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Strat style shortscale bass build

#61
FatStrings said:
My next victim! I love the maple board neck on this bass. It actually plays better than the '78 Musicmaster neck. But the cheapo tuners will have to go. Hmmm... now to decide on a color. Definately nitro lacquer. I'm thinking Fiesta red...
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Go Seafoam! :eek:
With Hipshot Lollipop tuners!
 
#62
Great minds think alike, I had been planning on doing this same type of bass. I thought I had an original idea, then I came across a builder that builds these, and now I see your awesome build. There is only one way to improve on this build. And here it is....
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:hyper:

I love the color, but if you want something less yellow go for Reranch Blonde instead of Vintage Cream. You can spray it opaque over primer. It comes out alot less yellow and seems to be the look most people are looking for. Over at the reranch forum we call Vintage Cream bannana pudding.
 
#63
Thanks again everyone for the compliments! It's nice to get a pat on the back now and then. I'd thank you all individually, but I type slowely and I'd be here all night:(

I did a little more research today about pickup building and I actually ordered the materials to do it. I'm going to try Alnico 3 magnets with 42 guage wire. I'll try to wind the new pups to around the same spec as the '51 pup I have, but I may move the magnets in under the strings a bit more. I'll keep you all updated with that.


Darkstrike said:
I sent all the finished pics to my mate, and said "something seems off about this strat"

his reply,

"yeah, should have put a floyd rose in"


lol,
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Hehe, that's what I was going for with this. I'm expecting some serious double takes when I bring it to practice tomorrow night.

synaesthesia said:
Have to say I like the fly cutting for surface planing idea....Seems a reasonable alternative. I can't get thicknessers wide enough that aren't going to take a lot of floor space. The portable ones always seem a couple of inches short of 12".
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It does work well, but it seems to splinter the top a bit. What I mean is, it tear out little splinters all over that need to be filled as if I were using ash or mahogany. Normally cherry or alder wouldn't need to be filled. Not really a big deal though.

xaxxat said:
Problem solved:

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I've gotten tons of info and inspiration from the TDPRI forum. It really is a great resource. Here's two very inspiring threads, but be prepaired to read many pages. Well worth it though. Both amazing builders.

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#64
Kevin_BlueBASS said:
Go Seafoam! :eek:
With Hipshot Lollipop tuners!
Click to expand...

That sounds sweet! I wonder if the lollipops will fit on that headstock...

ThaLowEndTheory said:
Great minds think alike, I had been planning on doing this same type of bass. I thought I had an original idea, then I came across a builder that builds these, and now I see your awesome build. There is only one way to improve on this build. And here it is....

I love the color, but if you want something less yellow go for Reranch Blonde instead of Vintage Cream. You can spray it opaque over primer. It comes out alot less yellow and seems to be the look most people are looking for. Over at the reranch forum we call Vintage Cream bannana pudding.
Click to expand...

Is there such a thing as an original idea? lol

That bass is awesome, just not "Strat" enough for me. But yeah, that's more the color I wanted. Although this Vintage cream is growing on me.
 
#71
And here it is complete. I may actually add another pickup at some point, I'm thinking about making my own. If I do I'll make them fit the string spacing better pole to pole. Probably re-make the pickguard for the smaller pickups. As it is, I can move the pickup to each position, but it really sounds great in the middle.
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Did you try it in the neck position? How did it sound realtive to the mid? Great work by the way!
David
 
#73
You gotta be kidding me!!!! Why do some people (you) have so much talent, and some people (me) have none. I hate you (not really, but it makes me feel better to say it). That is probably the most awsome project bass I have ever seen! Congrats!!!
 
#76
Well guys, I'm finely getting around to finishing up this project by building two custom pickups for this Strat bass.

A lot has happened in the year since I first posted this thread. Many health issues to deal with including my own open heart surgery to replace my failing aortic valve.

I'm feeling just about back to normal now, so on with the show!!:D

Here is a CAD drawing of what I have planned for the middle and neck pickups. On the left is the original '51 P pup, on the right is the modified shortscale bass version.

Like I said earlier in the thread, Alnico 3 magnets, 42 AWG wire, wound to about 7.3K. The mid will be RWRP from the neck and bridge. I've actually wound several pups lately for other projects, so I have a pretty good idea now that these will come out just the way I want them. Getting them wired in correctly is a different story!

StratBassPickup1.jpg
 
#77
Materials from various suppliers. The gray fiberboard is less expensive than the black, so I'll use that for the bottom flatwork pieces. Probably the same reason Leo did this way back when. Also notice the longer and shorter Alnico 3 mags. I Thought I'd try raising the middle poles a bit to even out the sound since the neck radius is 9.5-10" or so.
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