Short scale semi-hollow body build

[Jisch]

I wholeheartedly support that level of impulsiveness!

I feel a little dirty for doing it.

 

[Fat Freddy]

I really shouldn't have done this, but I buffed the body at lunch and while on a call I put all the pieces together. There are a myriad of problems that I'll have to deal with:

• There's no nut, just a strip of wood
• I'll need to put washers under the pots to put them a bit lower
• The bass/treble pot is crooked for some reason
• The battery is floating around in the body as are the wires, I have to figure out how to secure them
• I need to install straplocks (I'll use the ones that go inside the body)
• The electronics are not working correctly, I have output, but it's super low and the volume pot doesn't work at all
• the E string needs to be shorter, due to the string length I've got the full winding wrapping around the post, can't do 3 of those wraps

but hey it's together?
View attachment 3268962

Hmmm.....Could be a bit darker!.....

 

[Jisch]

I got all the issues worked out, mostly. I still need to figure out how to mount the battery and stow the wires, but it's working, I only played it for 2 seconds, sounds good, but I'll know more after tonight's band practice (the reason I wanted it up and operational).

I reversed one of the plugs on the EMG preamp, which was the reason it wasn't working. Those things are SO SENSITIVE, get two wires crossed and nothing works! WTH! I feel like a big company like EMG should be able to anticipate my stupidity. One star.

 

[ctmullins]

*snicker*

 

[Jisch]

Considering how much time I put into set up (zero) it plays great and sounds pretty good. The nut needs adjusting, and one of the pickups is too high on the treble side, but overall a good first outing. Playing it further cemented in my mind that I'm a five string fretless player. It's fun to play a four with frets, but it's not where my heart is.

Unfortunately something got messed up and practice didn't record tonight, so no audio evidence.

 

[rudy4444]

Congratulations on your progress, so far!

It's really hard once you have all the pieces of the erector set to not put it together. Stringing up and playing prior to working out the little details is very fulfilling. It always brings a smile to my face when I produce sound from a new instrument for the first time. I call it "first light"; the same term that telescope builders use for the first time they gaze at the universe with their new creation. It's a very descriptive term.

The first iteration of a new design is often filled with consternation. I try to remember to measure at least a dozen times before drilling / cutting, etc. Many years ago I made a solid walnut contoured body bass, working very diligently to contour the body perfectly. I was totally happy with the contours of the body... until I realized I'd accidentally contoured the body the wrong direction! I shipped it off the somebody here on Talkbass, as it made a perfect body for a left-handed bass. Moral, of course, is it appears that you used enough restraint where it was needed!

You can offset the lighter finish tone by plying a bit darker music for a while. I like the color tone just fine!

 

[ctmullins]

Stringing up and playing prior to working out the little details is very fulfilling.

Totally agree! It's something that I typically rush foolishly and headlong towards, often to my (hopefully temporary) detriment. The truth is that you never really know how a new instrument will sound while you're building it. Hearing its voice for the first time is exciting!

 

[Jisch]

I'm fine with the color as is, it looks really nice. I'll get those final nits worked out and then it's off to try and sell it.

 

[Jisch]

I recorded a very quick song, please ignore the mistakes, I literally recorded this in 15 minutes. This gives a good idea of what it sounds like. I love it, nice and mellow with the flatwounds on it. There's a bit of reverb on the solo track, the bass track is straight in.