Scarab Deluxe Bass

[JIO]

I scored a cool late 60's Silvertone guitar body for $52.50. Actually 'won' two for that price (shipped), but the other one is very nondescript and for me only coming along for the ride. It's the same Coral Wasp-esque shape that has become a favorite of mine - I may even consider building it up as a guitar. Time will tell.

 

[Beej]

So here's an actual scarab - this one green. For the life of me I've never owned a green anything, but as a further challenge, I will entertain the idea.

Sure - white, black, red, blue, orange, brown, not so much green - but they're all good colours.

Given the second statement (poached from the white bass thread in basses), I'm glad to see the first statement...

 

[JIO]

Given the second statement (poached from the white bass thread in basses), I'm glad to see the first statement...

<green

 

[JIO]

Being a fan of D'Addario strings - these are hot off the press and will go on the Scarab. Nickel, 50-105's, extended life, natural feel - sounds good!

 

[Rambazamba]

Any updates on this?

 

[JIO]

Any updates on this?

The neck is nearing completion - I'm going to predict it'll be done in the next week. It was interesting because I wanted to create a clone of my '68 Coral Deluxe Bass (profile) and Dan contacted me a couple days ago double-checking on my specs. Because the Coral neck doesn't have a tr and is held straight by twin steel beams, it has a very shallow flat-D profile. I love the way it feels - really fast! The Scarab neck does have a tr (rotary wheel at the heal) so it will be a bit less shallow. He'll get it as close as he can ATC, and I'm looking forward to feel how he resolves this. As we near the holiday season I should have some time to work on the bass once I get the neck, and possibly have it done in January.
If it sounds/plays anything like my Coral, it's going to be an awesome bass!

 

[JIO]

As I guessed - Dan emailed me and I need to come inspect the (finished) neck. May not happen till the following week as T-day week is booked. Will post pics when it happens.

Played the Coral at a TSC's show on Sat night - the guitarist in the other (cool) band "The Sunnyside 5" played a Coral Sitar (copy) which sounded really great! - and he was ga-ga over my bass.
(I don't blame him!)

 

[Indiedog]

As I guessed - Dan emailed me and I need to come inspect the (finished) neck. May not happen till the following week as T-day week is booked. Will post pics when it happens.

Played the Coral at a TSC's show on Sat night - the guitarist in the other (cool) band "The Sunnyside 5" played a Coral Sitar (copy) which sounded really great! - and he was ga-ga over my bass.
(I don't blame him!)

I hope the neck passes inspection.

You mentioned my favorite Coral...the Coral Sitar. I've always loved it in recordings. I bought the Jerry Jones copy back around 2000 or so. The full version, not the smaller one. It has the "pebbly" finish and everything. Talk about a fun instrument to improvise on!

 

[JIO]

I hope the neck passes inspection.

You mentioned my favorite Coral...the Coral Sitar. I've always loved it in recordings. I bought the Jerry Jones copy back around 2000 or so. The full version, not the smaller one. It has the "pebbly" finish and everything. Talk about a fun instrument to improvise on!

I glanced at the hs to see what brand it was but didn't recognize the logo/name. It had the same brick red-brown crackle finish as the original - looked pretty much like it. First time I heard one played live - really cool twangy sound that worked well for their "garage-band" (they referred to themselves with this moniker) sound. In passing they included us but I wouldn't accept that 'title' for our music. Definitely more classic pop/exotica/lounge/retro-mixed bag. We play Link Wray songs but I think of his music as "roots rock". To me, "You're Pushin' Too Hard" by the Electric Prunes is garage.

 

[JIO]

Just realized (spaced) I have a dedicated thread for the Scarab so I'm re-posting what I posted on my Coral thread ~

The Scarab LIVES! Picked up the neck yesterday from Dan - need to do some "fine-tuning" on the Burns hs plate interface but am 'on it'. Dan is a great journeyman luthier but always leaves me something to 'fine tune', even knowing it was originally part of the deal... I caulk it up for dealing with a craftsman. (as when dealing with an artist) As in, we are creative-types who tend to 'wander' a bit from the grid. Nothing he has ever made for me has been "wrong" - just usually in need of a bit of tweaking. (which is ok as long as the basics are covered - which they always are) So here it is - the Scarab hs. Pretty damn cool.

 

[JIO]

So I'm not sure the chrome-plate will be part of this build. It was the source of inspiration so it's worth is certain, but considering I want to have the hs face finished like the body which will be the green with a black halo - it may be too much. Also, I would have to do a chrome pg which I don't want to do to balance it out visually. It will also have two string restraints which will be sufficient to align with the scarab medallion along with the tuners creating a sufficient amount of 'chrome' to punctuate the green/black finished hs face.

 

[JIO]

Pick-ups are in the same location as my Coral and I don't think there will be a control plate so there will be a rear-access cavity/cover attached with magnets. With a Dunlop Strap-Lok button installed, the upper horn will be at the 12th fret. The body edges will be sculpted like the Coral featuring gradual tapering to a soft rounded perimeter.

I had to manipulate the pic for the pencil outlines to show up to give a view of the whole bass. It's 46-1/4", so Fender Jazz bass long.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Remembering the Fender Rascal....

The Rascal is fitted with three Seymour Duncan lipstick Stratocaster pickups that can be set with seven pickup configurations. A 5-position switch allows for selecting the bridge pickup, the bridge plus middle pickup, the middle pickup, the middle plus neck neck pickup, or the neck pickup. The volume knob works as a push/pull switch to access the bridge plus neck and all three pickup configurations.

 

[JIO]

Remembering the Fender Rascal....

The Rascal is fitted with three Seymour Duncan lipstick Stratocaster pickups that can be set with seven pickup configurations. A 5-position switch allows for selecting the bridge pickup, the bridge plus middle pickup, the middle pickup, the middle plus neck neck pickup, or the neck pickup. The volume knob works as a push/pull switch to access the bridge plus neck and all three pickup configurations.

The Rascal was a somewhat radical move for Fender and also wasn't around for too long. The Jaguar Bass has stuck around in a few versions which was also a more complex bass platform for Fender. Being initially based on the successful Jaguar guitar was a big part of its lasting, but later versions got simpler as far as tone-variety options. My own foray into multiple pu choice (the Galaxis) offered 17 different pu combinations from 2 Peavey T-40 split-coil buckers, 3 3-way switches and 3 control knobs. (VVT) I've created a number of different basses with a number of different pu platforms both active and passive and out of all of them the passive 1 pu/2 controls (VT) gets the job done quite well. Bass players in general like 'simple', and many subscribe to the 'one or the other' P or J choice. (1 or 2 pu's) I get that because personally I do gravitate to one or the other. My Teiscobirds are both 1 and 2 passive pu loaded, are pretty basic and play and sound great.

Once I am wowed by a bass like I have been by the Coral, I want to see if I can recreate what I like about it with my own design spin. That is what the Scarab Deluxe Bass is all about. A mash-up of what I admire about the quirky style of Jim Burns and the sound and feel of Dano. We'll see if I can pull it off.

 

[JIO]

Found what I hope will be what I want - which is the 2 roller-bearing string guides for the 2x2 hs. They are just over 1/2 inch diameter which should be perfect.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Found what I hope will be what I want - which is the 2 roller-bearing string guides for the 2x2 hs. They are just over 1/2 inch diameter which should be perfect.

View attachment 3624787

 

[Indiedog]

So I'm not sure the chrome-plate will be part of this build. It was the source of inspiration so it's worth is certain, but considering I want to have the hs face finished like the body which will be the green with a black halo - it may be too much. Also, I would have to do a chrome pg which I don't want to do to balance it out visually. It will also have two string restraints which will be sufficient to align with the scarab medallion along with the tuners creating a sufficient amount of 'chrome' to punctuate the green/black finished hs face.

View attachment 3618841

I prefer it without the plate. The scarab stands out more that way.

 

[JIO]

I prefer it without the plate. The scarab stands out more that way.

I agree - the plate was the catalyst and has served its purpose.

So I worked on the Scarab body today. (but forgot my camera!) I routed the neck pocket, cut the bass out of the slab, and filed/sanded the edges. I'll spend some time tomorrow morning shaping it. (and taking some pics!) Shaping it will take a lot of work and I'm in no rush.

 

[JIO]

Slab cut and edges filed/sanded - start clean, stay crisp.

Threaded insets for machine bolts and inset collars for the bolts

Will be doing some shaping to soften the playing edge - full access to the whole fretboard.

Pullies/string guides are the perfect size - will just need to be elevated a bit -

I repurposed the (ill-cut slots) aluminum nut from the Coral Deluxe Bass for the Scarab - it was sized for a tilt-back hs so deeper than a Fender-style slot-nut. The circle is the inset for a screw - if it works out I will fill it with an inlay. I removed material from both the top and bottom and although the slots look rough, they might work. If not I'll make my own - I just thought I'd bring something off the '68 Coral into this bass if I could.

Started work on the control cavity - will need to rout the recess for the cover tomorrow. I'll use mini-magnet discs to attach it. The rout is 1/8" from the face - the cavity being 1-1/8" deep. (slab is 1-1/4" thick) The pg material control-cavity cover (or maybe I'll make it of the same wood?) will be sprayed on the body to blend in. Will need to incorporate an access notch or something.

Neck is attached and ready to do the individual bridge-units placement. It's pretty spot-on centered as is, but leaving the bridge till now guarantees I'll install them in the exact correct placement for neck string alignment - same with the pu's. Haven't weighed it yet, but it feels nice and light.

 

[JIO]

Depending on my pg choice (blk/wht/blk or pearl-swirl like the Coral) I am considering red fb position dots (like I did on the maple-fb Gilaxis) and a red sub-pg ala Burns. ( small inset unit on the G-side of the upper pg) B/w/b would be badass, but the swirl-pearl/red sub-pg ala Burns sounds yummy.