So I've been lurking for a month or so and finally decided to join today. I've been looking to put together a new bass, and originally started planning a Rickenbacker knock-off, but fell in love with JIO's take of the Fender Performer. Since he so graciously posted what amounts to build plans, and offered permission to use his design, I decided to go for it.
My first step was to draw the body shape in Adobe Illustrator. I had to break it up into 4 pieces so I could print it out. Then I taped the four pieces together on a piece of plywood to make the template.
Next I cut it out with my jig saw.
here's a better shot of my "work shop", at least the outdoor portion.
Rough cut completed.
Next, it was off to the indoor section of my "workshop" to sand the template with my drill press/spindle sander.
With that done, I had paid my credit card down enough to order the neck from Carvin. This is going to be a neck-through bass, maple finger board, 24 fret, and don't yet feel comfortable enough to do the neck myself. Perhaps the next build. So now I'm in wait mode, until that arrives in about a month, according to Carvin.
In the mean time, I went wood shopping today, and picked up this fine piece of 6/4 S2S hard white maple from the Woodworker's Source. Oddly enough, it was exactly the thickness I was looking for to use for the body wings, and was just wide enough and long enough for both wings.
In my usual style, I'm still up in the air with regard to the rest of the build parameters, even including the headstock. According to the Carvin specs, the head may be just too small for JIO's beautiful redesign, so I may have to make minor mods to it.
Still undecided about the bridge/tail piece, tuners, pickups, and even whether or not I'll be using a pick guard. Of course, I'll leave the maple natural, with a poly or nitro finish - another decision to make eventually.
I really like the whole Rickenbacker growl sound, so I am leaning toward either factory Rickenbacker pickups, or one of the copies. I'll have to see what kind of funds are available when the time comes.
As a final note, I just wanted to mention what a wonderful resource this message board has been. I don't think I would ever attempted this if I didn't stumble across this place. In any event, it looks like it's now a waiting game for the neck until I can continue.
My first step was to draw the body shape in Adobe Illustrator. I had to break it up into 4 pieces so I could print it out. Then I taped the four pieces together on a piece of plywood to make the template.
Next I cut it out with my jig saw.
here's a better shot of my "work shop", at least the outdoor portion.
Rough cut completed.
Next, it was off to the indoor section of my "workshop" to sand the template with my drill press/spindle sander.
With that done, I had paid my credit card down enough to order the neck from Carvin. This is going to be a neck-through bass, maple finger board, 24 fret, and don't yet feel comfortable enough to do the neck myself. Perhaps the next build. So now I'm in wait mode, until that arrives in about a month, according to Carvin.
In the mean time, I went wood shopping today, and picked up this fine piece of 6/4 S2S hard white maple from the Woodworker's Source. Oddly enough, it was exactly the thickness I was looking for to use for the body wings, and was just wide enough and long enough for both wings.
In my usual style, I'm still up in the air with regard to the rest of the build parameters, even including the headstock. According to the Carvin specs, the head may be just too small for JIO's beautiful redesign, so I may have to make minor mods to it.
Still undecided about the bridge/tail piece, tuners, pickups, and even whether or not I'll be using a pick guard. Of course, I'll leave the maple natural, with a poly or nitro finish - another decision to make eventually.
I really like the whole Rickenbacker growl sound, so I am leaning toward either factory Rickenbacker pickups, or one of the copies. I'll have to see what kind of funds are available when the time comes.
As a final note, I just wanted to mention what a wonderful resource this message board has been. I don't think I would ever attempted this if I didn't stumble across this place. In any event, it looks like it's now a waiting game for the neck until I can continue.
I wish you could have seen me smiling when I started reading this thread! I'm so happy to see this ultra-cool design (riffed from John Page's gutsy attempt to move Fender into another design-identity square) hybridizing into yet another tb build! I am definitely subscribed and will follow every step along the way! 
