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First build - 5 String Bolt-on

#61
Not sure if I'll be able to do a video/sound clips. I have a buddy with some recording equip that I might be able to talk into helping me out with some clips. Not sure you'd really be impressed with my playing anyway :rolleyes:

Here are my overall thoughts:

Pros:
-Plays nice
-Sounds awesome (the Nordy's and the Bart pre rock)
-Looks pretty decent for a first try
-I get to say I built it

Cons:
-Slightly neck heavy (kind of a nit pick, not a dive bomber, but it's not "perfectly" balanced)
-Not real happy with the Wilkinson tuners (they're OK once you get them in tune... but getting there isn't as easy as with Hipshots)
-I need some better looking knobs

I played it at church this weekend and was really impressed with how it sits in the mix. I just run it through a small combo on stage and then out to the FOH. The Nordy's have a great punch to them. It's a little thicker sounding than a standard J-bass, but not the "dull thump" you get from a P-bass. I'm not totally sure what people mean when they say "J-bass on steroids", but apparently that's what it's supposed to sound like :) People often describe it as "raw and agressive" which seems appropriate - at least compared to the Bart soapbars I'm used to in my other basses, which definitely have a "smoother" sound to them. The Big Singles have a lot of punch that seems to really help cut through in the mix. They are nice and thick, without being muddy or boomy, and have a nice top end. My wife said it sounded good through the mains (although I think she's biased on my behalf).
 
#70
Well, I'm resurrecting this thread to document the 2nd half. When I started this build, I decided to do two basses simultaneously, figuring that at some point I'd do something stupid and ruin one of the necks or bodies. By some miracle I didn't end up screwing anything up that couldn't be salvaged, so I'm finishing up the 2nd bass now. I'm still considering this part of my "first build" even though it's bass #2.

After I finished the orange bass, I took a bit of a break. I've really enjoyed playing that one and decided there are a couple of things that could be improved upon. First, I wanted to try a symmetrical neck profile. Second, I decided that I really like the Big Singles run passive. Third, I want to make sure I do a better fret job on this one.

So for this bass I'm transplanting the Big Singles and running them passive it a pretty traditional J-bass arrangement (V-V-T). I was a lot more systematic with profiling the neck (I even made some little profile guides). I also switched from a 12" radius fingerboard to 16". I was also more systematic in radiusing the fretboard to make sure it was straight all the way down the neck.

Here are a few pictures of the progress recently. I have more pictures at my Photobucket account, but I'll just post the highlights here to keep it concise.

Body and neck after profiling and contouring:
IMGP7497.jpg


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Control cavity routed and neck washer recesses cut:
IMGP8098.jpg


Applying the second round of stain to the body:
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Body and headstock stained:
IMGP8103.jpg


I ordered the lacquer today, so hopefully I'll start spraying this weekend or early next week. The orange bass used the waterborne KTM-9 from LMII. This time I'm using Behlen Stringed Instrument Lacquer. I was originally planning on using McFadden's lacquer, but apparently they got bought out, and the company that is producing it now (I'm told using exactly the same formulation), has jacked the price up. Grizzly sells the Behlen stuff pretty inexpensively, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've only ever heard good things about it, so we'll see.
 
#73
Yeah, just very carefully applying the stain to the accent line. I've never had luck with taping off - stain/finish always finds a way to work itself under the edges, and you end up with an even bigger mess. However, I found some tape the other day called Frog Tape that supposedly doesn't have that problem. Looks like it's specifically intended for latex paint, but I think it would work with any water-based stain/finish. Even so, I think it's still safer, easier and quicker to just do it by hand, rather than trying to mask along a curved edge.
 
#74
I have trouble pulling a tape line on a curved surface too. Its partly being old and not being able to see up close without reading glasses. So I get my son to do the taping. We use pin striping tape to do the first exacting line, then regular masking tape after that-works real well.
 
#75
So after a week of high heat and humidity, it's finally cooled off enough to start spraying some lacquer. (Nothing like getting up extra early on a Sunday morning so you can get a coat of lacquer on before church :) )

I'm using the Behlen Stringed Instrument Lacquer. They recommend using it in conjunction with their vinyl sealer. Grizzly appears to be the cheapest source for this stuff, and it appears to be the least expensive of the lacquers I've seen.

Two coats of vinyl sealer goes on first. I let them set up for a few hours before light sanding with 320 and applying the next coat.

IMGP8176.jpg


IMGP8175.jpg


The vinyl sealer was followed by 2 "wet" coats of the lacquer. The sealer helped show the color, but the glossy lacquer is really making the grain pop.

IMGP8192.jpg


IMGP8191.jpg


I let the first day's applications dry over night. Today I sprayed another three more coats of lacquer. Tomorrow I'll probably spray another two or three which ought to be adequate to allow for plenty of finish to be sanded and buffed out. The body will then go into hiding for at least a week while the neck gets sprayed.
 
#80
Wow, that looks amazing Jason.
I love the finishes only being applied to the top coat, makes for something that looks completely different to the norm. Only came across this thread today and reading through I was hoping for the second bass in green, but blue looks awesome! :) They'll complement each other so well, can't wait for the picture of the two together.
Fantastic build, subscribed :)
 

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