The bass that never was, redefined

[BassHappy]

Hey Jio

So sorry you are in uncharted territory and this part of the project is giving you frustration. Keep after it, it will be worth it in the end.

If case you get to another block in the road - I am a big LED guy myself, and use them on all my main stage basses. As a compromise in cost and build convenience, I am having my newer builds dotted with Luminlays. Yes, I know they originate from the Far East, which was something you wanted to avoid - but my research indicated that these were brighter and lasted longer than the ones available in the US. Plus, last I looked they were available on ebay too. You simply drill the appropriate size holes in the side of the fingerboard and insert the "glow in the dark" material.

If the stage lighting is not bright enough or the right UV type for charging - they come with an optional high intensity charging flashlight which you can use for a few seconds when needed during the set or before you go onstage. I hear varying reports on how long the charge lasts, so I won't venture a guess until I get mine and have a chance to experiment and find out for myself.

Much more here:

Phosphorescent Fluorescent Lumi guitar and bass position mark Luminlay Products

 

[JIO]

Hey Jio

So sorry you are in uncharted territory and this part of the project is giving you frustration. Keep after it, it will be worth it in the end.

If case you get to another block in the road - I am a big LED guy myself, and use them on all my main stage basses. As a compromise in cost and build convenience, I am having my newer builds dotted with Luminlays. Yes, I know they originate from the Far East, which was something you wanted to avoid - but my research indicated that these were brighter and lasted longer than the ones available in the US. Plus, last I looked they were available on ebay too. You simply drill the appropriate size holes in the side of the fingerboard and insert the "glow in the dark" material.

If the stage lighting is not bright enough or the right UV type for charging - they come with an optional high intensity charging flashlight which you can use for a few seconds when needed during the set or before you go onstage. I hear varying reports on how long the charge lasts, so I won't venture a guess until I get mine and have a chance to experiment and find out for myself.

Much more here:

Phosphorescent Fluorescent Lumi guitar and bass position mark Luminlay Products

Pretty cool Rick - especially for not needing elaborate installation/power-source etc. Well, uncharted territory is my ocean and if the boat sinks I'll build another one! Here's my drawing to help illustrate what I hope to achieve with my second attempt -

I want to wait to hear back from the fiber-optic supplier before I re-order more material. I feel that the 'on-stage' effect of my chosen method (fiber optics) may be overwhelmed by stage lights - probably better in a dark club. The really bright lighted dots are battery powered LED's which may be worth looking into for future projects.


To veer off topic (as I like doing in my threads!) - last night I saw/heard Chris Kuffner playing his Gary Fried custom bass with Gildaxe Lemon Gold leafed finish here in SF. He was doing bass/bg vocal duty with a NY-based singer-songwriter from the UK named Greg Holen who opened for Vintage Trouble. It was my first opportunity to see that bass in action (live) and it sounded and looked great! Chris is a super-sweet guy and I consider him my guardian angel for spreading the Gildaxe word! As you can see in the pic of it leaning on stage - it is a very distinctive instrument, especially in sharp contrast to the 2 'vanilla' P-basses that the VT bass player used. In action, the stage lights do amazing things with the finish and I was grinning ear-to-ear while enjoying their music. These finishes live under stage lights!

Chris holdin' it down with love

check out that cool neck-joint

Greg Holden & crew

Bruno Ganz as Damiel in Wim Wenders film Wings of Desire
Invalid Link Removed

 

[emjazz]

A nod to one of my favorite films....nicely done.

 

[JIO]

A nod to one of my favorite films....nicely done.

As is one of mine I just watched it (again!) recently and it still rings true. Bruno Ganz is one of my favorite actors. I think the first time I saw him in a film was in The American Friend ('77) w/Dennis Hopper directed by Wim Wenders. (one of my all-time favorite directors!)

 

[Hopkins]

Pretty cool Rick - especially for not needing elaborate installation/power-source etc. Well, uncharted territory is my ocean and if the boat sinks I'll build another one! Here's my drawing to help illustrate what I hope to achieve with my second attempt -

I want to wait to hear back from the fiber-optic supplier before I re-order more material. I feel that the 'on-stage' effect of my chosen method (fiber optics) may be overwhelmed by stage lights - probably better in a dark club. The really bright lighted dots are battery powered LED's which may be worth looking into for future projects.


To veer off topic (as I like doing in my threads!) - last night I saw/heard Chris Kuffner playing his Gary Fried custom bass with Gildaxe Lemon Gold leafed finish here in SF. He was doing bass/bg vocal duty with a NY-based singer-songwriter from the UK named Greg Holen who opened for Vintage Trouble. It was my first opportunity to see that bass in action (live) and it sounded and looked great! Chris is a super-sweet guy and I consider him my guardian angel for spreading the Gildaxe word! As you can see in the pic of it leaning on stage - it is a very distinctive instrument, especially in sharp contrast to the 2 'vanilla' P-basses that the VT bass player used. In action, the stage lights do amazing things with the finish and I was grinning ear-to-ear while enjoying their music. These finishes live under stage lights!

Chris holdin' it down with love

check out that cool neck-joint

Greg Holden & crew

Bruno Ganz as Damiel in Wim Wenders film Wings of Desire
Invalid Link Removed

And as a bonus you got to check out Vintage Trouble. They are such a cool band

 

[JIO]

So, after doing some research I've learned the first step is to 'straighten' the fiber stands. I cut all 5 lengths a bit oversized and connected anchors (nut/bolt) to both ends - top for hanging (via a large paperclip hook) and bottom for adding the weight. (various similarly heavy objects) Once this was done, I'm using a hair-dryer on high to gradually heat the strands under weight. I'll do this a number of times over the next couple of days which should minimize the arched shape that was so problematic first go-around. The other thing I learned was that super-glue/cyanoacrylic/CA is to be avoided as it generates heat which can distort the optimal effect. I didn't experience that exactly using it the first time - it was more that it created a big mess and it's pretty toxic using more than a little of it. If the strands can be straightened, 5 min epoxy will work well. So for now, gotta 'hang' tight.

 

[DerekW]

Looks like an art project.

 

[JIO]

Looks like an art project.

A project for sure.., the 'art' appears to be in maintaining patience while attempting to solve material problems. After a few 'heated' sessions the strands are still just as curved w/o the weight. May have to determine another tact.

 

[DerekW]

Crazy. I'd have thought a hairdryer would have done it.
What's the approx diameter of the full bundle?
What I am thinking is inserting them in a small tube, like a rigid aquarium air tube, and drilling small holes where each fret marker is.

Thinwall Rigid Tubing

 

[JIO]

I got it done today - used superglue again (no other option with the arched fiber) but having learned what to avoid from my 1st attempt I made it work. Cut a maple plug and used 10 min epoxy to flood most of the cavity and seal it up. Later I leveled, sanded and sealed w/sanding sealer. Will sand and one more SS coat, fine sand, size and gild. Didn't take any pics - just wanted to get it over with - very frustrating operation and not likely to try this again. Best tact would be to start with a full-on neck-build and route before a fingerboard was applied over the fiber channeling. It'll look keen in the end.

I got sidetracked making a reflective collection cone out of a click-pen tip until I realized I really didn't need it. Oh well, it could work for something…

 

[JIO]

a quick pic while the sealer drys -

 

[Mike12344567]

Im really excited to see the final product. This looks kick ass and the fact that you have a vision and your making it happen is even better!!

 

[JIO]

Im really excited to see the final product. This looks kick ass and the fact that you have a vision and your making it happen is even better!!

I started preparing the neck/body for gilding with a base-coat of alkyd red oxide primer and need to let it cure sufficiently so the process may take some time. Will post updates as I progress - thanks for your support!

 

[JIO]

Life has stepped in lately to distract me from my favored projects but next week I have off so will use that time to try and play a little catch-up. I had coated the neck a while back with red oxide primer and after a lengthy cure time it was more than ready to gild. (I didn't even get a pic of it primed I so wanted to move on it!) Face of the fretboard and hs is in (basic) gold and the back-side in variegated blue-gold leaf. The body will follow the same logic. Revisiting my tact for the body I won't be incorporating the bass clef. So, I will use the orig custom tort pg 'as is' because tort always looks good against gold. This way I can get on with it, get it gilded and sent to get it final fiinished and re-assemble it sooner than later. As I will string it with coated strings to save the gilded fb from wear, I'm thinking something other than black. I have a set of Rotosound black tapewounds on my Squier J and they sounds really good. (I was suprised I'd like them) I'll have to explore the possibilities.

 

[BTL]

Very nice!

 

[mapleglo]

I really like the organic look of the patterns that are created with that gilding. Very cool!

 

[JIO]

I really like the organic look of the patterns that are created with that gilding. Very cool!

Thanks Nexy! I will be using a couple different pattern leaf of the same family (variegated blue-gold) for the back/sides of the body.

Here's a pic with the side markers exposed. I'll have extra coats of clear applied to the fb so I can do a final leveling/rebuffing.

Also... I just ordered a set of La Bella white tape-wound strings from Jason at bassstringsonline. (up to 306 reward points!) They are clear-coated stainless steel round-wounds and the reviews sound favorable. I have La Bella flats on my Bond J and love them!

 

[Mike12344567]

Looks great! All flows together nicely.

 

[ubnomnar]

You create what others can only dream of.

I watch all your projects and think your imagination, execution and Gildaxe finishes are a spectacular combination.

 

[JIO]

You create what others can only dream of.

I watch all your projects and think your imagination, execution and Gildaxe finishes are a spectacular combination.

Wow! Thanks so much @ubnomnar - it means a lot to me to hear someone getting/enjoying what I get/enjoy. My background started with art but by 7th grade I was also starting-off on bass. (my 1st and only instrument of choice!) I chose to develop my art-side getting a BFA and MFA but simultainiously was playing in bands and continiuing to develop my musical side. Life goes on and both art & music as it pans out - are the twin pillars of my.., me-ness. Gildaxe has become an umbrella over the marrage cerimony of both disciplines. Thanks for your interest, support and kind words!