The Hossenfeffer Bass Build

[ctmullins]

O frabjous day!! Calloo!! Callay!!

 

[mapleglo]

Looks amazing!

 

[Scoops]

Sound file or it dont exist

In reality, If I were you, I wouldn't be able to get it up and running fast enough

 

[Beej]

Wow, Wow, wow and wow.

Seriously, wow.

drool

 

[Freekmagnet]

Wow, you must be pretty excited. It looks really great!

 

[Jon Clegg]

That's freaking beautiful! Well done, sir!

 

[rojo412]

Dude... Amazing! Good things DO come to those who wait, I guess.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Heh, thanks all! Let’s see how this soldering business goes, tight squeeze, in there, might need a little advice from the more electrically inclined. I bought the harness pre-wired, so it should be pretty much connect the dots, sorting the dots my challenge, I have a matching pearloid TRC made, just need to bevel the edges, put on a decal, and clearcoat it. I’ll probably just use clear rattlecan for that, heartily sick of spraying for now. Hope to finish it out this week, we’ll see.....

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Looking good. Bring ‘er by Utah, the soldering iron’s already heated up.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Looking good. Bring ‘er by Utah, the soldering iron’s already heated up.

Wassup?.....The heating died at your house?.....

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Wassup?.....The heating died at your house?.....

We’re all just huddled around a 30 watt soldering iron.

Actually, I was just wiring some stuff up and took a break to watch “Woodwrights Shop” and “This Old House.” What can I say, I’m wood / building stuff nerd.

 

[Aceonbass]

Heh, thanks all! Let’s see how this soldering business goes, tight squeeze, in there, might need a little advice from the more electrically inclined. I bought the harness pre-wired, so it should be pretty much connect the dots

At this point there are only 5 solder connections. Bridge ground to back of either bridge pot. Neck pickup hot to upper switch leaf where neck tone cap is soldered. Neck pickup ground to back of neck tone pot. Bridge pickup hot to lower switch leaf where bridge tone cap is soldered. Bridge pickup ground to back of neck pickup volume pot. You didn't buy one of those red and green spaghetti harnesses from RIC did you?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

At this point there are only 5 solder connections. Bridge ground to back of either bridge pot. Neck pickup hot to upper switch leaf where neck tone cap is soldered. Neck pickup ground to back of neck tone pot. Bridge pickup hot to lower switch leaf where bridge tone cap is soldered. Bridge pickup ground to back of neck pickup volume pot. You didn't buy one of those red and green spaghetti harnesses from RIC did you?

Yeah, I did (he says sheepishly), trying to "economize", per usual. I know you use better wire, matched pots, etc. The Cheap Guy always pays more in the end, and I'm the Cheapest of Guys. Shoulda bought one of your harnesses, thats the plan for the Hossenfeffer II, will PM you when I'm ready, won't be for a while. That one will be HB-1's, maybe master volume, treble, bass, pup switch, or maybe a blend knob? Mono too, or if stereo, all out of one jack using that push-pull setup you do.

 

[ctmullins]

After 4 years, assembly begins. I gotta say, it feels a bit surreal.

I just love this line.

It looks awesome.

 

[Rôckhewer]

MUCH nicer than any "real" Ric I have ever seen.

 

[RBS_Johnson]

Looking good man!

 

[Aceonbass]

Yeah, I did (he says sheepishly), trying to "economize", per usual. I know you use better wire, matched pots, etc. The Cheap Guy always pays more in the end, and I'm the Cheapest of Guys. Shoulda bought one of your harnesses, thats the plan for the Hossenfeffer II, will PM you when I'm ready, won't be for a while. That one will be HB-1's, maybe master volume, treble, bass, pup switch, or maybe a blend knob? Mono too, or if stereo, all out of one jack using that push-pull setup you do.

Well.....Choice of wiring aside, your bass is a work of art. Love the checkered binding against the buffed out jetglo finish. I can't believe it's been four years since you started this project.

 

[Englishman]

Seriously great work, redefining patience.

 

[TonH]

Looking great!!!!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

At this point there are only 5 solder connections. Bridge ground to back of either bridge pot. Neck pickup hot to upper switch leaf where neck tone cap is soldered. Neck pickup ground to back of neck tone pot. Bridge pickup hot to lower switch leaf where bridge tone cap is soldered. Bridge pickup ground to back of neck pickup volume pot. You didn't buy one of those red and green spaghetti harnesses from RIC did you?

Ace,
When you refer to "top" and Bottom" pup switch leaf springs, are you meaning as you see the switch from below (control cavity side) or from above (pickguard side). The Cadfael diagram appears to be oriented from above, in other words viewing top of pickguard. The diagram they used to have in Joey's Bass Notes on RRF does not appear to include a push/pull pot, so I dont think that's accurate for 4003 basses, and it doesn't agree with the Cadfael version. My ignorance on wiring is inexcusable, I know, i've tried and "bounced off" guitar wiring a few times. If I want to keep doing bass builds, I'll have to learn it eventually.

I'll take a crack at it and post photos with some clearly labeled connections, if anybody has some really good photos of a fully wired 4003 pickguard with push/pull switch who cares to post them, much obliged. I'm pretty good at basic monkey-see/monkey-do soldering, but have no real clue how it works.

Here's my pickguard as it stands, with stock Pick of the Rics brand wiring harness. It looks like I'll have to shorten the Neck pup wires a good bit to keep a loop of them from fouling the leaf switch, or otherwise getting in the way? The pots are in direct contact with the copper shielding, is that a no-no?