• 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.

New Build 34" 4 string fretted

headlikeahole

headlikeahole

Commercial User
Oct 31, 2009
348
10
Manchester, NH
Disclosures
Owner: Zoov Custom Guitars
#1
Since the rainbow build is in a state of sitting around drying and nearing completion I decided to start in on my next bass. A 4 string fretted for my girlfriend. Shes a far better player than I am and shes been bugging me forever to make her one. So here goes...

So far only specs are 34" and of course lots of purpleheart. I find that almost everyone when they first see exotic woods is mesmerized by purpleheart. So I'm just gonna start the neck today. Its gonna be very similar to the rainbow neck construction cept with an ebony fretboard. Quartersawn Maple core ebony fretboard and 1/8" front to back purple heart stripes on both sides.

As for the body shape I'm still not sure I drew something up and pretty much hated it. So back to the drawing board.

Pictures of dust coming...:bassist:
 
#2
Well put a good 2 hours in and got the neck laid out and the truss rod slot routed. Nothing too exciting. Spent most of that time searching for the bit. Heres some pictures.

Picture224.gif


Started by planning the maple down to 3/4" Then got out the old table saw I use as a jig station for making necks now. It's just two pieces of maple flooring screwed to the top with a straight edge on one side.
Picture225.gif


Laid out the center line and the truss rod slot. Predrilled two holes to fasten the wood to the table. Lined it up so the edge of my truss rod was 2 3/4" away from the metal straight edge. Made sure again everything was allset and then screwed the piece to the table. Make sure if you do this that you countersink the screws so the head doesn't get in the way. You'll notice in the first pictures the screw head is sticking out. But in the done picture its not. During the first pass I realized the mistake and fixed it.

Picture227.gif


All routed
Picture228.gif


Wish I had more time to route the taper and put the headstock angle so I could get the fretboard glued on. Tomorrows another day.
 
#3
Got out of work early today and decided to spend some time drawing up the body shape. Let me know what you think.
Picture002.gif


Picture001.gif


I was hoping to spend the weekend fishing but looking like the weather will keep me inside working on the basses. More to come soon.
 
#10
Got alot of work done today finished up routing the neck taper. Then cut the headstock angle, drilled the hole for the truss rod adjustment nut, installed the truss rod and glued on the fingerboard. I actually did all of this twice as I have a guitar going along at the same time.

Here's a picture of both necks in clamps. Bass on the right. Next to it is a piece of cocobolo I've been saving forever that will make up the center piece of the body.

Picture003.gif


Closeup of the cocobolo.

Picture004.gif


These are the woods I decided on for the body which I still need to finish drawing.

Picture006.gif


Anybody know what the dark wood on the right is??? It's been sitting in my closet for atleast 8 years I can't remember what it is. I'm sure mikey knows the answer to this. Anyway it should look pretty neat sandwiched with the pheart for the sides between the cocobolo center and wenge stripes. With all these dark woods I can't see myself resisting the urge to use maple veneer in every joint possible. Tomorrow the plan is to get the fingerboard trimmed flush and then spend the day working on the rainbow project.
 
#13
I dunno didn't really turn purple i just shaved a bit off the end. heres some pictures of another piece of the same stuff maybe this will help. It also has tiny little almost like worm holes or something in it in a lot of spots.

Picture008.gif


Picture009.gif


Picture010.gif


Still thinking kingwood? I bought it in new hampshire if that makes any difference I'm doubting it was kingwood because I dont ever remember seeing kingwood before and I remember the day I bought this it was on sale super cheap and I sort of forgot about it for a long time. its very dense and heavy also if that helps any
 
#15
East Indian Rosewood, one is from the pith/heart of the log, the other looks like sapwood. Kingwood has a very uniform grain, from being a very slow growing tree that is not effected as much by weather fluctuations as most woods. EIR has more variable grain, as it grows with weather cycles. It's just a guess from a picture, but would be my guess. Could also be Chechen, just not seeing any of the green hues usually found in that.
 
#16
hmmm i guess its possible. While i was out in the garage trying to make this wood turn purple i somehow just started unclamping the neck that had been drying for around 6 hours and trimmed the fretboard flush with the neck. Took a few more pics.

Took the excess glue off with a chisel. While I'm on the topic of the chisel I recently went out and spent a pretty penny of a few nice chisels. I believe Kumaroo is the brand. The difference between these and what I had been using in the past (stanley trash) is just not even comparable. These things are razor sharp and stay that way totally worth every penny.

Picture013.gif


Trimmed the excess off on the bandsaw then clamped the neck to the bench and routed one side at a time then flipping it. I could have set up to do each side in one swipe but I had this idea and it took all of 5 minutes total to do so I just rolled with it.

Picture016.gif


Picture014.gif


Picture011.gif


When that was done i used the chisel again to get rid of the glue on the nut end of the fretboard.

Picture012.gif


and this is where it stands now coming right along

Picture015.gif
 
#20
Few more things done today. First I fixed up the drawing a little bit I think this is a little better. Maybe the upper horn is still a little too big I dunno I'm not worried about it.

Picture021.gif


Picture018.gif


Also inlaid the dots into the side of the fingerboard today

Picture019.gif


Most of the day was spent on other things.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back