Prototype multiscale singlecut 5er

[Mikey R]

Hey everyone,

This is my first home built bass. I know doing both multiscale and singlecut as a first instrument is asking for trouble, thats part of the fun.

Ive been working on this one since the summer, but recently building been a little slow due to the weather and a lack of motivtion on my part. So I though I'd start a thread and get some feedback on it Its a real budget cheapo to get me started, it wont ever be a looker

Specs:

Body English ash with dark American birch top (?)
Neck flatsawn dark American birch, bolt-on
Fingerboard hard maple
scale 35 1/2 inch to 34 inch, parallel at the 3rd fret
ABM style individual bridge pieces from ebay
Wilkinson open back tuners
Cheapo pickups from ebay

The shape:

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As the fingerboard was going to be a little tricky, I started there to make sure I could cut the f@nned frets ok. The fingerboard is cut from a 33mm quartersawn square board I found cheap at the sawmilll. First up was to rip it into three strips:

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I think I knackered that cheap hardpoint saw doing this. Then I glued:

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I didnt get any shots of cutting the 14 degree scarf joint, but heres one of the slotted fingerboard next to the neck with stewmac hotrod:

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And the fingerboard glued to the neck:

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Gluing the birch top to the ash core. Used pretty much all of my clamps:

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At this point I stopped taking photos for a while. The next shot I have is with the neck bolted to the body:

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Whilst routing the neck cavity, my template slipped, then my router bit fell out - that was a bit of a scary moment

So I came up with another way to get the effect. I cut my carefully glued up two piece body into three. I threw away the middle bit, and made a new middle bit from some left over birch, that followed the taper of the neck. Several hasty glue lines later and I was back on track.

To be continued...

 

[millsbass5]

Being someone thats never tried a build,all I can comment on is the overall bodyshape.Really nice,I like it.Singlecuts are really growing on me.

 

[Mikey R]

The really fun part. Ive been taking my time over this - and also really scared of going to far and cutting into the truss rod channel.

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And carving the volute:

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When I started carving the neck, I really liked the birch. Its way softer than hard maple so carves very easily. But now Im starting to really dislike it, it splinters easily and the edges crumble, you can kind of see that in the last shot.

Anyway, since taking those photos, the neck has become a little bit slimmer.

 

[Mikey R]

Being someone thats never tried a build,all I can comment on is the overall bodyshape.Really nice,I like it.Singlecuts are really growing on me.

Cheers! It took a few goes to get it right.

 

[Darkstrike]

Bolt on singlecut!

Sweet!

 

[bassteban]

Nice. The curves all work very well together.

 

[Mikey R]

Bolt on singlecut!

Sweet!

I first saw it on one of Wilsers, I think Alan at ACG does a bolt on singlecut option. Ive also played a couple of Shuker basses with the bolt on singlecut, and I really liked them.

Nice. The curves all work very well together.

Thanks!

Sketching it out full size on paper really helped me get the design how I like it. I was really inspired by a lot of builders here, you can probably tell who the influences are

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

Subscribed.

 

[jordan_frerichs]

Hey everyone,

This is my first home built bass. I know doing both multiscale and singlecut as a first instrument is asking for trouble, thats part of the fun.
.

if fun is the same thing as being unable to sleep at night because of the parts that you can't figure out what to do on. (please tell me it is not only me) i have been wanting to do a fanned fret. i assume it all has to be done by hand. how do you figure the fret placement, and cut the slots accuratly?

 

[pilotjones]

Very nice shape. It looks like it's coming together nicely.

I've never seen birch dark like that.

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

i have been wanting to do a fanned fret. i assume it all has to be done by hand. how do you figure the fret placement, and cut the slots accuratly?

First, go to fretfind

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and go thru all the steps to get the right pattern (sometimes takes a while to figure out all the stuff but click on "help" and learn). Then go read Phils thread...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=435497&highlight=fanned+fret+jig

 

[rodl2005]

Jolly good show Ol' chap! Making an electric bass eh what! Tally ho!! Congrats-Looks great so far!!!!

 

[Trevorus]

I'd love to see where this thing goes.

 

[Mikey R]

if fun is the same thing as being unable to sleep at night because of the parts that you can't figure out what to do on. (please tell me it is not only me)

Yep, lack of sleep, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate at work - I know these symptoms well!

Speaking of which, I really should be working now...

i have been wanting to do a fanned fret. i assume it all has to be done by hand. how do you figure the fret placement, and cut the slots accuratly?

First, go to fretfind

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and go thru all the steps to get the right pattern (sometimes takes a while to figure out all the stuff but click on "help" and learn). Then go read Phils thread...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=435497&highlight=fanned+fret+jig

Thats the way to do it! Except I didnt make a jig, and I clamped a sqared block of maple next to each line to guide the saw. It was surprisingly easy!

I've never seen birch dark like that.

Me neither - I was at the mill looking for walnut, and I couldnt find any clear enough. Then I saw this and decided to give it a go I think its supposed to be for shelving, as its fairly stiff but rubbish for joinery due to its crumbliness.

Maybe someone knows better? Larry??

Jolly good show Ol' chap! Making an electric bass eh what! Tally ho!! Congrats-Looks great so far!!!!

Indeed!

 

[Merton]

Hooray! The thread is finally here, with pics too

 

[bronzehydra]

I'm really diggin the looks of this bass!
I can't wait to see the final product

 

[Mikey R]

I'm really diggin the looks of this bass!
I can't wait to see the final product

Cheers! Its actually good to know people like to see instruments that arent made from crazily figured woods Especially since all the timber for this one cost a little more than £20

Its actually really free being able to experiment and know that Im not risking £80 just on the top wood.

 

[scottyd]

Cheers! Its actually good to know people like to see instruments that arent made from crazily figured woods Especially since all the timber for this one cost a little more than £20

Its actually really free being able to experiment and know that Im not risking £80 just on the top wood.

What did somebody say cheap lumber?? Count me in!!

 

[Mikey R]

What did somebody say cheap lumber?? Count me in!!

1" x 6" x 10ft of that weird dark birch: £20, Ive used about 3/4, so about £15 (I think I was overcharged)
1.25" x 8" x 4ft English ash: £5 from a good friend at work
fingerboard: a little over £2

So thats the lot for round about £22

 

[Mikey R]

So I thought knocking the frets in would be a real headache - again, I was wrong. I bought a pannel beaters hammer, so that I wouldnt mark the frets are they went in. Heres the result:

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Not too shabby! And a close up of the truss rod access slot:

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(That photo also shows up a rather shakey glue line.)

Im suspecting that my kerf was a little too wide, which is why the frets went in so easily. With a harder wood and a propper fretting saw, it would probably be harder work.

Ive still got to file down the fret ends, but I'll need to do that outside so I need to wait for good weather. This is north Yorkshire in winter so I may be waiting a while.