Scarab Deluxe Bass

[JIO]

Neither of your replies were predictable @Fat Freddy

Where's the ?



(Oh, and that bass looks friggin' awesome!)

Thanks!

 

[JIO]

Still have to do some set-up work with the nut/bridge/neck but it's together and wired-up. Weighed it (wait for it) at 6lbs/14oz! woot: that's what I'm talkin' bout!) Balances naturally/comfortably at 45 degrees - a bass you can play all night.

I'm going to paint the outside of the perimeter of the ledge black to assure the copper tape doesn't peek through around the cover - which I decided to spray satin black. It stuck out too much as chrome. I wired it exactly like my Coral Deluxe Bass.

Never be caught pick-less again!

Full access to all 22 frets -

Looks like retro-rockets!

I'm going to add one more screw adjacent to the bridge pu to keep that edge flush to the body. Pearl-Swirl pg is more subtle than on my Coral - I like subtlety.

My Burns/Hayman inspired pulley-system works well

Really like the walnut neck - feels nice with the hand-rubbed satin poly finish. Gotoh makes high quality tuners - one of my favorite guitar industry companies.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Still have to do some set-up work with the nut/bridge/neck but it's together and wired-up. Weighed it (wait for it) at 6lbs/14oz! woot: that's what I'm talkin' bout!) Balances naturally/comfortably at 45 degrees - a bass you can play all night.
View attachment 3707787
I'm going to paint the outside of the perimeter of the ledge black to assure the copper tape doesn't peek through around the cover - which I decided to spray satin black. It stuck out too much as chrome. I wired it exactly like my Coral Deluxe Bass.
View attachment 3707790
Never be caught pick-less again!
View attachment 3707796

View attachment 3707799
Full access to all 22 frets -
View attachment 3707800
Looks like retro-rockets!
View attachment 3707801
I'm going to add one more screw adjacent to the bridge pu to keep that edge flush to the body. Pearl-Swirl pg is more subtle than on my Coral - I like subtlety.
View attachment 3707804
My Burns/Hayman inspired pulley-system works well
View attachment 3707815
Really like the walnut neck - feels nice with the hand-rubbed satin poly finish. Gotoh makes high quality tuners - one of my favorite guitar industry companies.
View attachment 3707823

View attachment 3707827

Gonna take some beating.....

 

[postalflunkie]

Super cool bass

 

[Reedt2000]

Really nicely done

lots of cool design details, I like the way the saddles flow with the spacey cutout in the lower bout.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Love it!

 

[JIO]

Gonna take some beating.....

Super cool bass

Really nicely done

lots of cool design details, I like the way the saddles flow with the spacey cutout in the lower bout.

Love it!

Thanks guys! It was a labor of love. But as much as I love creating something this level of 'nice', it's actually pretty stressful. I realize my 'road-worn' projects are less so because they don't have to be perfect, at least not in a new/flawless way. I can imagine those working in the Fender/Gibson/Ric etc factories having everything cookie-cutter so things can go together like a kit. What comes out at the end is a new, perfect product - over and over again. Doing a one-off presents all sorts of things to align/tweek/adjust/alter on the road to completion. Once it's done - yah, #2 would have a smoother trajectory as all the little issues were dealt with creating #1. But as an artist, having to re-create #2 exactly over and over again... I don't know if that's my aim. Considering FF's "Gonna take some beating" - that's pretty much what interests me. Not necessarily beating the last one, but more moving to the next square that blows my skirt up - whatever shape, style, or form it takes. Nothing in mind right now - need to get the Scarab DB set up nice, the neck Plek'd and given the seal of completion before any new consideration.

 

[Reedt2000]

So... no T-bird non-reverse, 5-string, with Warwick bridge and 2 big singles... right now?

 

[JIO]

So... no T-bird non-reverse, 5-string, with Warwick bridge and 2 big singles... right now?

I know you're just teasing, but being mildly attracted to the NR version over the years, the Coral & Silvertone body shape isn't that different really. I did consider riffing off one but it would probably look somewhat similar to what I just created. It's also tricky because my designs have to balance well and be ergonomic - which so many past designs do not. My stab at a 5-string bass (SuperB I & II) - I feel I resolved design-wise. Besides, I'm a 4-string player at heart so 5 or more strings are not really my passion. I kind of make basses I would want to own/play. The big singles I've already incorporated (for me) are the Dark Star/Bi-Sonic's (passive) - killer pu's. And Warwick has enough of the market share without my help using anything they produce - they do what they do very well thank you. I do have a commission coming up which will get its own thread so there's definitely more to come.

 

[topper]

Super cool!

How does the lower strap button (near the bridge) work? Does the strap come over the body?

 

[JIO]

Super cool!

How does the lower strap button (near the bridge) work? Does the strap come over the body?

Thanks! No - behind it. It balances really well - 45 degrees hands off, and at less than 7lbs it's all about effortless playing!

Just checked out a vid on your band site link - you guys sound great! My band does mostly covers and some original songs - here's one we just recorded a couple weeks ago -

 

[Joe Nerve]

I have a crush on your bass.

 

[JIO]

I have a crush on your bass.

 

[rocu]

She’s a beauty

 

[topper]

Just checked out a vid on your band site link - you guys sound great! My band does mostly covers and some original songs - here's one we just recorded a couple weeks ago -

Thanks! I'm actually not with that band anymore and should update my signature. Had a lot of fun with them but we'd stopped gigging due to a couple members' availability. I'm starting a new cover band now, with the idea of primarily playing weddings and parties. Still trying to get it off the ground.

 

[JIO]

The Scarab Deluxe Bass is at the shop to be Plek'd - final set-up adjustments once it returns. Happy Mattress Sale Day!

 

[Fat Freddy]

I have a crush on your bass.

I think we ALL have a crush on you Joe....

 

[JIO]

I think we ALL have a crush on you Joe....

ummm... Joe's cool and all but perhaps ALL is a bit all inclusive

 

[Fat Freddy]

ummm... Joe's cool and all but perhaps ALL is a bit all inclusive

.....Awww c'mon.....how could you NOT have a crush?.........

Picky...picky....

 

[JIO]

If I were to claim having a crush on anybody - it would be Nels Cline (and Scott Amendola, Trevor Dunn and Yuka Honda)