp seems to have been answered. Trex has picked up the bass and seemed to be happy with her. I can't wait to hear his review after some time with her. There may be some small adjustments to make but I think we nailed it pretty good.

Thanks everyone for the comments.
 
#53
I got to play this bass a couple of days before its owner (a very capable player, and gracious in meeting me to make that happen!) left for parts glamorous.

Briefly, it's a looker even up close, it feels really solid -- like a single hunk of wood -- and it plays easily (nice fretwork). Two things that struck me: The C-string isn't zingy -- matches well with the others both fingerstyle and slapped and doesn't sound too thin -- and the bass chords really well, even with the B-string played well past the 12th fret.

My favorite of the Drake basses I've played so far.
 

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