Supernova Bass project : Ovular content

[JIO]

Looks great, love it! I think it would improve the look if you angled both pickups up on the higher strings.

Also it will get tighter lows and smoother highs like that as well.

worth considering…

and another fb marker idea -

 

[wraub]

Firstly, thanks for your condolences. It's been an odd experience.

Nextly, I like the color choice a lot, should look pretty awesome.

Now nextly, I like the look of the slanted PUs quite a bit, especially with the pickguard, and the gradual angle on the markers is a cool idea. Very cool.

And lastly, really looking forward to this one. Another "oddball" design from The Mind of JIO.

 

[pilotjones]

I really like the looks of the design. I've got a question though on the ergonomics - have you made a test body with that shape and scallop? It seems to me that the body point at the bass side (roughly in line with the neck pickup), with the edge of the scallop running into it, is at the exact place where the right arm commonly goes over the edge of the bass when playing, and so could be uncomfortable. I know that is where my own arm goes over. Your scallop seems well placed (functionally, not talking about looks) more for those few jazz guys who play with the bass all the way high on their chests.

Also, cool idea with the fret markers.

 

[JIO]

Firstly, thanks for your condolences. It's been an odd experience.

Nextly, I like the color choice a lot, should look pretty awesome.

Now nextly, I like the look of the slanted PUs quite a bit, especially with the pickguard, and the gradual angle on the markers is a cool idea. Very cool.

And lastly, really looking forward to this one. Another "oddball" design from The Mind of JIO.

I'm hearing "oddball" in the best of ways As fresh Sahara Taupe is on it's own somewhat... bland(?), I'm going to do an amber clear coat to warm it up a bit. I've seen both versions on the late 70's Fenders and prefer the warmed up/aged variety.

 

[ICM]

My vote is definitely for the original normal oval FB markers.

 

[JIO]

I really like the looks of the design. I've got a question though on the ergonomics - have you made a test body with that shape and scallop? It seems to me that the body point at the bass side (roughly in line with the neck pickup), with the edge of the scallop running into it, is at the exact place where the right arm commonly goes over the edge of the bass when playing, and so could be uncomfortable. I know that is where my own arm goes over. Your scallop seems well placed (functionally, not talking about looks) more for those few jazz guys who play with the bass all the way high on their chests.

Also, cool idea with the fret markers.

No test body pj - when I'm standing I usually keep my arm away from the body and use my right hand pinky as a stilt while playing finger style. When palm-muting/picking I tend to hug the body more and that's exactly where my forearm rests. (right in the scallop) I usually ride my basses at the same standing location as when seated so it works well either way. Never have been a high or low rider - I tend to design for myself.

 

[JIO]

My vote is definitely for the original normal oval FB markers.

I'm mostly throwing out concepts for now - nothing set in stone. Once I get the neck I can cut some black paper ovals and play w/them on the neck. The way I'm going to do it in the end is have decals made (traditional thin water-release) and then have the whole (maple) neck finished/clear-coated.

 

[JIO]

Another idea whilst waiting for said neck… how about the neck (maple) being white-washed on the back & sides of hs, and the fb and hs face solid white w/the hs bevel in black. The body would go piano black w/the scallop white and a white pearl pg. The large angular chrome bridge cover would accent the black & white motif w/the chrome tuners at the other end. It would take care of the horsey black ovals dominating visually as the bridge one would blend into the body. I've always liked a blk & wht gestalt and currently don't own a black bass. (I've had a couple over the years, but no longer) It would definitely be striking visually. Move over Getty...

 

[mapleglo]

Another idea whilst waiting for said neck… how about the neck (maple) being white-washed on the back & sides of hs, and the fb and hs face solid white w/the hs bevel in black. The body would go piano black w/the scallop white and a white pearl pg. The large angular chrome bridge cover would accent the black & white motif w/the chrome tuners at the other end. It would take care of the horsey black ovals being to dominate visually as the bride one would blend into the body. I've always liked a blk & wht gestalt and currently don't own a black bass. (I've had a couple over the years, but no longer) It would definitely be striking visually. Move over Getty...
View attachment 411442

I like this one very much. There's something about a black bass with white accents.

 

[Splods]

Go for it. Looks awesome.

 

[ICM]

I say stick with the taupe, but the whitewash, yes.
Taupe and whitewash.

 

[JIO]

I say stick with the taupe, but the whitewash, yes.
Taupe and whitewash.

Nothings set in stone for now, but I do tend to design in terms of the whole package. The Sahara Taupe is still very much on the table and I found a large enough remnant of cream pearl in my bin to do the pg (so I can save $50 right there!) If I do go ST then white will not be in that picture as in general it would have a very warm theme. (as in Sahara desert) The Tuxedo scheme would be the cool theme. (I'm a poet n' don't know it) As w/my Supersonic, it just begs for a limited edition of each w/very select colours. Not out of the question for the long game.

 

[wraub]

Maple fingerboards are not really my thing, but the b&w 2 tone looks pretty damn cool, and the maple board seems like an intrinsic part of it.
Always impressive, you over there with all the design sense, I mean really...

Just get it built already, will ya?

 

[JIO]

Just got the word - will be picking up the neck tomorrow and thusly will work will commence to wit mon sewer seevu-play parlayvoo. (woo-hoo)
(it's Friday ya' bastards!)

 

[Beej]

"will work will commence to wit gentleman please do you speak"?

Que?

 

[JIO]

"will work will commence to wit gentleman please do you speak"?

Que?

Beej - where ya' been my man? Glad to take your ticket for the flight! (first class section of course!) Would you like a pillow?

 

[JIO]

more later...

 

[JIO]

So.., got the neck (w/tuners fitted for effect) as you can see and a few things came up, specifically dots. Lost in translation and (would't cha' know it) not written down that I wanted no markers. I'm a lemonaid out of lemons sort of guy and it ain't the end of the world after all… so I'm going to roll w/it - it being working w/the dots. Will post my mock-up of it in the morning. New ground was broken in the process.

For now a few pics of the raw neck:

No bevel cut. (yet) I could have left a bit more at the top, but it's still good - think of it as sufficient elegance...

Shot showing the cool MIK deluxe tuners that are perfect for this project

And a shot showing the "tilt-back" hs design joint. Love the disjunct grain which will get a bit richer/more pronounced once finished. The beauty is that at a short distance away, it will look like one solid length of maple.

 

[Hopkins]

With your fret marker idea, It looks like it will completely cover the dots that are already there. With some minor design tweaks towards the end of the board.

Forgive the awful paint drawing.

 

[JIO]

Once again great minds think alike Hopkins! That was my first tact using electrical tape cut into ovals. It worked fine until the lower frets. (a deal breaker) So I then cut all the same size ovals top to bottom, regardless of narrowing fret-spaces and centered them. For me what it does visually is it creates this line/row of ovals (isn't that that band from the 80's?) across the length that bee-line to the 2 pu ovals. I'm not sure I've ever seen markers done exactly this way, and I'm liking it. It gives the neck just enough black to off-set the big honking' pu's, and makes me want to move back to the perpendicular position for the pu's (3P's - which begs the question: can an oval be perpendicular? ) Also shown is penciled-in hs scallop which I will work on today.