Musiclogic
Commercial User
- Aug 6, 2005
- 6,505
- 75
- 60
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder: HJC Customs USA, The Cool Lute, C G O
Looking cool Dave, now add a set of those RBX 374/375 pickups and pre, and that would be one rockin fretless.
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New build! another pine body/ oak neck!
- Thread starter dave-chaulk
- Start date
LGT: pics on the way!
Musiclogic: thanks a lot. That would be really friggin' cool.. I had set up to order an EMG (weird for me) split coil passive from Stew Mac, but turns out my Uncle had an old splitcoil lying around that he gave me. I'm building this for my brother, so he can swap it out if he wants to, hah.
Musiclogic: thanks a lot. That would be really friggin' cool.. I had set up to order an EMG (weird for me) split coil passive from Stew Mac, but turns out my Uncle had an old splitcoil lying around that he gave me. I'm building this for my brother, so he can swap it out if he wants to, hah.
Pictures time!
this pine has some of the most beautiful grain I've ever seen.
Warning: this photo mix is very high resolution, so it might be a bit contrary to load. I thought this would be necessary for this one, to really highlight the grain.
this pine has some of the most beautiful grain I've ever seen.
Warning: this photo mix is very high resolution, so it might be a bit contrary to load. I thought this would be necessary for this one, to really highlight the grain.
I forgot to mention, it's slightly visible in the large middle picture (the colour difference). I slightly shaped the back of the body in a convex manner, like a very very very slight version of some Spector models. It is easy to feel and really comfortable, just not visible. this came about because there was a small dent on the outside of the join, which I thought was too noticeable.
I sanded it to 220, and it is now ready for the Minwax semi-gloss clearcoat I'm going to put on -same stuff from the jazz bass. I hate to cover up this beautiful wood with anything, but I figure I'll go as clear as I possibly can. I can't decide whether I'll spray or brush this time, but I'm leaning towards spray, just to try something different. 2 coats on neck, steel-wooled out afterwards.
three or four on the fingerboard, mainly to seal it since I play with flats.
maybe 5 or 6 light coats on the body, then a 7th really thick coat, buffed out by hand after. nothing too shiny, hopefully.
As you can see, the pickups are slightly crooked. I'm not worried - it's only about a quarter inch, so I just re-routed a tad and shimmed a bit, it's not even visible.
Oh, I also whipped up a little fender-style thumb rest from purpleheart, to go between the pickup and neck on the top.
I'm really considering a chrome pickup cover, and kinda' considering trying to make one from more purple heart. Is that what it's called? the chrome dome that covers the pickup, like Jamerson's.. I've always called it a pickup cover, but pickup cover is also what people call the actual cover on the pickup.
Whew, sorry for the little rant, feel free to skip it.
will begin finishing tonight or tomorrow, and assembly once the parts arrive from StewMac - probably in the next two weeks.
I sanded it to 220, and it is now ready for the Minwax semi-gloss clearcoat I'm going to put on -same stuff from the jazz bass. I hate to cover up this beautiful wood with anything, but I figure I'll go as clear as I possibly can. I can't decide whether I'll spray or brush this time, but I'm leaning towards spray, just to try something different. 2 coats on neck, steel-wooled out afterwards.
three or four on the fingerboard, mainly to seal it since I play with flats.
maybe 5 or 6 light coats on the body, then a 7th really thick coat, buffed out by hand after. nothing too shiny, hopefully.
As you can see, the pickups are slightly crooked. I'm not worried - it's only about a quarter inch, so I just re-routed a tad and shimmed a bit, it's not even visible.
Oh, I also whipped up a little fender-style thumb rest from purpleheart, to go between the pickup and neck on the top.
I'm really considering a chrome pickup cover, and kinda' considering trying to make one from more purple heart. Is that what it's called? the chrome dome that covers the pickup, like Jamerson's.. I've always called it a pickup cover, but pickup cover is also what people call the actual cover on the pickup.
Whew, sorry for the little rant, feel free to skip it.
will begin finishing tonight or tomorrow, and assembly once the parts arrive from StewMac - probably in the next two weeks.
So, I kinda' changed my mind.
third coat of brush-on finish drying as we speak.
This stuff is a lot better than the last stuff I used.
third coat of brush-on finish drying as we speak.
This stuff is a lot better than the last stuff I used.
I forgot to mention.. this time I'm using poly ;-)
I think I'll dis-assemble my last jazz bass build, round-over the edges and do some better shaping that I didn't learn until this build, and re-fin in the poly. re-shape the neck, too.
I think I'll dis-assemble my last jazz bass build, round-over the edges and do some better shaping that I didn't learn until this build, and re-fin in the poly. re-shape the neck, too.
I'm curious about the picture in the top left of that collage above. Is that the headstock?
I don't understand the join i'm looking at.
But I love the bass! I have yet to tackle my first build, but this inspired me to find some pine and use it for my first build, to commence soon. I also like how you incorporated a knot or two into the body instead of finding pieces that were knot-free.
I don't understand the join i'm looking at.
But I love the bass! I have yet to tackle my first build, but this inspired me to find some pine and use it for my first build, to commence soon. I also like how you incorporated a knot or two into the body instead of finding pieces that were knot-free.
the top left picture on the nearest collage is the back of the neck. it's nae a join, I just carved it down around, to make it more.. pretty, I guess. the headstock being on the left side of the picture.
Thanks! You should definitely do it - it's absolutely worth it. and I love the knots, they are a great characteristic of pine, when used appropriately. they suck if they're on the edge, though. my favourite 'knot is on the back of the body, right down on the bottom past the control pannel.
Thanks! You should definitely do it - it's absolutely worth it. and I love the knots, they are a great characteristic of pine, when used appropriately. they suck if they're on the edge, though. my favourite 'knot is on the back of the body, right down on the bottom past the control pannel.
I would call this one done. the neck is clamped up for a couple weeks, now, because of the back-bow (no truss, hah), but other than that everything's done.
Stay tuned for the next build which I started tonight; Double neck!
Stay tuned for the next build which I started tonight; Double neck!
deffffinitely needed a truss rod, a big mistake on my part. but never again!
I'll do pictures when it's completely done - not much has changed.
I'll do pictures when it's completely done - not much has changed.
Dave, you're a pretty big inspiration. Obviously this sort of work isn't easy, but you sure make it look like it. Need to keep adding to the tool collection, and I'll definitely do this one day.
Definitely should! You could do a one-piece, if you just bought one oak 2x6, I'd say.. I don't know much about upright at all.
Sorry, hah, I wasn't really paying attention or I would've known you meant oak.
No, I'm sorry, I don't have any first-hand experience with an oak body (yet), but I believe it's very similar in hardness to many other woods - and in my building experience I'd compare an oak neck to a maple neck, easily. it's just a bit more porous, but what's minwax clearcoat for?
No, I'm sorry, I don't have any first-hand experience with an oak body (yet), but I believe it's very similar in hardness to many other woods - and in my building experience I'd compare an oak neck to a maple neck, easily. it's just a bit more porous, but what's minwax clearcoat for?
