Figured Mexican Ebony 5 string

[BassCycle]

I'm starting a new bass and this time I'm going with a 5 string. I found this really interesting piece of figured Mexican Ebony that has a fiddlebacklike figure to it. It's kind of narrow, so I was considering building a neck-through. Instead, I've decided to go with a narrower Pilot inspired body shape. I traced my Pilot but moved the lower horn back to accommodate 24 frets (the Pilot is a 22 fret bass). I'm going with an Alder core and a Walnut back. For the neck I'm doing Maple with Walnut stringers. I'm gonna try something really cool with the fingerboard. Figured Maple with figured Ebony block fret markers and Ebony binding. More to come.

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[dremy2006]

...5 string!!!!....**smilin** ..looking toward to see it..

 

[Dan Knowlton]

Just a thought - have you tried the top wood with the sapwood on the outside of the join? From the pics it looks like the figures would match up well with your body shape.

Dan K.

 

[BassCycle]

Just a thought - have you tried the top wood with the sapwood on the outside of the join? From the pics it looks like the figures would match up well with your body shape.

Dan K.

Yeah, I tried a few different scenarios. Joining it the on the opposite side creates a knot like figure in the center, which doesn't look bad, but I kind of like the fiddleback look of joining it this way.

 

[FBB Custom]

Is Mexican Ebony the same as Katalox? Nice piece.

 

[BassCycle]

Is Mexican Ebony the same as Katalox? Nice piece.

That is correct.

 

[headlikeahole]

Looking forward to another of your builds.

 

[Son of Magni]

That is correct.

Ha, I was going to ask the same question. That looks a lot like the Katalox bass I built.

 

[adam.beauchene]

Nice top! That shape is great, too. Looking forward to this!

 

[Musiclogic]

Nice top! That shape is great, too. Looking forward to this!

I had a Guild Pilot with a figured top...this is going to look pretty cool, and bring back some memories

 

[BassCycle]

Thanks for stopping by guys, as always, your support is appreciated.
I traced the pattern onto the glued top, located the neck, bridge and pickup locations and began cutting out the pickup covers.
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[Headless Llama]

Nice!

 

[miziomix]

Looks like a great project!

 

[reverendrally]

have subscribed! look cool

 

[BassCycle]

The project is kinda slow going, but here's an update. Got the top and pu covers cut out. I preped an Alder core and a Walnut back. I also picked out a nice bridge.
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[RBrownBass]

Very nice! Looks sorta like a Guild Pilot.

 

[BassCycle]

Very nice! Looks sorta like a Guild Pilot.

True dat. In first post, I describe how I traced my Pilot for this bass.

 

[BassCycle]

I finally got a start on the neck.

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Using a straight edge to shape the neck
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Using a board to guide the router for the truss rod channel.
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[dremy2006]

Awesome stuff... I've never seen at neck get done like that... you do all ur "scarf joint" necks looks that?

 

[jmorbita]

subscribing!