• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

First Build - 5 String, Neck Thru, Fanned Fret

#62
No pics at the moment but I leveled the frets. Marked each one with a red sharpie marker and then took my level and taped 320 sandpaper to it. Then I sanded back and forth until all the red was gone. (read this in bass player mag a couple months back). I also put the bridge on and strung it to make sure it was intonated before I went any farther...................

IT WAS!!!!

With strings on it I realized the neck is still a little chunky, so it's back to sand paper for a little while. It's coming along though, I can't tell you how worried I was about the fanned frets. Even though I checked/double checked and re-checked again, it was still a worry. Now I'm happy!:hyper: :hyper: :hyper:
 
#65
Got the electronics all wired.....it's a bart NTBT so it's Volume, Blend, Bass, and Treble, but the pickup leads weren't long enough and neither were the battery leads......going to the hardware store today to pick up some wire and I'm hoping to plug her in tonight.........I have to wait till next week for a new idividual bridge for the B string since the adjustment screw is striped and I can't loosen it. So I'll play it through a amp tonight with a B string that can't be intonated.....I figure from there it'll be a week of polishing and making it look pretty for final pics........we'll see. The devil is in the details is something to live by at this stage......man. :cool:
 
#68
Want to know the most anti-climatic thing that can happen.......pluggin in and getting nothing but hum.........here a tease, and also a pic of the electronics. It should be right, but I'm getting nothing but a loud hum that goes away when I touch any of the pots, actually when I touch anything including the battery it is amplified through the amp. There's nothing from the pickups though. Can anyone tell me where I'm wrong?
Link Removed
I want to get it working before I shield the cavity......This follows the diagram on bartolini's site I think........any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Link Removed
 
#71
Ok, a couple of not so professional and poorly lit final shots. Other than needing to bring the action down a little this thing is done, I'm going to take it to practice tonight and put it to the test.

First, I couldn't find much on a good way to mount the pickups so I just drilled a hole larger that the nut and then epoxied the nut down.......with springs on the bolt, I'm good to go!
Link Removed
Here's what my little attempt at a volute looks like........it turned out pretty good, although I would have liked to get a little more of a "hump" on the neck side as well.
Link Removed
I probably should have angled the recessed jack, but this works quite well with the shape, so I'm not that worried. I have a locking jack that I may change to down the road, who knows?
Link Removed
I'm not sure if this will last or not, I didn't find much info on using walnut for a nut, but after I got in in there and got the slots done right I saturated the nut with CA glue before I strung it up. The walnut is porous enough that I'm hoping it will be really strong.
Link Removed
And here's a full shot of the Front. I love the way it turned out!
I want to get some good natural light shots to show the figure in the fret board because it's gorgeous!
Link Removed
Then there's the wonderful contrast on the back between the walnut and the flame maple....Turned out great!
Link Removed
 
#72
Glued nuts for the pickup bolts... NIIIIIICE! Stealing that idea fo sho... can I recommend you put a couple chunks of soft foam underneath the pickups to keep them pushed up against the heads of the screws, so that if you raise the screws, the pickups don't just float there loosely. I've found it works far better than springs. Also keeps the pickups from rocking up and down on the screw posts, cuz you've got only two screws in each pickup, it could rock like a boat on water.

And I'll definitely suggest the locking Neutrik cable jack. They're built much better than standard-use wide open 1/4" jacks cuz they add a bit of shielding around them. If you do it, consider recessing the jack into the wood so the flanges are flush with the body. It'll be less annoying and obtrusive to the cosmetics of the bass.

Have you copper-shielded the electronics pocket yet? Make sure you do the underside of the cavity cover as well...

And that walnut nut looks flawless! Excellent! And I like the idea of soaking it with CA glue.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back