SBO 23 - The Long Black

[Alex Xander]

Some minor progress with another long black. The epoxy has cured and I've planed the wings of the ebony and rosewood bass. This rosewood has the most beautiful smell.

For the neck, I decided not to use rosewood, but to make use of a neck I built for my 12 string build, but ultimately decided not to use. It's a 5 piece ironbark neck (9 piece if you count the veneers). As I've stated here before, ironbark is seriously hard, and seriously stiff. The stuff on this neck was cut over 100 years ago, so I'm quite confident I'm going to end up with a very stiff neck, great for the low F# tuning this bass will have.

I'm not sure whether to put carbon bars in this neck. It's already rigid enough that I have no issue putting my 110kg in the centre of it with the ends suspended.


The body is taking shape, and once I work out why my jointer is cutting a convex edge, this will get glued up.

It doesn't appear to be the case in the photos, but the centre of the body is cut from the same board that sits under the epoxy. With a finish on, it should all tie together.

 

[Alex Xander]

I have the body cut out and the fretboard slotted.

Something about this instrument just doesn’t work for me. I think the wavy lines of the ebony are perhaps suited to a different body shape.

I’ll persist with the build, regardless. Hopefully as it gets closer to completion, it will all tie together.

A chrome mudbucker really didn’t work, so the mockup is with a Dimarzio Model One. I guess I can powder coat a chrome mudbucker cover black, as I really want that fat sound with some low tuning and the long scale. It should be the perfect storm of fatness.

 

[Lo-E]

Perfect Storm of Fatness: band name.

 

[Alex Xander]

Perfect Storm of Fatness: band name.

Probably not a great name for a wedding band

 

[Alex Xander]

The body got a roundover today and I’m starting to like to more.

I also painted a mudbucker with some epoxy enamel. Dusting the last coat on while still a little wet have me a texture close enough to the Dimarzio pickup, that I think I’ll use both.

I also found a schaller 3D bridge in my parts drawer that I’ll fit to this build.

I also glued the fretboard to the neck blank, reinforcing with some 316 stainless

I think if I really tried I could finish this in a couple of days. My wife has me doing yard jobs all weekend, however, so it might be a few weeks away yet.

 

[Flamingo21]

Let me be the pita for a moment: I think it'll look better with one pickup instead of two.

 

[Alex Xander]

Let me be the pita for a moment: I think it'll look better with one pickup instead of two.

Nooooooooooo!

You’re right, dammit. The thing about mudbuckers is that they are absolute one trick ponies. It’s not a bad trick, but if I want some versatility along with a mudbucker sound, the only way to do it is with a second pickup. I guess I can always start with one and it the limited options frustrate me, I can route in the Dimarzio. Food for thought.

 

[Beej]

You and I agree that they are one trick ponies. Our opinions differ on the quality of the trick though... you say it's 'not bad', I find it inexcusably terrible.

 

[Reedt2000]

Nooooooooooo!

You’re right, dammit. The thing about mudbuckers is that they are absolute one trick ponies. It’s not a bad trick, but if I want some versatility along with a mudbucker sound, the only way to do it is with a second pickup. I guess I can always start with one and it the limited options frustrate me, I can route in the Dimarzio. Food for thought.

Actually, a set of piezo saddles might give you the cake and let you eat it. Visually just a single pickup but with the ability to dial in the crispness a mudbucker ain't got...

 

[Alex Xander]

You and I agree that they are one trick ponies. Our opinions differ on the quality of the trick though... you say it's 'not bad', I find it inexcusably terrible.

So that’s a vote for two pickups, @Beej ?

Actually, a set of piezo saddles might give you the cake and let you eat it. Visually just a single pickup but with the ability to dial in the crispness a mudbucker ain't got...

I’m not aware of any piezo bridges for 4 strings that come in spacings narrow enough for Gibson/mudbucker spacing. I do love me a good piezo, however.

I think I’ll just run two pickups with a buffer so I can match the output of the mudbucker with the second pickup.

 

[Reedt2000]

So that’s a vote for two pickups, @Beej ?




I’m not aware of any piezo bridges for 4 strings that come in spacings narrow enough for Gibson/mudbucker spacing. I do love me a good piezo, however.

I think I’ll just run two pickups with a buffer so I can match the output of the mudbucker with the second pickup.

Could make an acoustic-style bridge with a piezo strip under it

 

[Beej]

So that’s a vote for two pickups, @Beej ?

Definitely. And I also vote that neither of them is a mudbucker.

 

[ctmullins]

Could make an acoustic-style bridge with a piezo strip under it

Yessssssssss

 

[Alex Xander]

Could make an acoustic-style bridge with a piezo strip under it

The thought crossed my mind, and if this was a fretless, I’d be all over it. I’d kinda like the adjustability of normal bridge, especially given the fairly big adjustments a 175 gauge F# string will need for intonation.

Definitely. And I also vote that neither of them is a mudbucker.

Ah, come on - where’s the fun in that?

Yessssssssss

I feel some peer pressure at play, here!

 

[Alex Xander]

Now to deflect from @Beej ’s mudbucker hate, here’s a 6 string, short scale, piccolo bass I’m building for my brother.

Australian Red Gum burl. Lots more hole filling to do with CA glue, but I sure think it’s a pretty piece of wood. I have another piece that I will use for a bass. I think it will look killer with an ebony neck and black hardware.

 

[Flamingo21]

if I want some versatility along with a mudbucker sound, the only way to do it is with a second pickup.

Still doesn't mean the second one needs to be as big as the mudbucker.

 

[Alex Xander]

Well I’m still really not liking this build, but a bass playing friend told me today that “it looks like something that Ritter bloke would make”, which encouraged me to continue.

The black pickup covers have been ditched in favour of some ebony ones to match the body. Pickup selection is now locked in with a neodymium magnet hotrodded mudbucker in the neck and a Dimarzio Model One in the middle.

And with a coat of buffing oil, they’re looking a little less vanilla.

One thing I love about this build (if perhaps the only thing), is the streaking in the ironbark on the headstock.

 

[ctmullins]

Well, I guess building an instrument you don’t like still beats working!

 

[T_Bone_TL]

The black pickup covers have been ditched in favour of some ebony ones to match the body.

Now it just wants a bridge cover the same flavor as those.

 

[Alex Xander]

Well, I guess building an instrument you don’t like still beats working!

Any day of the week.

Now it just wants a bridge cover the same flavor as those.

I’m running very low on bits of this New Guinea ebony. Perhaps a Carl Thompson floating style bridge is in order. Hmmm…