"Headless" Flying V build

[ctmullins]

This one's been brewing for the last few months:

Walnut body with flame maple cap
Maple/walnut/maple bolt-on neck
Mac Ebony 32" scale 24-fret fingerboard
Steinberger DB four-string bridge (with detuner)
Duncan SSB-4 pickups
John East BTB-01 preamp

 

[ThaCoast]

Subbed!

 

[ctmullins]

This build came about (as so many do) because of a change of plans. I had a fretless that I wasn't happy with, so I decided to cut its headstock off and turn it into a headless, so I bought the Steinberger bridge. But the fretless had other issues that prevented that plan from being fully satisfactory, so the fretless got scrapped and the bridge went into the spare parts bin.

Meantime, I decided I needed a Flying V to go with my other Gibson-inspired builds. You know how it is, maybe; when you get a notion in your head and it just won't go away, you start to find ways to make it reality. I realized that going headless with a V would address what is perhaps the number one complaint about that body shape - neck-dive. But the traditional Flying V headstock is, IMHO, an integral part of the overall aesthetic, so this build will have a headstock, just without machine heads. I'm going for something like Miziomix's approach, with a traditional shape to the headstock, and embedded string anchors. Full details of the anchors have yet to be worked out, but it will be essentially one allen-headed set-screw for each string.

Woods already on hand are used, which is why the body is as thin as it is - 1.25". The thin body forces me to take a bit extra care in routing the cavities, particularly the pickup cavities and neck pocket. Fortunately the Steinberger bridge is taller than a typical F-style bridge, so the pickups can stick out of the body a bit more, making the needed cavity depth shallower. Still, there will be precious little room for adjusting pickup height.

The pickups were originally to have been a pair of Wilde L90 4H, but I changed my mind at the last minute to the EMG35-shaped SSB4s. (I'll use the L90s in an upcoming project.) I briefly had the SSBs installed in the OctoBird and liked them fine, but that form factor also means I'll have other options down the road if I feel the need. The East BTB-01 will help a lot there too!

For now, I'm planning on a black stain, which will probably really mean a dark grey, but we'll see. Maybe I'll stain the whole thing, or maybe just the maple…

I got the frets installed earlier this week, so the next step is to dress the ends and shape the back of the neck. Stay tuned!

 

[GKon]

V-ubbed!!!!!

 

[JIO]

white or creme binding would be cool w/a trans black top and natural back/sides (an option anyway - mine is piano black)

 

[ctmullins]

I've always loved the look of binding, but I can't get on with the way it can cut into my forearm. I might be able to do a faux binding with the maple cap though.

 

[JIO]

You can round over the edge - it doesn't have to be crisp. For that matter, you can layer (black/white/black) to give yourself more to round over. Just a thought.

 

[ctmullins]

Well, I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether to set it up for single-ball strings, or double-ball strings, or possibly both. I bought a set of D'Addario XL double-ball strings, just so I could have them for reference measurements, and I think "that would be easier, let's just do that". Then later I think "no, let's do the allen set-screws so that we're not limited to the available double-ball strings". Then I think, why not do both, but then that's more work....

Aaaargh! Can't decide!

Anybody have any strong opinions about single-versus-double-ball-strings?

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Double Ball end strings definitely easier to install, but they limit you to what's available locally, as well as the overall limited choices in general (there is a lot more options today as opposed to ten years ago).

Having both options would be cool, but if I had to choose I'd go with the single ball option (there's no way to put that last sentence without it coming out wrong... ).

Moonshine

 

[MPU]

Well, I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether to set it up for single-ball strings, or double-ball strings, or possibly both. I bought a set of D'Addario XL double-ball strings, just so I could have them for reference measurements, and I think "that would be easier, let's just do that". Then later I think "no, let's do the allen set-screws so that we're not limited to the available double-ball strings". Then I think, why not do both, but then that's more work....

Aaaargh! Can't decide!

Anybody have any strong opinions about single-versus-double-ball-strings?

I like db strings. Status Hotwires are cheap and great sounding db strings. No need to look any further IMO. I've broken a few sb strings by tightening the set screw too tight. If you go with db head clamp you can easily make or buy an adapter for sb strings.

 

[ctmullins]

Thanks for the input, guys. I think between the selection available through bassstringsonline.com and the Status Hotwires (which seem to get great reviews), I needn't worry about double-ball string varieties. So I'll start prepping the headstock for DB strings.

This could all change tomorrow though....

 

[reverendrally]

Single ball end every time. I had a hohner that only used db strings in the 90s. Total pain in the butt. I had 1 rotosound B string that went black in 24-hours. Not happy! I've never bought a set of rotosounds since...

 

[ctmullins]

Work has been monopolizing my time, and we're about to spend the next few days prepping the house for Thanksgiving visitors, so I took a couple hours this evening to further this build.

Got the neck rough-shaped. Man oh man, either I'm getting old and wimpy, or this is some super-tough maple. Yeah, it's got to be the latter... It's still at least a sixteenth too thick for the entire length, so I'll fine-tune it later. But I always love going from a rectangular-section blank to something that fits the hand.

Bolted it on, drilled for and installed the strap buttons, mounted the (heavy) bridge, and tried it on for balance. Couldn't resist a few rock-star poses in the mirror too! Here I am demonstrating how well it balances sans electronics and strings - this is just a regular nylon strap; nothing special:

(Yes, those are my smiley-face jammie pants. )

Nice and light too! Feels good.

 

[reverendrally]

That's great! You realize it's the ONLY vee bass in history that balanced on a strap.

 

[Splods]

And that's without pickups or electronics

 

[ThaCoast]

Killer looking it might just be me, but with that picture, the Vee looks short scale.

Correction, it isn't me, it's supposed to be like that my bad, keep it up, Between you and me, who's gonna finish their "gibson" first

 

[Beej]

(Yes, those are my smiley-face jammie pants. )

Nice and light too! Feels good.

My daughter just said "is that a lady or a man? If it's a man, his pajamas are even sillier than yours, plus that shirt looks like mom's". Yes! Thank you for increasing my manliness in my daughter's eyes...

 

[ctmullins]

Haha! Glad I could help, Beej! I love me some jammie pants.

Here are the strap button locations:

The rear strap isn't on the tip of the V as some are; this helps with balance.

I will be putting sacrificial cheap strap buttons on the tips, so I can stand it up without using a stand.

 

[gsnad2000]

Hey love the way your bass is looking so far. Nothing says rock n roll like smiley face pj's. just thinking, for the feet, why not a little piece of rubber or felt? Might be less prone to slipping on a hard floor than strap buttons, but still protect the finish.
Either way, great work!

 

[JIO]

That's great! You realize it's the ONLY vee bass in history that balanced on a strap.

solving Gibson neck-dive one bass at a time...