Finally revisiting a fretless project

[Dark Horse]

While I'm waiting for a few things in paint, I wanted to keep my hands busy… so I dig up this project I started a few years ago, before my cancer and subsequent treatment.

about 12-13 years ago I made a bass that was basically a combo of a tele bass and an ampeg scroll bass. I really liked the aesthetics of it , and then wanted to refine it further….though I'll probably build another one like the original in the future. Here's the original "Tele-Scroll" bass I build all those years ago….

Anyway, I updated the design, and started on the body a few years ago. I had made the semi hollow body from mahogany and highly figured Mango, so I decided to make the neck maple with mahogany stringers. I didn't go for highly figured maple because I want the body and the beautiful piece of pau ferro that I'm considering for the fingerboard to stand out. I had also made a pickup cover back then, and I'm on the fence about using it. I think it will be ok once I make the rosewood bridge and tailpiece…. But I'm going to need to do a mock-up to be sure. Anyway, now that the neck is started I think the project is now well underway.

 

[Dark Horse]

I also just found this acoustic bass bridge/tailpiece I had stashed away. I could go with a piezo and preamp along with this bridge.

I'd definitely reshape the bridge to flow better with the bass shape if I decide to go this direction….

thoughts ?

 

[Lo-E]

I also just found this acoustic bass bridge/tailpiece I had stashed away. I could go with a piezo and preamp along with this bridge.

I'd definitely reshape the bridge to flow better with the bass shape if I decide to go this direction….

thoughts ?



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That bridge looks great.

 

[Dark Horse]

That bridge looks great.

You don't think it needs reshaping at all?

 

[Lo-E]

You don't think it needs reshaping at all?

If it were me I might square up the ends a bit and round those sharp-ish corners. I meant the contrasting woods and the choice of a wood bridge look great.

 

[Dark Horse]

If it were me I might square up the ends a bit and round those sharp-ish corners. I meant the contrasting woods and the choice of a wood bridge look great.

yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking about with that bridge as far as a reshape. Just doing away with some of the pointedness.

 

[Dark Horse]

After a quick bridge re-shape I like it better. I'll probably go this way… rosewood bridge/tailpiece with a piezo and preamp

 

[Beej]

After a quick bridge re-shape I like it better. I'll probably go this way… rosewood bridge/tailpiece with a piezo and preamp

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Hawt!

 

[Dark Horse]

Hawt!

Thanks !!!


I'm planning on gluing up the fingerboard tonight and letting it sit for the weekend while I'm out on gigs. Hopefully next week I can have a pic of the neck sitting in the body and then I can position the bridge.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I really love your work DH. This is great.

 

[Dark Horse]

I really love your work DH. This is great.

Thank you for the kind words !!!

 

[JRA]

holy !!


you're killin' me.

 

[Dark Horse]

holy !!


you're killin' me.

thanks !

 

[Dark Horse]

Glued up the neck. I'm out of town from tomorrow morning till Sunday afternoon, so I'll pull the neck out of clamps on Monday and get back to working on it

 

[Water buffalo]

Beautiful work as usual Andy!

 

[Dark Horse]

Beautiful work as usual Andy!

Thank you !!! I'm glad I dug this body out of the "forgotten" pile…. I think it's gonna be a beauty, and a semi-hollow fret less is something I've never done before !

 

[Dark Horse]

Currently trying to make a plan for what finish to use on the body (just planning in advance)….. Tru Oil…. Clear Lacquer … Satin Lacquer…. Not sure which way I'm going to go. Leaning toward the tru oil though…

thoughts ?

 

[coy garcia]

This is awesome, can't wait to see it come together!!!
I'm a fretless ampeg scroll player who also loves playing my fretless P... even though it isn't as pretty. This should solve that problem.

 

[Lonnybass]

Currently trying to make a plan for what finish to use on the body (just planning in advance)….. Tru Oil…. Clear Lacquer … Satin Lacquer…. Not sure which way I'm going to go. Leaning toward the tru oil though…

thoughts ?

Looks great! Tru Oil is great stuff and I've used it on necks for a long time. For bodies, I now use gloss General Finishes Arm R Seal. A more economical way to get the same result.

 

[GKon]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaang!