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Joiner "Serenade" Build Progress

Walnut, birdseye maple and ebony body w/ matching neck: What kind of top?

  • Birdseye Maple

    Votes: 22 47.8%

  • Oregon Myrtle

    Votes: 20 43.5%

  • Other (Specify)

    Votes: 4 8.7%
  • Total voters
    46
#161
Wow - those curved fingerboard extensions look really great! But honestly - how often do you really play up there? I'm a "form follows function" kind of guy, so a highly functional instrument is therefore beautiful in my eyes. But I can see both sides...

I dislike almost every bass bridge made. To me they look either much too utilitarian (the traditional Fender bent-plate bridges), or much too industrial, with bits and pieces and springs and screws sticking out everywhere. The one bridge that I do like is the Tune-O-Matic, with or without its matching tailpiece (without requires string-through body). There's something about the graceful arch of that bridge that appeals to me. It's a little hard to find in a four-string bass version, though. I have two, and might could send you one if you're interested.

Edit: Here's a shot of a prior incarnation of my current fretless, showing my preferred Tune-O-Matic installation:

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Edit 2: The other option would be a wooden bridge of some sort. Here's the new version of the above fretless:

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#162
The fingerboard extensions shown in the photo are entirely for aesthetics. I usually keep things in front of the 12th fret. This bass just isn't looking that elegant to me. I seriously think it's the bridges. They've killed the curves of this bass. I should have gone with my gut feeling and went the floating bridge route. I think it's time to plane this top off? :confused:

EDIT: I dunno... Maybe I'm just over-reacting. I really like the top, A LOT, so I'd hate to plane it off. Maybe once I get it all finished, I'll like it more.
 
#163
teej said:
The fingerboard extensions shown in the photo are entirely for aesthetics. I usually keep things in front of the 12th fret. This bass just isn't looking that elegant to me. I seriously think it's the bridges. They've killed the curves of this bass. I should have gone with my gut feeling and went the floating bridge route. I think it's time to plane this top off? :confused:

EDIT: I dunno... Maybe I'm just over-reacting. I really like the top, A LOT, so I'd hate to plane it off. Maybe once I get it all finished, I'll like it more.
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Okay, here's my reaction: hold on!!!!! That top is gorgeous.. leave it there ;).. I'd say I like the whole bass as it is. The curved fb ends are nice, but the way you did it on this bass doesn't catch too much attention and therefore lets the body come out better, IMO.

I really like the singlecoil pup for its shape and placement. It looks unique and gives the bass a certain charm. If you want to go piezo: combine!! Carry on and add the piezo to get more possibilities.

I see what you're saying about the bridge, although I like the single ones a lot and personally, I would just leave it like that.

Just my 2 cents.. ;)
 
#165
I can't believe I'm seeing this one for the first time.
BEAUTIFUL.
My advice: Keep it as it is & finish it. I rarely get far beyond sketches because I see imperfections well before they surface, so I don't even start any actual work. Lame. :atoz:
I think it would be better to accept the fact that my first few will not be much to look at; yours, conversely, is AWESOME. I happen to very much like the bridge. If it really kills you, sell it & start another.
 
#166
Quick update...

It's basically finished!!! It's all wired (except for the ground wire - has that terrible 60 Hz fuzz right now), strings are on, it's tuned, all the hardware is on (except the knobs)... It sounds like a P-Bass because, well, it kind of is, I guess, what with the single-coil P-Bass pickup. Has nice, growly mids, good bottom. Today's my mum's birthday, though, so we're off to celebrate now. No time for photos and clips.

All in all, I'm satisfied.
 
#167
teej said:
Quick update...

It's basically finished!!! It's all wired (except for the ground wire - has that terrible 60 Hz fuzz right now), strings are on, it's tuned, all the hardware is on (except the knobs)... It sounds like a P-Bass because, well, it kind of is, I guess, what with the single-coil P-Bass pickup. Has nice, growly mids, good bottom. Today's my mum's birthday, though, so we're off to celebrate now. No time for photos and clips.

All in all, I'm satisfied.
Click to expand...

that's a good thing to hear! :)
 
#170
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I'm not completely satisfied with it, but I like it enough. I'm going to keep this one and build another! Joiner Serenade #002 is already on the drawing board -- I'm filling out my "project parts planning sheet" as I type this. Same design and all, but slightly different specs -- a more hollowed body, different pickup, floating bridge, and that swooshy fingerboard heel thing I like so much! :smug:

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The logo was created using PhotoShop and printed it onto inkjet waterslide decal paper. The soundhole sticker was also created in PhotoShop, printed onto archival presentation paper (should last about 100 years before deteriorating) and then adhered using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive (the same stuff I use to adhere carpet and vinyl to the cabs I build).

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#173
Back when I made the travel guitar (on the left; the one that isn't blue), I didn't know how to keep the angled headstock from sliding away under the force of the clamps, while gluing, so I sank two screws in through the back of the neck, just deep enough so that the points of the screws went into the headstock, and used some left-over Mother of Pearl fret dots to cover the remaining holes. Since then, I've become aware of a method that DOESN'T leave behind those nasty screw holes, but the inlay on the back of the neck has become sort of a signature thing, so I'm going to keep doing it.

NOTE: The shape for these travel instruments was modeled after my "Serenade" design.
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#175
I'd like to replace the single-coil pickup with either a EMG 35HZ, Basslines SSB-4/5, or Invalid Link Removed, and possibly add another pickup in the bridge position. I just don't like the current setup and would like this bass to be a little more versatile. Active pickups and EQs are out. I don't want to clutter up to electronics and have to rout for a battery box and/or rear access cover. If I went with two pickups, the new controls would be vol/vol/tone -- you know... keep it simple and traditional. Does anyone have any experience with any of the pups in consideration?

Oh, an the neck is too chunky. I'm going to reshape it when I have a little extra time.
 
#176
Recorded some simple sound clips of the SCPB-3, directly into the line in of my computer, recorded with Audacity. Volume is at 100% in both clips. Strings are Fender flatwounds.

I really like the punchy-ness. I've noticed that about this bass. It's loud enough to practice unplugged and one thing I've noticed was just how punchy the acoustic sound is. Oh, and I don't think I mentioned that I made the nut myself out of some 1/8" aluminum. That might be unrelated to the tone, but I don't think I told you guys about the nut.

As a side-note, the hum isn't very noticeable in these clips, oddly, but it's quite noticeable through my amp. And no, it's not the amp. None of my other instruments hum through it.
 

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#177
Well, after some debate, I decided to drop in at least one Basslines SSB-4, in the neck position. I scored a set (of 2) for $80, so I might go ahead and put the 2nd on in the bridge position. I'm thinking about spacing them apart a good bit for more tonal variety. I thought about EMG and Bartolini, but I haven't heard good things about the EMG HZs (too sterile), and the Barts are kind of pricey and have that 3-screw mounting pattern than I just don't like.
 

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