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EUB Build

scojack

scojack

Apr 1, 2009
431
2
Scotland
#1
Hello Folks,
Im in the middle of my first build in about twenty years! Ive always wanted an EUB and finally decided to build one. So i cleared a space in the shed and started whittlin'...
Had a nightmare with the finish, i thought id try an acrylic type lacquer as its much easier to work with, has no fumes etc (my shed is very small!). Anyways to cut a long story short it was a complete disaster, the base coat did not adhere properly to the wood, subsequent coats did not adhere well either, it was just onion peeling awful...lesson learned, im going to redo with nitro.
Its a 3/4 scale (41 inch) bass with a straight through..ish neck construction.The body is semi-hollow but this is more to reduce weight than for the tonal qualities. Mahogany with walnut front/back facings.

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Heres a pic with the 'orrible lacquer

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Pickup is my own design (with a little help from the PM forum) although i have another smaller one which i am going to eventually fit.
 
#3
As I said its many years since i built my last guitar and I dont have my spraygun anymore. I will have to brush the cellulose. If anybody has any hints/tips on this i'd be glad to hear them. I need the mahogany to be darkened before applying clear coats . What would be the best method of achieving this by hand? Is it possible to hand brush tinted lacquer over sander dealer without it being streaky or could i use a stain before the sealer? Would i then need a special stain for the cellulose sealer to stick?
Any Tips would be greatly appreciated.
IanM
 
#7
rgarcia26 said:
by the way I want to build a semi-hollow body too, how u did it? any pic's?
Click to expand...

Sorry I didnt take any earlier pics.

I had a lot of ideas for this, i was originally going to make it almost totally hollow but decided against it as it really was never going to be much of a soundbox at these dimensions and I was worried that having a flimsy body with such a substantial neck would be very weak.
So .....
The neck wood runs str8 through the body and is a laminate of 3*1 inch mahogony. The outside laminates are drilled (like an aircraft wing strut) to reduce weight but retain some strength. The middle laminate has a large cavity running along it the whole length of the body (to take the endpin). The small body wings are also routed with a chamber running most of the way along . Unfortunately you cant see any of this once the Walnut facings are on.

Hope this helps
IanM
 
#8
scojack said:
Sorry I didnt take any earlier pics.

I had a lot of ideas for this, i was originally going to make it almost totally hollow but decided against it as it really was never going to be much of a soundbox at these dimensions and I was worried that having a flimsy body with such a substantial neck would be very weak.
So .....
The neck wood runs str8 through the body and is a laminate of 3*1 inch mahogony. The outside laminates are drilled (like an aircraft wing strut) to reduce weight but retain some strength. The middle laminate has a large cavity running along it the whole length of the body (to take the endpin). The small body wings are also routed with a chamber running most of the way along . Unfortunately you cant see any of this once the Walnut facings are on.

Hope this helps
IanM
Click to expand...

So the ur neck is the same length of the body meaning that ur EUB is a neck thru, but u chambered the neck at the portion of the body before glue it together ... Wow I’m too late for that mine is a screw on neck, I have to find out for another alternative, any ways u gave me a lot of ideas thanks men
 
#9
bassmanrocke said:
Why not try a polyrub finish? I've heard really good things about it from a local luthier.
Click to expand...

Dont know polyrub bassman and im a bit reluctant to experiment , im losing credibility with the good lady already having to redo the finish once. Its not a product i have seen in the UK either.

I have used nitro before so I at least know what i'll be getting. Just not sure about hand brushing it especially if i have to tint it. It would be a much easier/safer job to spray it :crying:
 
#10
scojack said:
Dont know polyrub bassman and im a bit reluctant to experiment , im losing credibility with the good lady already having to redo the finish once. Its not a product i have seen in the UK either.

I have used nitro before so I at least know what i'll be getting. Just not sure about hand brushing it especially if i have to tint it. It would be a much easier/safer job to spray it :crying:
Click to expand...

a good quality wipe-on polyurethane/oil finish is one of the easiest things to apply...

it's quite thin, and dries to a nice satin...generally 3-6 coats are applied...

I've used it successfully on an instrument that had previously a brush-on nitro finish (the nitro finish ended up looking uneven and "gooey"...but it made a terrific sanding sealer, over which, I put the wipe-on poly...
 
#11
Finally finished with Nitro...
Just a few bits n pieces to do but its pretty much there.
Apart from the finishing this has probably been the most satisfying build ive ever done. Except for cutting out the basic shapes...all done by hand tools:eek:
Anybody know how to set up an upright bass? :p
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#14
Hiya Gnasher,
Up North, Central Scotland.
This was really only just for me to have a crack at playing the Upright Bass and to dust the cobwebs off my guitar building, but its turned out so well that i am considering building a few more for sale. I'd need to set up a decent workshop though as a 6*8 shed that is shared with the kids bikes and dirty big spiders isnt ideal.
Also im working on a another new pickup design and an adjustable bridge so still a bit more R&D to do.
Im chuffed that you would consider buying one .... that has made my day !
 
#18
Thanks guys, i really appreciate your comments.
Gnasher - You have really got me thinking about moving into the garage now, the old shed would make a nice wee spray booth.
Tonester - It plays surprisingly well at the moment and i havent even started setting up the bridge. I've not played much for years on any bass never mind upright bass but i can play this for hours with no problems. It sounds a bit like a DB but with a real growl when you dig in, has a lot of sustain. Maybe wouldnt suit some acoustic players but even that could possibly be modified with some dampening under the bridge.

Im going to do some better quality photos this week sometime. Would be nice to do some sound samples too (I would need to practise a bit first though)

IanM
 
#20
Wired up the electrics today.
Pickup sounds really good, although i only have a small practise amp here.
One of my mates is coming over with something more suitable so I'll get a better listen then.
Kids were gobsmacked when all that wire n magnets they've seen me mucking about with...made a sound ! (So was I tbh lolol)
 

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