my EBMM stingray begins its diet today

[johnk_10]

i think that an allparts p bass neck would be close, but probably would need to be shaved/reshaped a little to match a ray's profile.

of course, if you're going for the stingray's tone, you could always just build a p bass and instead of using a split pickup, use a duncan smB4-A. located in the stingray's same position and build a two band preamp for it, and it would get pretty close, but i wanted the look and the sound of a ray, but in a lighter bass. i have seen (only online) a few slightly over 8lb rays, but every one that i've played was in the 10-11lb range, so IME, they're somewhat of a rarity.

 

[mongo2]

If you want to reduce the weight on the headstock I'd suggest using G&L tuners, or at least transplant the aluminum string post from the G&Ls to the MM tuners. They lighten the tuner array considerably.

 

[sonic assassin]

id go with lightweight tuners as well.

and theres an idea ive had for lightening a bass, and miziomix hit it right on the head with his uber-J build. taper the edges (like a contour) all around the body to save some weight. if that looks weird, only do the back. im sure you could save a LOT of weight that way.

my OLP weighs a TON and ive pondered hours and hours how to make it lighter.

my 3 main stage guitars are a hollowbody and 2 very light doublecuts. and then ive got a 10+ pound bass. UGH.

 

[johnk_10]

id go with lightweight tuners as well.

i really don't think it'll need it, but i do like mongo's suggestion of using G&L tapered aluminum posts, even though the MM tuners really aren't all that heavy as they are, at 3 oz each (at least not like fender's 4+ oz full sized tuners).

and theres an idea ive had for lightening a bass, and miziomix hit it right on the head with his uber-J build. taper the edges (like a contour) all around the body to save some weight. if that looks weird, only do the back. im sure you could save a LOT of weight that way.

to me, it would look too weird, even if it was only on the back, rally wouldn't save that much weight, and the whole bass would have to be refinned to save that little bit of weight. if i were to refin the original body, i'd much rather route out the 'wings' by routing channels in it from the rear, then cap it with a 1/4" piece of swamp ash to cover them.

 

[sonic assassin]

to me, it would look too weird, even if it was only on the back, rally wouldn't save that much weight, and the whole bass would have to be refinned to save that little bit of weight. if i were to refin the original body, i'd much rather route out the 'wings' by routing channels in it from the rear, then cap it with a 1/4" piece of swamp ash to cover them.

wouldnt making it semi-acoustic change the resonance a ridiculous amount? im subtracting mass, not chambering. i feel like the effect on the sound of the bass would be less changed by subtracting a little weight.

 

[johnk_10]

wouldnt making it semi-acoustic change the resonance a ridiculous amount? im subtracting mass, not chambering. i feel like the effect on the sound of the bass would be less changed by subtracting a little weight.

yes it would, but only chambering the wings wouldn't change it that much (and might make it even better), but that's the reason that i'm making a new one from scratch, keeping it a completely solid body, but just using a lighter weight piece of ash.

if you chambered one something like this:

it would probably still retain alot of its solid body tone, but just be ALOT lighter.

i think that using a lighter piece of wood to begin with and keeping it solid will also change its resonance, but to me, for the better ( it will remove a bit of a stingray's 'clickiness') and yield a fuller, rounder tone.

 

[timbledum]

Hey if you still haven't got the scans PM me and I can scan the back plate and the pickguard of my SR HH if you want in about eight hours.

 

[MikeyB]

Sub'd.

Great project John! And well begun is half done...

-M

 

[johnk_10]

Hey if you still haven't got the scans PM me and I can scan the back plate and the pickguard of my SR HH if you want in about eight hours.

thanks! yes, i still need them and i'd really appreciate that!

regards,

 

[T. Alan Smith]

Wow...looking real good so far. Shame to paint that nice grain tho.

 

[JMac- Wiskerface Designs]

Sub'd, awesome Idea.

 

[Selta]

Johnk,
Can you measure nut to center of each pickup for HH placement for me? I'm going down a similar avenue (hopefully) and need that measurement

 

[johnk_10]

Johnk,
Can you measure nut to center of each pickup for HH placement for me? I'm going down a similar avenue (hopefully) and need that measurement

i will as soon as timbledum gets back to me with the dims.

 

[joeyl]

cool, another interesting project

 

[rumblinbass]

I have kind of a newbie question...

I have considered tracing a body to get a template. Considering that most bodies have a radius and contours, how do you trace it?

 

[garmenteros]

Interesting project... I hope it turns out nice, as it looks like it will.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I"m here for this one.

 

[billiam5billion]

Subbed, and then some...

 

[johnk_10]

I have kind of a newbie question...

I have considered tracing a body to get a template. Considering that most bodies have a radius and contours, how do you trace it?

IMO, that's not a newbie question at all.
basically, i hold the pencil perpendicular to the the plank, an slightly angle it inward to make up for the thickness of the pencil's diameter. then i leave the body in place and look around it make sure it's not over or under sized. then i double check by measuring the body's upper and lower bouts, waist and length and compare it to the trace's dims.

 

[Jim C]

Must just be the few of us that dislike heavy SR basses
Would be great if the aftermarket made this very same body