Rhiannon and Galadriel

[friendlybass]

Totally! It comes in today and I am going to play around with it until I get the Sonum Experior finished, and then @rondodunbar will be using it for a while to see what he sees. I will record some sound clips and update the Sonum thread with general opinions, and this one will be updated with the position chosen for your consideration.

Here's an updated concept drawing. Note the following:

1. This build is heavily influenced by the telecaster design, but certain changes are being made for a variety of reasons
2. The fingerboard in the concept is a stock photo just to show the grain effect we are going for, but the color and grain may be different once the right wood is chosen and procured
3. The neck transition in the back has been changed to provide better flow. Keep in mind that this is an extended set neck design, so the neck pocket will be from the top of the body all the way down to the top of the pickup.
4. Rather than keeping with a fairly "square and blocky" body shape in regards to round-over, and fairly heavy round-over will be applied to smooth things out.

View attachment 588923

You rock man. I think this is the first headless bass ive seen that doesn't just look like its missing a headstock, I hope that translates well to the wood stage!

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

You rock man. I think this is the first headless bass ive seen that doesn't just look like its missing a headstock, I hope that translates well to the wood stage!

Thank you so much! I can't take really much credit though...I am just the hands that will be carving someone else's dream out of the wood and doing my best to "channel" Rhiannon throughout the process.

 

[wraub]

Looks great so far, but a word of advice. if I may:

If truly trying to channel Rhiannon, you need to wear something diaphanous.
Also, lots of silk scarves, apparently.
That's just how it's done, man.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Just a quick side note - the Lace Alumitone Bass Bar came in today and I was surprised to see it was a model that offered a "split mode". The pickup can be switched back and forth between either a standard "humbucker" sound, or a single coil sound. The single coil "split" mode still uses both magnets, but it definitely sounds like a single coil. Both modes are dead silent when it comes to noise.

 

[Rôckhewer]

Pickup location has not yet been determined at this time. Ron will be utilizing the Sonum Experior to hunt for Rhiannon's voice.

Y'know....it just hit me, how friggin cool this is!! It's like:
...."Here you go Mr. customer... Here's the exact pickup we'll be using in your bass, temporarily wired into this ultra bitchin' adjustable, omni-position sonic configurator device....which you can take home, apply the exact strings you prefer, and play through your own rig... So that we may find your new bass's voice"
Talk about a full service, custom shop!
Very cool.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Y'know....it just hit me, how friggin cool this is!! It's like:
...."Here you go Mr. customer... Here's the exact pickup we'll be using in your bass, temporarily wired into this ultra bitchin' adjustable, omni-position sonic configurator device....which you can take home, apply the exact strings you prefer, and play through your own rig... So that we may find your new bass's voice"
Talk about a full service, custom shop!
Very cool.

It's truly an option that a custom shop should provide IMO. So Rockhewer, when you start building for folks, are you going to offer that service?

 

[Jon Clegg]

Just a quick side note - the Lace Alumitone Bass Bar came in today and I was surprised to see it was a model that offered a "split mode". The pickup can be switched back and forth between either a standard "humbucker" sound, or a single coil sound. The single coil "split" mode still uses both magnets, but it definitely sounds like a single coil. Both modes are dead silent when it comes to noise.

Huh. It must be just a center tap on the transformer to give a lower inductance value. Interesting.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Y'know....it just hit me, how friggin cool this is!! It's like:
...."Here you go Mr. customer... Here's the exact pickup we'll be using in your bass, temporarily wired into this ultra bitchin' adjustable, omni-position sonic configurator device....which you can take home, apply the exact strings you prefer, and play through your own rig... So that we may find your new bass's voice"
Talk about a full service, custom shop!
Very cool.

It's truly an option that a custom shop should provide IMO.

Thanks guys! I think that many customers would not want to take advantage of the "service" - sometimes too much choice can be overwhelming. Two of my customers have stated up front that they just want me to build the instrument as I saw fit given very general parameters, and pickup placement was not even on their radar. At the other end of the spectrum are people like me who want infinite control over every aspect of a build....of course this is in part what has lead me to build my own. I would be a terrible customer.

So Rockhewer, when you start building for folks, are you going to offer that service?

Oh yeah! I want me a Rôckbass!

 

[Jon Clegg]

Thanks guys! I think that many customers would not want to take advantage of the "service" - sometimes too much choice can be overwhelming. Two of my customers have stated up front that they just want me to build the instrument as I saw fit given very general parameters, and pickup placement was not even on their radar. At the other end of the spectrum are people like me who want infinite control over every aspect of a build....of course this is in part what has lead me to build my own. I would be a terrible customer.

Exactly, that's why I say it should be an option. I originally was going to say that every custom builder should do it this way then I realized it should be an option since many would say 'whatever... put it in J-Bass positions". Being an infinite tinkerer myself, I'd opt for the option, but that's just me.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Exactly, that's why I say it should be an option. I originally was going to say that every custom builder should do it this way then I realized it should be an option since many would say 'whatever... put it in J-Bass positions". Being an infinite tinkerer myself, I'd opt for the option, but that's just me.

And there is a middle road that goes like this:

Customer: "I want the bridge pickup in the standard Fender J placement."
Luthier: "Which one? The 70's version?"
Customer: "What's the difference?"
Luthier: "Let me show you..."

 

[Rôckhewer]

It's truly an option that a custom shop should provide IMO. So Rockhewer, when you start building for folks, are you going to offer that service?

Allow me to quote from the venerable Les Claypool & say:
"I'mma gonna get me one better, (just you wait and see)...
I'mma gonna get me one better, (you can't get the best of me)... lol...
So I'm going to develop a virtual reality program where the customer will "plug in" (ala' The Matrix).
They can chose to virtually play the instrument, or observe themselves playing & hear it from an audience perspective. All possible electronics, p/u, and wood options will be programmable to be switched and manipulated at will.
Once the desired combinations are decided upon, the computer will print out a spec sheet and blueprints...
Including images with the wood choices inserted...as well as an invoice!

 

[Rôckhewer]

[QUOTE


Oh yeah! I want me a Rôckbass![/QUOTE]

Hey ....that can definitely be arranged

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Foul tempter!

 

[Jon Clegg]

And there is a middle road that goes like this:

Customer: "I want the bridge pickup in the standard Fender J placement."
Luthier: "Which one? The 70's version?"
Customer: "What's the difference?"
Luthier: "Let me show you..."

Lol, a while back, I found a spreadsheet with pickup positions for different basses... The diversity within a given model will make your head spin.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Lol, a while back, I found a spreadsheet with pickup positions for different basses... The diversity within a given model will make your head spin.

I have found that to be true as well, and small changes near the bridge can make a big difference.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Hardware has shipped and is on the way, the body and top woods will arrive tomorrow, and the only thing we have left is to pick out a fingerboard. Joy!

 

[Hamish MacCleod]

When I originally discussed Rhiannon with Michael, I specified that the pick up be placed in the MM sweet spot. I had no idea he was going to build a test mule to precisely place the pick up where I feel it sounds best, but I am happy to have the choice. Given that the Alumatone will be wired straight to the jack , sans a tone control, having the option of precisely locating it is a huge plus. One of my concerns with the build was that without a tone control the bass might sound too bright with the p'up in the MM position, Michael's test bass will eliminate this concern. Needless to say, I am stoked!

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Body wood and parts came in today! I need to get a tele template cut out of MDF so we can figure out what goes where.

 

[Hamish MacCleod]

Michael,
Sweet looking pieces, love the pattern on the maple especially.
Rondo

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Wood porn! The maple we are using as a fingerboard came in today.