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Fretless five competition: Mad scientist edition

#241
Big B. said:
Lab Journal #24: Okay, so I lied. No work got done this weekend because I was busy playing with the burlesque group I work with. I play my bass and they take their clothes off, what can I say? :D
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I need to find a new gig. :bassist::D

Hope you find a good clear finish, it would be a shame to lose the contrast in that ziricote. I know you've had crap luck with waterbased, but have you tried KTM-9? I used it to refinish my last build, it seems to be pretty nice stuff. I'm putting my current build's ziricote fingerboard under water-clear epoxy to keep that awesome grain visible.
 
#243
barnaclebeau said:
I need to find a new gig. :bassist::D

Hope you find a good clear finish, it would be a shame to lose the contrast in that ziricote. I know you've had crap luck with waterbased, but have you tried KTM-9? I used it to refinish my last build, it seems to be pretty nice stuff. I'm putting my current build's ziricote fingerboard under water-clear epoxy to keep that awesome grain visible.
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ktm-9 has a kind of blueish tint. nitro has a very slight amber color, but that is usually alot better looking on naturally warm wood colors.

Another option is actually epoxy. ALL epoxy. hard as a rock, never sinks, clear as all hell. Just gobs and gobs and gobs of labor.
 
#244
I just read this entire thread, and while my jaw dropped a little bit lower with every page, I kept thinking 'dont **** it up with gold hardware, don't **** it up with gold hardware, dont **** it up with gold hardware'...

And you haven't! hooray!

Seriously, this is one of the, if not the most wicked(ed) builds on TB I've seen so far.
 
#246
Iv been following this thread from day one. And I have this to say,
WOW. just... WOW!
For a while I was unsure why you would cover the wavy laminates. But seriously, it's starting to look like the best decision since Leo created the bass guitar. This thing looks AMAZING!
 
#248
ThrashMaster said:
ktm-9 has a kind of blueish tint. nitro has a very slight amber color, but that is usually alot better looking on naturally warm wood colors.

Another option is actually epoxy. ALL epoxy. hard as a rock, never sinks, clear as all hell. Just gobs and gobs and gobs of labor.
Click to expand...

My experience with KTM-9 is that it is perfectly clear. I put it on with a foam brush, straight from the can, 67 degrees F and 35% humidity (there is a dehumidifier in my space.) I'd heard about the bluishness but can't see it on maple, at least a dozen coats.

I did my first bass in epoxy, I used this stuff: Invalid Link Removed The original 2000 kit. It's made for doing epoxy surfboards. It's pleasant to work with, and buffs out OK, but I HIGHLY recommend applying it when it's warm in your shop. Like, around 80 degrees F warm... I redid the top with it when it was around 68, the bubbles never released, it looked like milk poured on top, and wouldn't take a shine. That bass doesn't get played much, but the finish still looks pretty good. I'm going to use it again as a grain filler on my current build, followed by KTM-9.
 
#249
barnaclebeau said:
My experience with KTM-9 is that it is perfectly clear. I put it on with a foam brush, straight from the can, 67 degrees F and 35% humidity (there is a dehumidifier in my space.) I'd heard about the bluishness but can't see it on maple, at least a dozen coats.

I did my first bass in epoxy, I used this stuff: Invalid Link Removed The original 2000 kit. It's made for doing epoxy surfboards. It's pleasant to work with, and buffs out OK, but I HIGHLY recommend applying it when it's warm in your shop. Like, around 80 degrees F warm... I redid the top with it when it was around 68, the bubbles never released, it looked like milk poured on top, and wouldn't take a shine. That bass doesn't get played much, but the finish still looks pretty good. I'm going to use it again as a grain filler on my current build, followed by KTM-9.
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the blueishness is very subtle...you might not notice it unless you had a nitro finished piece right next to it. Sorta like how chrome doesnt look blue and nickel doesnt look yellow...until you put them right next to each other.

When Ive done the epoxy thing Ive used the West Systems 105 resin with the 207 resin warm room (80 degrees or so). Application technique (especially how you mix!) is important to minimize bubbling, but if you get it right it really does come out fantastic.

Also Ive used the same setup with the graphite additive, and that I dare say makes for the most indestructible fretless fingerboard coating ever...if you can deal with the kind of futuristic look of it.
 
#253
s_mcsleazy said:
personally id like to see a "budget botique bass"

aka a fancy pants bass built for about $300
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Sorry to say, but that's a pretty slim feat there...... try one, I'm sure you'll agree with me.... Just hardware and materials, you can easily go well above...not to mention, time spent....a very hard task to get the price that low...
 
#255
Lab Journal #25: The lab has grown cold in my absence :scowl: but the pocketbook has grown thicker :hyper: so its time to get some new pics up. Not a lot to report at the moment just more carving and sanding. Opened the mailbox today and my pickups finally arrived. A set of SGD Lutherie Neo soapbars hot off the TB classified presses. (No, not that kind of hot :smug:)

Compbuildpics257.jpg


Compbuildpics255.jpg


Since the pickup routes are already there I got some pics for you. Some foam underneath and this is what they look like near playing height.

Compbuildpics253.jpg


Compbuildpics254.jpg


Now that I have a week or so of serious down time from gigging I have work to get done. By the time I leave again next wed. I hope to have all carving and shaping finished, the fingerboard radiused and tuner holes drilled. I will keep posting as things come along. Thanks again for tuning in.
 
#256
Vorago said:
I just read this entire thread, and while my jaw dropped a little bit lower with every page, I kept thinking 'dont **** it up with gold hardware, don't **** it up with gold hardware, dont **** it up with gold hardware'...

And you haven't! hooray!

Seriously, this is one of the, if not the most wicked(ed) builds on TB I've seen so far.
Click to expand...

Completely agree on the gold hardware. That thought crossed my mind until I set an extra gold bridge on the top to see how it would look. Not great. On such a striking top the gold just looks kind of trashy. The only caveat with the satin bridge is that it is only available in aluminum. I generally like the brass bridges for mass and balance but this is a heavy bass and the 7/16 slab of ziricote has more than a bit of mass of its own so I think I will get by. :D

Also thanks for the awesome compliments. It means a lot as an artist, as a player or a builder, when like minded people love what you do.
 
#258
Musiclogic said:
Would those be the pick-ups I alluded to earlier? LOL. - love that top, so much great wood porn in these threads. Keep up the work, and have a burlesque model do the photo shoot with the bass...LOL
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That they are. I had already spoken to the seller when you mentioned them but hadnt put up the money for them yet. I had to play it cool and keep my mouth shut till they were in the mail. :D The burlesque model is actually a great idea. I can think of 4 or 5 ladies that would look great draped all over this bass and I think they would very much enjoy it. If anyone is interested and doesnt mind a bit of shameless self promotion check out the website for the burlesque and see what you think.

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It is definitely in the top 99.9999672% of gigs I have done in my time. :cool:
 
#260
Big B. said:
That they are. I had already spoken to the seller when you mentioned them but hadnt put up the money for them yet. I had to play it cool and keep my mouth shut till they were in the mail. :D The burlesque model is actually a great idea. I can think of 4 or 5 ladies that would look great draped all over this bass and I think they would very much enjoy it. If anyone is interested and doesnt mind a bit of shameless self promotion check out the website for the burlesque and see what you think.

Invalid Link Removed

It is definitely in the top 99.9999672% of gigs I have done in my time. :cool:
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This could truly become "Wood Porn". WoooooohooOooo;)
 

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