My first bass resurrected (including back-story)

[JIO]

I'll try to take a better pic of what this shows.., that the active 'wavy' grain-pattern of the (maple?) laminate on the back is 3D kinetic. It's why natural finishes can be (but not always) outstanding in their visual attractiveness/allure. On top of that, I love when something not intending to be "exotic" ends up looking exotic!

 

[JIO]

So now, the fun part (not). The neck is a bit on the wonky side. And because of its wonkiness being of the asymmetric variety, I had to get creative. (which is where I live!) First, I marked every fret with a marker pen. I should have used red as I usually do, but I couldn't find my red marker! (it's easier to see)

Strings tuned to pitch - used my Stew Mac Fretbar to level the frets. It's a cool tool because you can level frets with the strings on and tuned - sorta like a poor-mans Plek! Sand until all the black goes away - at least most of it.

Crowning the frets - this tool has two diamond grits, #150 & #300. Once crowned, emory-paper sanded, and 0000 steel wool polished. Like new.

Along the way, skimming the fb with a flat-blade. These (OLFA) 'snap-blades' are my fav's for such work.

Also some filing on the nut-slots. I'm not sure what the nut is made of - it looks like bone, and files like bone.., but strangely enough it is semi-hollow ~?~ (should have taken a pic) Even if it were plastic, why go to the trouble of making it hollow? Weird. Never seen a nut like that and because of that wanted to keep it on the bass. Used Gerlitz Guitar Honey to nourish the nice mahogany fb.

After many hours of trance-like focus - the bass is as playable as possible being what it is. Honestly, I took on the project for very indulgent reasonology. It was more about grabbing something personal & foggy from the past and polishing it to a high luster. In some ways its set-up plays like the model bass I started on - strings a bit high over the fb! But on this one, only in sections!

The neck is 'baseball bat' - the nut width is 1-5/8" (original Fender P width), sound/tone is raw and loud - bassy, and that's the way it was then so I'm keeping it like that.. it makes loud bass sound! R&R!

 

[Kenan]

Hey man, that bass is looking sweet. I always enjoy checking out your projects. Question: how do you use that fret leveling tool while the neck is under tension? I would think that the relief in the neck under tension would make it impossible to have a flat plane. Thanks

 

[JIO]

Hey man, that bass is looking sweet. I always enjoy checking out your projects. Question: how do you use that fret leveling tool while the neck is under tension? I would think that the relief in the neck under tension would make it impossible to have a flat plane. Thanks

Thanks! A Plek operates in a similar way - the whole bass (or guitar) is secured into the machines harness with the strings used and tuned to pitch. It then precisely laser-cuts the frets. An algorithm/formula is most likely programed in for 'optimal' relief. Not exactly certain - but when done... Bob's yer' uncle!

 

[Indiedog]

So now, the fun part (not). The neck is a bit on the wonky side. And because of its wonkiness being of the asymmetric variety, I had to get creative. (which is where I live!) First, I marked every fret with a marker pen. I should have used red as I usually do, but I couldn't find my red marker! (it's easier to see)

View attachment 5078144
Strings tuned to pitch - used my Stew Mac Fretbar to level the frets. It's a cool tool because you can level frets with the strings on and tuned - sorta like a poor-mans Plek! Sand until all the black goes away - at least most of it.
View attachment 5078148
Crowning the frets - this tool has two diamond grits, #150 & #300. Once crowned, emory-paper sanded, and 0000 steel wool polished. Like new.
View attachment 5078153
Along the way, skimming the fb with a flat-blade. These (OLFA) 'snap-blades' are my fav's for such work.
View attachment 5078157
Also some filing on the nut-slots. I'm not sure what the nut is made of - it looks like bone, and files like bone.., but strangely enough it is semi-hollow ~?~ (should have taken a pic) Even if it were plastic, why go to the trouble of making it hollow? Weird. Never seen a nut like that and because of that wanted to keep it on the bass. Used Gerlitz Guitar Honey to nourish the nice mahogany fb.
View attachment 5078160

After many hours of trance-like focus - the bass is as playable as possible being what it is. Honestly, I took on the project for very indulgent reasonology. It was more about grabbing something personal & foggy from the past and polishing it to a high luster. In some ways its set-up plays like the model bass I started on - strings a bit high over the fb! But on this one, only in sections!

The neck is 'baseball bat' - the nut width is 1-5/8" (original Fender P width), sound/tone is raw and loud - bassy, and that's the way it was then so I'm keeping it like that.. it makes loud bass sound! R&R!

I am so harvesting some of the fascinating fruit of your post, JIO!

“Trance-like focus”

“indulgent reasonology“

I am stealing these two delightful phrases! “Reasonology” is my new favorite pseudo-word!
To feel better about the theft, I’ll buy you lunch after the next bike ride (when you kick my a$$ again)!


Oh, I almost forgot to include a bit of on-topic text…I am very impressed the way you tackled that fretboard issue! Kudos!!

 

[JIO]

I 86'd my never reliable hanging scale and its replacement arrived today. The Tempo is a very friendly 8lbs/8oz

 

[JIO]

I am so harvesting some of the fascinating fruit of your post, JIO!

“Trance-like focus”

“indulgent reasonology“

I am stealing these two delightful phrases! “Reasonology” is my new favorite pseudo-word!
To feel better about the theft, I’ll buy you lunch after the next bike ride (when you kick my a$$ again)!


Oh, I almost forgot to include a bit of on-topic text…I am very impressed the way you tackled that fretboard issue! Kudos!!

I looked up reasonology after typing it and yes, it turns out it is an established pseudo-word. It's kind of how language develops, so I felt good about using it. And the "trance like focus" is real - time goes away when I focus on a task like that. You know as a cyclist what it takes to build-up a multiple spoked wheel. Lacing the spokes, tightening the spoke nipples, doing the same thing over and over and over again - very zen.

 

[definenredefine]

I looked up reasonology after typing it and yes, it turns out it is an established pseudo-word. It's kind of how language develops, so I felt good about using it. And the "trance like focus" is real - time goes away when I focus on a task like that. You know as a cyclist what it takes to build-up a multiple spoked wheel. Lacing the spokes, tightening the spoke nipples, doing the same thing over and over and over again - very zen.

Ugh that's the one thing I've never done in putting a bike together. Don't have the patience...

 

[JIO]

Ugh that's the one thing I've never done in putting a bike together. Don't have the patience...

I've only done it twice - it does take patience. It's something I do naturally.

 

[Indiedog]

I looked up reasonology after typing it and yes, it turns out it is an established pseudo-word. It's kind of how language develops, so I felt good about using it. And the "trance like focus" is real - time goes away when I focus on a task like that. You know as a cyclist what it takes to build-up a multiple spoked wheel. Lacing the spokes, tightening the spoke nipples, doing the same thing over and over and over again - very zen.

Love it, JIO!

I am serious; I love these two phrases.

 

[JIO]

Something it originally had as there is glue residue under the cover. Thumpy! It's funny - I didn't expect it but I'd hoped that working on this would trigger memories of my first bass. Alas no... other than a baseball-bay neck with strings a bit high off the fb. My 'seasoned' hands are stronger and able to navigate it as on any bass I own/play, but my memory as a novice player is that it was very hard to press on the strings as a 13 yr old. It may have been easier if I understood how to adjust a truss-rod and bridge... I really wanted to be a bass-player, so I soldiered on with blisters on my fingers!

 

[mapleglo]

Something it originally had as there is glue residue under the cover. Thumpy! It's funny - I didn't expect it but I'd hoped that working on this would trigger memories of my first bass. Alas no... other than a baseball-bay neck with strings a bit high off the fb. My 'seasoned' hands are stronger and able to navigate it as on any bass I own/play, but my memory as a novice player is that it was very hard to press on the strings as a 13 yr old. It may have been easier if I understood how to adjust a truss-rod and bridge... I really wanted to be a bass-player, so I soldiered on with blisters on my fingers!

View attachment 5080038

Looks great! My first bass was a Hofner Club bass, single cut, hollow body, short scale. Funny thing, that bass would be worth in excess of 3 grand today, but I hated it at the time. I wanted a Precision. As I remember though, it was pretty easy to play. The action must have been OK, and the short scale would have made for an easy transition from guitar. Though at the time, I had no idea there were different scale lengths. Or truss rod adjustments, for that matter.

Of course, I am so sorry I got rid of it. Would love to have kept it.

 

[Reedt2000]

Looks great! My first bass was a Hofner Club bass, single cut, hollow body, short scale. Funny thing, that bass would be worth in excess of 3 grand today, but I hated it at the time. I wanted a Precision. As I remember though, it was pretty easy to play. The action must have been OK, and the short scale would have made for an easy transition from guitar. Though at the time, I had no idea there were different scale lengths. Or truss rod adjustments, for that matter.

Of course, I am so sorry I got rid of it. Would love to have kept it.

You'll have to build one...

 

[JIO]

Looks great! My first bass was a Hofner Club bass, single cut, hollow body, short scale. Funny thing, that bass would be worth in excess of 3 grand today, but I hated it at the time. I wanted a Precision. As I remember though, it was pretty easy to play. The action must have been OK, and the short scale would have made for an easy transition from guitar. Though at the time, I had no idea there were different scale lengths. Or truss rod adjustments, for that matter.

Of course, I am so sorry I got rid of it. Would love to have kept it.

I don't believe I've ever held for played a Hofner violin bass. I did make a small model/replica of one made of balsa wood for whatever reason. I was always making something or other.

 

[JIO]

You'll have to build one...

Building a Hofner-style carved-hollowbody bass would put the capital L into luthier.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Building a Hofner-style carved-hollowbody bass would put the capital L into luthier.

I had a friend ask me today if I considered myself a luthier. I said something along the lines of being a fat guy in the garage who gets things right once in a while. Did I mention I have self esteem issues?

 

[JIO]

I had a friend ask me today if I considered myself a luthier. I said something along the lines of being a fat guy in the garage who gets things right once in a while. Did I mention I have self esteem issues?

Well, I too would never call myself a luthier. I bump-up against aspects of what a luthier does, but only in a small percentage. A luthier as you all know is a master woodworker to start with, and someone who either is a musician/player or has a specific understanding of what a player needs. And those woodworking skills dovetails into a myriad of insights/tricks (in the best sense of the word) to create a special/unique instrument, and/or work on one with skill. Our very own Bruce Johnson comes to mind. His skills go beyond wood into fabrication of metal parts, pu-making/winding, and pro-finishing - a veritable tour de force way beyond most luthiers.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Well, I too would never call myself a luthier. I bump-up against aspects of what a luthier does, but only in a small percentage. A luthier as you all know is a master woodworker to start with, and someone who either is a musician/player or has a specific understanding of what a player needs. And those woodworking skills dovetails into a myriad of insights/tricks (in the best sense of the word) to create a special/unique instrument, and/or work on one with skill. Our very own Bruce Johnson comes to mind. His skills go beyond wood into fabrication of metal parts, pu-making/winding, and pro-finishing - a veritable tour de force way beyond most luthiers.

I guess I was thinking in contrast to the guys on the forums (besides here) who build one kit and start dispensing “expert” advice to everyone.

 

[Indiedog]

Yup. For me it is clear that there are people with real skills and then there is me. My father was a skilled woodworker. I always aimed high yet had terrible results. I always thought of myself as a Wood Butcher. But in 1984 I made myself a 5-octave psaltery.It turned out reasonably well…I actually FINISHED it! That was my graduation project to become certified as a Wood Abuser, one step above Butcher.

That’s why I like tuning in here on TB…there are some great projects being done by people of all levels. But JIO, you are as close to being a Luthier as one can get without actually being one.

 

[mapleglo]

I'm not a luthier, but I play one on TB.