That's insanely good. Looks and sounds incredible, has to be my favourite build I've seen here in LC. Hats off to you sir.
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SBO 2022 - Cheaper by the Dozen - 12 String Bass
- Thread starter Gary_M
- Start date
Wow, just wow. Also, now I need to build another bass! This time with black laminations...
Now that the voting is complete, I wanted to add a picture of all three versions of this bass. The 35" 5 string, the 34" 5 string fretless, and the 34" 12 string. I guess I should make a 4 string just to balance things out a bit. 
Now that the voting is complete, I wanted to add a picture of all three versions of this bass. The 35" 5 string, the 34" 5 string fretless, and the 34" 12 string. I guess I should make a 4 string just to balance things out a bit.
That's a good looking family you've got there!
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,020
- 1
- 31,739
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
thanks! They keep getting better with every iteration that’s for sure.
I can't quite tell if it's the angle or not, but it looks like you accentuated the "waist" of the fretted 5 just a little more than the others?
I sure know how to call ‘em, eh?
How do you like the Sung Il bridge?
After reading so many negative comments about this bridge, I was a little apprehensive about using it. But I have to say, it’s a fine bridge.
My one complaint is that the fit of the studs is a little on the sloppy side. Once tension is on it, there is no issue. On subsequent builds I’ll likely wrap the studs with aluminoom tape to take up any slack.
The overall build quantity is very good and it’s actually very thick. So I don’t think there is any worry about collapse. The overall radius of the saddles is almost exactly 12”, so that’s what I used for the fretboard. The result is very low and consistent action. The setup and saddle slotting went much faster than expected for that reason. I just wish they would ship the saddles completely unslotted.
The remaining wish is to find them in other finishes. I know they exist, but I can’t find a source for them.
Basvarken
Commercial User
- Dec 3, 2010
- 1,744
- 10,611
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- Hobby Luthier / Gibson Bass Book
Very nice! Awesome work. I really like the body shape and the neck through.
And I'm a big fan of those Lace Alumitones. But somehow I think you have mounted them upside down? No that it matters soundwise, haha!
Slightly worried about the position of the bridge. It may be a tad bit too close to the neck? Looks like you maxed out for intonation.
And I'm a big fan of those Lace Alumitones. But somehow I think you have mounted them upside down? No that it matters soundwise, haha!
Slightly worried about the position of the bridge. It may be a tad bit too close to the neck? Looks like you maxed out for intonation.
Good lord @Gary_M that's a beautiful trio. Do you need a 4 string? I don't think so. But if you're just looking for something to build next, yeah, do it.
Well, technically he hasn't built an 8 string either. And if you're gonna build a 12 string, you should probably have an 8 string too.
A 12 string counts as two 6 strings or three 4 strings, so you’re covered.
I want a poster of this.I wanted to add a picture of all three versions of this bass. The 35" 5 string, the 34" 5 string fretless, and the 34" 12 string.
Thanks, I appreciate that.
I love the Bass Bars, I think they sound fantastic. I mounted them in the only direction that made sense to me... so that the wire leads come directly out of the pickups leading toward the wire channel. Here is a picture of the back of a bass bar (not my picture)
In the picture above, the silkscreened "Lace" logo is on the right end of mine if you were to flip the pickup over along the long axis (just behind the 2020 date stamp). I know it's a little hard to make out in this photo as it is over-exposed, but the little transformer structure is at the left end, which is the end that is on the bass or "E" side of my arrangement. Now, Lace may have changed this at some point in the past, I don't know. I had these pickups stored away waiting for this project for a long time and the year on the back of mine is 2017... so who knows?
And yes, the intonation does appear to be "off" in these pictures and that's because it was "off".
I was running up against the deadline and had to get my photos taken so that I could make my entry post for the build off. I got the bass assembled and capable of making noise, and quickly got photos taken. I ended up having enough time to get intonation set, so I made some sound clips as well for my entry. So, the final intonation looks much better than it does in the photos, no need to worry. Thanks again for the feedback!
Good lord @Gary_M that's a beautiful trio. Do you need a 4 string? I don't think so. But if you're just looking for something to build next, yeah, do it.
Thanks, Tim! Yeah, I'm a diehard Jazz Bass guy really... so a passive 4 would be just the ticket, maybe...
That's right, and you won't see one in my collection, either. I have these little Hobbit hands that aren't capable of playing a 6, so I'm not gonna do it.
Uh... um... nahhhhhh. That's what my octave pedal is for!
There ya go, now that's thinking!!
