Okay, I'm in.
First a few words about the name; I'm a super healthy 42 yr. old who by the (bad) luck of the draw was diagnosed with cancer last October. It's a life-changing event, to make an understatement. After the initial shock, I determined that the disease was not going to rule my life, but rather, the other way around. Still, there are a lot 'dark' moments and uncomfortable thoughts to work through daily, sometimes hourly. I'm a full-time musician, and playing is one of the only times when I'm truly absent from the bad thoughts. But any act of creativity also takes my mind away from it. I'm an experienced amateur woodworker and a voracious lurker of LC here on TB. I've got too many slab fretted basses so another fretless fiver is exactly what I had in mind for my first build. Designing this bass over the past week or so has been a joy, and had given me energy and drive to look forward. So, in honour of where I'm hoping end up with the bass -and the disease - the *@#$ Cancer bass is born.
Hope the name isn't offensive, but it really does represent my determination to beat this awful thing.
Specs:
- 5 string fretless, 34" scale
- 17mm string spacing (I'm copying my favourite neck - my 1990 Warwick Thumb NT fretless)
- slimline archtop, 'semi-single cut', carved and graduated front and back.
- figured cherry ribs (maybe maple), bent over a form
- 7 piece neck, maple/cherry lams
- two piece top, 1/4 sawn western red cedar
- three piece back, figured cherry
- jatoba fingerboard, unlined
- wooden bridge, hopfully archtop style w/piezo
- hipshot ultralite tuners, 2+3 config.
- 1 magnetic pickup TBD (any ideas?), wooden cover
- preamp TBD
The wood is all stuff I've had lying around in the rough out in the barn.
crappy pic of the scale drawing:
Not sure yet about the sound holes, or the number of knobs. I'd like to keep the knobs to a minimum by using stacked if possible.
I'll post more pics ff the wood for this soon.
Oh - does this comp require the obligatory hair shot?
Peace,
Kev
First a few words about the name; I'm a super healthy 42 yr. old who by the (bad) luck of the draw was diagnosed with cancer last October. It's a life-changing event, to make an understatement. After the initial shock, I determined that the disease was not going to rule my life, but rather, the other way around. Still, there are a lot 'dark' moments and uncomfortable thoughts to work through daily, sometimes hourly. I'm a full-time musician, and playing is one of the only times when I'm truly absent from the bad thoughts. But any act of creativity also takes my mind away from it. I'm an experienced amateur woodworker and a voracious lurker of LC here on TB. I've got too many slab fretted basses so another fretless fiver is exactly what I had in mind for my first build. Designing this bass over the past week or so has been a joy, and had given me energy and drive to look forward. So, in honour of where I'm hoping end up with the bass -and the disease - the *@#$ Cancer bass is born.
Hope the name isn't offensive, but it really does represent my determination to beat this awful thing.Specs:
- 5 string fretless, 34" scale
- 17mm string spacing (I'm copying my favourite neck - my 1990 Warwick Thumb NT fretless)
- slimline archtop, 'semi-single cut', carved and graduated front and back.
- figured cherry ribs (maybe maple), bent over a form
- 7 piece neck, maple/cherry lams
- two piece top, 1/4 sawn western red cedar
- three piece back, figured cherry
- jatoba fingerboard, unlined
- wooden bridge, hopfully archtop style w/piezo
- hipshot ultralite tuners, 2+3 config.
- 1 magnetic pickup TBD (any ideas?), wooden cover
- preamp TBD
The wood is all stuff I've had lying around in the rough out in the barn.
crappy pic of the scale drawing:
Not sure yet about the sound holes, or the number of knobs. I'd like to keep the knobs to a minimum by using stacked if possible.
I'll post more pics ff the wood for this soon.
Oh - does this comp require the obligatory hair shot?
Peace,
Kev
. I wish you all the best.
