SMB-35 Simpson Scroll Bass project

[jumbodbassman]

I finally received my newest scroll bass last night. Mid 80's bass made for ampeg (SLM) by a japanese company that i guess is really a prototype as only 2 exist as far as I know. (bruce Johnson has the other one). good quality very close to the 2 65 's i have . Pretty much the same flaws except much better neck. This is actually more of an AMB with a HB , no mystery pickup. It will go nicely with it's parents and its chidren. pictures to follow will explain

 

[jumbodbassman]

children - current production 2 bruce johnson basses with a series 10 on the left (cousin? ) and a custom built purpleheart thing...

grandparents on the right , both 65's and the mutant offspring built by wishbass my design (what was i thinking???) ...high c

 

[jumbodbassman]

no update on the build????

 

[Thumpin_P]

subbed!!!!

 

[59jazz]

Re-subbed

 

[Blind Dog]

I will post some progress soon... I have been side tracked on another project that will be done next week and I will be making progress on these.

This is what I have been working on. The top on this was left over from the board that I made both backs for the basses from.
It has a chambered alder back, maple top, maple neck and a wenge fretboard, Tele shape and p-90 Les Paul layout.
This was also sort of a finish test since the basses may be finished similar to this tobacco/amber stain.

 

[sonic assassin]

PRETTY

 

[jmorbita]

subscribing!

 

[misterk73]

Subscribing ... and waiting for the next update with bated breath!

 

[SallyGrowler]

Always wanted a fretless scroll bass. very cool!

 

[Blind Dog]

Well, as I posted on 04-21... I got sidetracked on another build for the TDPRI 2011 build challenge and that's done now so I am back on the Scroll bass projects.

Here is the guitar I built...
95 builders started and 38 finished in time. I came in 7th out of the 38 that finished.

Chambered alder back, Maple top (left over from the bass backs), maple neck, wenge fretboard, cream binding, dots, pickups, knobs and switch plate, gotoh hardware.

 

[Blind Dog]

Tonight I picked up this router bit to make the center that is visible in the F holes concave inside the bass instead of square like the test body.

Note the center section visible through the F holes is square on this test body, this will be concave on the maple bodies.
I took this to a blues jam a couple of weeks ago and it sounds surprisingly good.

 

[Blind Dog]

i have been planning on using a black veneer between the maple center and the figured maple tops and backs. I thought I had requested veneer wide enough to use 2 pieces but It looks like the 2 pieces of black veneer are not quite wide enough so I will have to join some small pieces to the lower bout edges or add a strip in the middle.... and I didn't order enough for both bodies so I need to order some more black veneer.

 

[Blind Dog]

This is where I left off before. I had the 3 pieces of Maple joined, run through the drum sander and bandsawed to the rough shape.

 

[Blind Dog]

I clamp my outside dimension template to the body center and route the outside dimension with a straight follower bit.

 

[Blind Dog]

This is the template for the chambers in the body center.

 

[Blind Dog]

I drilled a couple of holes with a forstner bit to give me a place to start the jig saw and a break at each end to avoid sharp turns with the jig saw.

Next I used a jig saw to rough cut out the intereior chambers in the body center.

 

[Blind Dog]

I finished cutting out and routing the interior chambers on both body centers tonight.

 

[Blind Dog]

Today I routed the necks for the truss rods and carbon fiber supports.

 

[59jazz]

Today I routed the necks for the truss rods and carbon fiber supports.

Nice flame on the necks Mike. What thickness and radius will you be using on the f-board?