One bass a year

[Bruce Johnson]

Cool idea! This should even work with the current pickups if I simply attach a tab at the side of each pickup. However, the pickups would have to sit pretty loose, most probably too loose for stage use.

I once sketched an idea how to move all 4 pickups at the same time. But that would require a lot of mechanics. So I didn't pursue it.

Yeah, there's some mechanical R & D involved. The pickups need to be able to slide freely, but still have an adjustable amount of frictional drag. They need to slide fairly easily, but stay in place when you stop pushing them. You may be able to work that into your current design. Maybe try a prototype version in your current bass, then refine the design for the new bass.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

If I didn't have to convert my winding machine for this, I would have already tried it.

You could make a long one-string pickup using two or more shorter length coils mounted end to end. Wire the coils in series, same direction, same magnet polarity. It should have the same effect of sensing everything, adding it all together in one long wire.

 

[13ghosts]

Yeah, there's some mechanical R & D involved. The pickups need to be able to slide freely, but still have an adjustable amount of frictional drag. They need to slide fairly easily, but stay in place when you stop pushing them. You may be able to work that into your current design. Maybe try a prototype version in your current bass, then refine the design for the new bass.

Yes, I will use the last one for testing. With the new one(s), I'm mainly interested in new pickups and active electronics...and now also a bridge and a new D-extension. I have to be careful not to want too much - which is obviously difficult for me But yes, I have a bass for testing...

 

[13ghosts]

You could make a long one-string pickup using two or more shorter length coils mounted end to end. Wire the coils in series, same direction, same magnet polarity. It should have the same effect of sensing everything, adding it all together in one long wire.

True, but that would drastically increase the winding time, and my machine is pretty slow. But I could use old test versions. However, the number of windings and the magnets are not the same.

 

[13ghosts]

OK... I'm a few steps further:

• The design is more or less finished, but the colors are still to be decided. I adjusted the headstocks a bit. They will only be partially painted and the wooden part will be milled 1-2mm deeper.
• The plans for the templates are (almost) ready. For the last bass I made all the templates myself. For these two I will probably have them milled because I made a lot of positioning holes and it will be more precise that way.
• The bridge for the multi-scale bass is also roughly designed.
• The new D-Extension as well.

The next step is 3D CAD. I have to design new pickup covers and then the bridge...

This is the current design:

These are the templates I need:

Here is an example of a color combination that might work well for the first one:

(https:// www.pinterest.com/pin/737323770216504798/)

 

[13ghosts]

Before turning my attention to the wood, I dealt with other things: the pickups, electronics, and bridges. There will be differences from the previous bass in all areas.

First, here's something about the bridge. I have opened a separate thread for this topic:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/metal-screws-wood-a-bridge-building-thread.1672493/#post-29096219

The goal was to create a bridge that offers a solid contact with the body, maintains stability, allows for optimal string pressure on the saddle, and provides good handling.

I designed two versions: a single-string bridge and a four-string bridge.

More about the pickups and the electronics will follow...

 

[BTL]

This is a lot of fun, I’m sorry I missed it!

 

[13ghosts]

Here is a rather theoretical update.

My previous bass had a capacitance switch to manipulate the frequency of the resonance peak of the pickups, resulting in different sound characteristics. However, this only works for both pickups simultaneously, so it is not possible to make separate adjustments for each pickup. The position and strength of the resonance peak can also be adjusted using filter preamps, additionally allowing for separate adjustments for each pickup. JTex and Underhill, among others, offer these options.

I want to test various options in my new basses. Therefore, I ordered the necessary materials from JTex and Underhill. Unfortunately, after an odyssey of over two months, including a long stay at customs and an unexpected travel to Poland, the package from JTex ended up back in Canada with @Jerry Catanescu — empty, though! WT..! Jerry refunded the purchase (thanks a lot!) and now also has to take care of the insurance. (These are all small companies that we should support, and I hope something like this doesn't happen often!)

I also want to test the combination of a passive resonance peak adjustment, an active blend control to independently adjust the resonance peaks of two pickups, and an active preamp/EQ. Therefore, combined Rob Kidd's (@RobbieK) active blend control (more infos at: PROJECT BEROCCA | robkiddmusic) with the Darkglass Tone Capsule circuit (info at:Invalid Link Removed) and implemented it in a way that allows to adjust the frequencies of the mids and high mids via switches.

This will result in lot of switches, pots, and possibilities. Welcome to another Sonic Vortex.

Here is the combined circuit diagram:

Now, I'm waiting for the circuit boards.

 

[13ghosts]

It's quite compact — actually, a bit too compact in some places...

I hope I've reviewed the design often and thoroughly enough. Unfortunately, I won't have much time over the next few weeks to test and work on it.

 

[13ghosts]

First thoughts on a test setup, which I will have to attach to my last bass somehow so that I can test all the settings and values in advance. I will probably drop the toggle switches. There is still room in the concept for an additional switch for the bass frequency - but I don't think I'm going to include it.

 

[13ghosts]

 

[BTL]

That looks very tidy…nice work!

 

[13ghosts]

That looks very tidy…nice work!

Thank you!

It could be a useful tool for developing individual electronics, especially for adjusting the EQ frequencies and loading capacitors, for different basses/pickups. As soon as it's operational, I'll test it with different basses and setups.

 

[13ghosts]

This is my current pickup project: The pickups in my last bass have 7,800–8,500 windings and consist of one coil and two magnets each. I want to compare these with humbuckers, as found in Wal basses, as well as a variant with larger magnets. The New ones have fewer windings because of size constraints, and because I'm interested in the effect on the resonance peak, which I want to manipulate with a capacitance switch.

 

[SomewhatHarmles]

Dang!

This is so over my head. I'm a caveman listening to a rocket scientist.
Crazy nice first build.

 

[13ghosts]

Dang!

This is so over my head. I'm a caveman listening to a rocket scientist.
Crazy nice first build.

Thanks!!
Yes it's probably a bit crazy for a first build. It's certainly not perfect but it was fun building it and I learned a hell of a lot. So I can only recommend anyone who might need a little challenge to give it a go.It's definitely not rocket science, it just requires a little patience.

 

[13ghosts]

The "one bass a year" thing worked out great - not. But at least some update...

I've finished designing the templates and ordered them. Until they arrive, which unfortunately will take another four weeks, I'll be working on the electronics and pickups.

In the meantime, however, the second version of the bridge is ready, polished and waiting to be installed. The new version has a slightly different design: it requires one screw less, is more massive, offers better guidance of the saddle in the base and a little more space between the end of the strings and the saddle.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

The "one bass a year" thing worked out great - not. But at least some update...

I've finished designing the templates and ordered them. Until they arrive, which unfortunately will take another four weeks, I'll be working on the electronics and pickups.

In the meantime, however, the second version of the bridge is ready, polished and waiting to be installed. The new version has a slightly different design: it requires one screw less, is more massive, offers better guidance of the saddle in the base and a little more space between the end of the strings and the saddle.

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Very nice! A good simple design.