Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Jaco Tribute Bass Build
- Thread starter bassgod76
- Start date
Last night was pretty much it for my end of this build. The wait for Kevin will be agonizing.
I started by first double checking to be sure my pots were firmly fastened to the plate. I didn't want any suprises after soldering was done.
Then, I lined up my plate and started. I soon realized that starting at the neck volume pot, was the best way to go. I also found that removing aft pots gave me more space to solder. Once I finished the soldering on the neck pot, I'd reattach the bridge pot to the plate, and so on.
Lining up the plate.
Soldering the ground first. Dumb. Oh well.
Finishing the soldering. The orange drop cap is the last step. It doesn't look too messy. Yay!
I'm starting to become more proficient at soldering. My joints look tighter and I'm having less errors. Practice makes almost perfect. In my case, practice makes me look a little less ********.
I was worried about buttoning it up and the pot shorting out against the wall of the cavity. However, there were no problems. I had like 1/8" of space on all sides, and it passed the amp test, later that night.
Cavity is fastened on.
I could no longer take the "Made in Mexico" label on the back of the neck. I tried various methods, and I think I royally screwed it up. Oh well. Another lesson in stupidity.
I also sanded the neck down to get rid of that hideous gloss. The factory placed a wear spot on this road worn about the 5-7 fret area. The sanding brought it out and you can see the dirt and oil embedded in the wood.
I could also no longer wait for the neck to be paired. I used a Dremel to shave the pocket by maybe 1/64". Just enough to shed some of the finish from the walls of the neck joint.
I would've fastned the neck to the body, but the holes are off like1/8". That's because the neck needs to be better fitted to the body. There are two gaps in the neck pocket corners. I will let Kevin deal with this fit issue.
I take her home to test her out, and everything works. There is some hum when the bass is right next to the amp, and also when a pickup is solo'd, but I have a feeling that's the nature of the beast.
The case and strap come in today!
I started by first double checking to be sure my pots were firmly fastened to the plate. I didn't want any suprises after soldering was done.
Then, I lined up my plate and started. I soon realized that starting at the neck volume pot, was the best way to go. I also found that removing aft pots gave me more space to solder. Once I finished the soldering on the neck pot, I'd reattach the bridge pot to the plate, and so on.
Lining up the plate.
Soldering the ground first. Dumb. Oh well.
Finishing the soldering. The orange drop cap is the last step. It doesn't look too messy. Yay!
I'm starting to become more proficient at soldering. My joints look tighter and I'm having less errors. Practice makes almost perfect. In my case, practice makes me look a little less ********.
I was worried about buttoning it up and the pot shorting out against the wall of the cavity. However, there were no problems. I had like 1/8" of space on all sides, and it passed the amp test, later that night.
Cavity is fastened on.
I could no longer take the "Made in Mexico" label on the back of the neck. I tried various methods, and I think I royally screwed it up. Oh well. Another lesson in stupidity.
I also sanded the neck down to get rid of that hideous gloss. The factory placed a wear spot on this road worn about the 5-7 fret area. The sanding brought it out and you can see the dirt and oil embedded in the wood.
I could also no longer wait for the neck to be paired. I used a Dremel to shave the pocket by maybe 1/64". Just enough to shed some of the finish from the walls of the neck joint.
I would've fastned the neck to the body, but the holes are off like1/8". That's because the neck needs to be better fitted to the body. There are two gaps in the neck pocket corners. I will let Kevin deal with this fit issue.
I take her home to test her out, and everything works. There is some hum when the bass is right next to the amp, and also when a pickup is solo'd, but I have a feeling that's the nature of the beast.
The case and strap come in today!
is that just another neck that you had lying around? or is that the one thats going to be defretted?
The pot casings are already grounded, so it doesn't matter if they touch the cavity. No harm either way.
No, I puposely bought this neck for this project. This will be the one to be defretted.
Ordered my pickups today!!!! Sadly, Kevin Kaufman won't be back in the shop until Nov 19th.This wait is going to kill me. I have my two P Basses and this one that are standing by for his skillful caress. Oh the humanity!
I split time between Tallahassee/Boca and Kaufman Danzer are the only people I trust my basses with! Kevin has to be one of the nicest people I've ever worked with, very personable and totally down to Earth. I'm planning on bringing my new Jazz and my Ibbys in a for a little love over winter break, nothing but great experiences!
BTW fantastic looking bass, I might have to pass up on upgrading my mini rig and build one of these cause of the GAS this thing is giving me! There's no doubt in my mind that with Kevin's handywork this bass is going to be INCREDIBLE!
I split time between Tallahassee/Boca and Kaufman Danzer are the only people I trust my basses with! Kevin has to be one of the nicest people I've ever worked with, very personable and totally down to Earth. I'm planning on bringing my new Jazz and my Ibbys in a for a little love over winter break, nothing but great experiences!
BTW fantastic looking bass, I might have to pass up on upgrading my mini rig and build one of these cause of the GAS this thing is giving me! There's no doubt in my mind that with Kevin's handywork this bass is going to be INCREDIBLE!
Kevin is the main reason I'm doing this. When he was telling me about his epoxy process, I was drooling. It sucks that he can't start it until November.
Besides his attention to detail, he has a great personality. I've dealt with so many stoner/jerk luthiers who either don't do what I ask or talk down to me. He's a rare find in this field.
I'm curious, BG....
Why did you use all black wire in you soldering job? Is it just what you had, or is there a reason? I expected to see the usual black for the ground, white for the juice. Looks like a good job either way.
Just the OCD rearing it's head again
I'm really liking the how you reliced the hardware!
Very Classy looking job there.
What kind of backlog does Kevin usually have? For instance, how long have you been discussing this with him? I have a feeling in 2010, he will have a lot of these to do, thanks to this thread.
Why did you use all black wire in you soldering job? Is it just what you had, or is there a reason? I expected to see the usual black for the ground, white for the juice. Looks like a good job either way.
Just the OCD rearing it's head again
I'm really liking the how you reliced the hardware!
Very Classy looking job there.What kind of backlog does Kevin usually have? For instance, how long have you been discussing this with him? I have a feeling in 2010, he will have a lot of these to do, thanks to this thread.
I think you should go all the way, and remove the serial from the headstock completely.
Then relic the neckplate, and stamp Jaco's serial number there
EDIT: That says 57308, which is on the bass found by BP magazine and rebuilt by Kevin. It is supposedly the serial for his "fretted" Jazz originally, and the serial for his Bass of Doom was supposedly 64437.
So....how about asking Kevin, "did he switch the plates?"
Then relic the neckplate, and stamp Jaco's serial number there
EDIT: That says 57308, which is on the bass found by BP magazine and rebuilt by Kevin. It is supposedly the serial for his "fretted" Jazz originally, and the serial for his Bass of Doom was supposedly 64437.
So....how about asking Kevin, "did he switch the plates?"
I'm curious, BG....
Why did you use all black wire in you soldering job? Is it just what you had, or is there a reason? I expected to see the usual black for the ground, white for the juice. Looks like a good job either way.
Just the OCD rearing it's head again
I'm really liking the how you reliced the hardware!
What kind of backlog does Kevin usually have? For instance, how long have you been discussing this with him? I have a feeling in 2010, he will have a lot of these to do, thanks to this thread.
Damn you, THand! You just love to stoke my OCD. Looks like I will be firing up the soldering gun on Thursday.
What was the serial number on that neck plate? THand, I hate you.
My baby in her new home. I took the case home during lunch.
What kind of backlog does Kevin usually have? For instance, how long have you been discussing this with him? I have a feeling in 2010, he will have a lot of these to do, thanks to this thread.
I'm not sure what his backlog is, but the neck job will take a month. Setups usually take a week or longer. He is not a fast worker, but the wait is worth it.
What was the serial number on that neck plate? THand, I hate you.
Re-read the "Edit" on post 153.
Personally, I'd make one of each and send them both to Kevin.Then he can compare to his notes
Apparently the original plates were switched on Jaco's fretted and fretless bass (the famous ones).
At what point does this go from "Tribute" to "Forgery"? Seems to me that you've done a dandy job building a very fun bass - - but the color of the wire? The serial number on the neck plate? I don't see the "value add" with that stuff, unless you're going to try to pass it off as the real thing (which I don't think you intend to do, given the public attention you've given to your efforts...)
I have no intention of promoting deceit through building a parts bass. I’ve been very open about what makes up this bass. Yeah, I want to get close to the actual bass, but I would never have any intention of passing my attempt as genuine. Once again, this is a tribute bass to Jaco. I think the attention to detail is appreciated by most on TB.
