first exotic wood 6 string bass build

[strangedejavu]

I have built a couple guitars and now I got the bass building bug... here we go... I realize everything is quite rough right now, give me another week and it will be all curvey and scratch free!

Here are the specs:

7 piece laminated back and neck (same stripse go all the way though even though its a bolt on

Padauk,bubinga, paduak, flame walnut, paduak, bubinga, padauk

Front 5 piece laminate:
zebra wood,paduak, quilted bubinga, padauk, and zebra

I am still trying to track down the fretboard, originally I was going to use a bloodwood fretless board that I made;however, now I am going for a fretted 34" 36 fret


What do you think will look best for the fretboard wood?

 

[strangedejavu]

here is a picture of the first rough cut horn, it is round front and back....

oh yeah, I also forgot to mention this bass is mildly chambered (we will see if it is even noticable when it is finished)

 

[ieatlitlehamstr]

Looking good dude, i love the shape of the horns, looks kinda crab like. Looking forward to seeing any progress.

 

[ieatlitlehamstr]

Oh, and to answer your question about the fretboard wood, i would say either satinwood or verawood.

you can find the verawood here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[strangedejavu]

neck rough cut... now I just have to finish the heel and the headstock...

 

[strangedejavu]

still need to clean up the heel, will update pictures after I do... this weekend the heel, and headstock will be shaped and cut. Off to school and to clean up the sawdust before the girlfriend gets home.

 

[line6man]

Cool!

It looks like you've got a lot of Padouk wood going on this build!
I love the Padouk neck on my Warmoth Jazz bass. Such a sexy and exotic wood.

 

[strangedejavu]

Okay here are the sperzels installed, please don't rag on me for the spacing being a little off, I was having some problems with it this afternoon... now the headstock is ready for its ebony cap and fretboard (bloodwood with ebony binding) fretless

 

[strangedejavu]

after some serious shopping I found the parts for my bolt in neck design... I don't know why people sell these guys for 50 bucks for fenders.... I found them for less then 10 for the set of 8! Brass wood insert, blach anodized 1/4" bolt and brass washers make the package complete (matches the tuners and the bridge perfectly

 

[line6man]

Okay here are the sperzels installed, please don't rag on me for the spacing being a little off, I was having some problems with it this afternoon... now the headstock is ready for its ebony cap and fretboard (bloodwood with ebony binding) fretless

Wow, that Padouk is REALLY orange looking.

If you put any oil on it, expect it to turn red immediately.
It's also going to darken with age.

Here is a picture of my Warmoth Padouk neck the day I got it, 02/27/09, and another I just took tonight, 11/21/09:

 

[sound of bass]

Wow, that Padouk is REALLY orange looking. Still sharp though.

If you put any oil on it, expect it to turn red immediately.
It's also going to darken with age.

Here is a picture of my Warmoth Padouk neck the day I got it, 02/27/09, and another I just took tonight, 11/21/09:

Still sharp though.

 

[strangedejavu]

yeah I am excited for it to get darker... it is way too orange right now, it seems to darken each and ever day... I just cut into it in these pictures...

 

[Nightlyraider]

I don't get the "36" frets on a 34" scale.

I have 21 on that same scale and thought I could play everything...

 

[Darkstrike]

I don't get the "36" frets on a 34" scale.

I have 21 on that same scale and thought I could play everything...

You obviously can't play something at the 32nd fret.......

 

[line6man]

yeah I am excited for it to get darker... it is way too orange right now, it seems to darken each and ever day... I just cut into it in these pictures...

Ok Cool.

I was freaking out about the Padouk turning brown when I got my neck, but actually, now that I am seeing the darker red color, I'm starting to like this more "matured" look of the wood.

I did a little test a while back to see how brown Padouk would get by leaving a piece of scrap in the windowsill for about a month.(exposure to light...)
The brown piece had a disgusting color all dried out, but it looked great once I put some oil on it.

I don't like the wood that dark, but I would love to see my neck get somewhere between red and brown. Still keeping the lovely red color, but with a bit more brown to it.

 

[Headless Llama]

I don't like the wood that dark, but I would love to see my neck get somewhere between red and brown. Still keeping the lovely red color, but with a bit more brown to it.

As long as you keep it away from the light, and also keep it treated (oil, wax, clearcoat) it should not change much more than it already has.

 

[strangedejavu]

Okay so since the last post I have:

cleaned up the neck
added quilted bubinga heastock cap
installed truss rod and 2 graphite rods
routed neck pocket
cut fretboard
installed fretboard/ebony binding...

Sorry the pictures arnt the best, after the glue completly drys I will clean up the neck and show the finished product

 

[strangedejavu]

here are some additional pics of the bloodwood board and the ebony binding

 

[strangedejavu]

here is a quick picture of the bubinga headstock cap

 

[Headless Llama]

Looking good!