to assemble or not to assemble that is the question!

[ljzimmer]

I'm curious how many of you actually completely test a bass (that you build from scratch) before applying stain or lacquer?

thanks

Loren

 

[jworrellbass]

I always set up and test a bass before I oil it. I'm to the point now where I'm going to string up my current build before the body wing are on. Nothing worse than messing with frets after the body is attached.

 

[automan]

I never string up a bass before I finish it.

 

[ljzimmer]

Hmmm one for and one against. Anyone else?

 

[tjclem]

My favorite part of building is the "first playable stage" The whole thing is sanded to 120 grit and off to the gig. I get to play out every Thursday night so I try to have something ready to test drive. Friday morning it gets stripped down and adjusted if need be and off to the finish stage. Sort of a stop and smell the roses along the way thing. Why not take it for a spin before the finish stage?

 

[Phil Mailloux]

I'll do a rough assembly and check if the dimensions are all good and ok before the final sanding and finishing but that's it, I won't string it up or stick the electronics in it. There's no point to it really. I need to get those basses finished and out to the customer. If you're doing this for fun/hobby sure go ahead but for me it's more than a hobby.

 

[Musiclogic]

I'll do a rough assembly and check if the dimensions are all good and ok before the final sanding and finishing but that's it, I won't string it up or stick the electronics in it. There's no point to it really. I need to get those basses finished and out to the customer. If you're doing this for fun/hobby sure go ahead but for me it's more than a hobby.

That's the differentiation, a lot of builders have time to get some play time in, others are busy enough that everything is done sequentially, so the set up stage is the only true play time that the builder can afford to take with the instrument. It's the price for greater volume. After my illness, I cut back, so now the few builds I do, I get a week with them after completion to play a little, and really tweak it, didn't used to be that way.

 

[automan]

I'll do a rough assembly and check if the dimensions are all good and ok before the final sanding and finishing but that's it, I won't string it up or stick the electronics in it. There's no point to it really. I need to get those basses finished and out to the customer. If you're doing this for fun/hobby sure go ahead but for me it's more than a hobby.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[ljzimmer]

Thanks guys, that's the kind of insight I was looking for. For me for now it's a hobby so I might just need to take it for a spin. I've been working on it about 3 hours a week since January. I feel like a three-year-old at Christmas!

 

[Rocky McD]

I like to mount the neck and bridge and at least two tuners and the outer strings to make sure I don't have any surprises before finishing the bass.

 

[Mikey R]

Thanks guys, that's the kind of insight I was looking for. For me for now it's a hobby so I might just need to take it for a spin. I've been working on it about 3 hours a week since January. I feel like a three-year-old at Christmas!

Why not give in and give it a play? My first bass took over a year to build. When I got it to the stage that I could string it up, I tried to keep it strung between work sessions.

So I strung it up, then unstrung it next weekend to route the pickup cavities, then restrung, then unstrung to carve the body next weekend, until I got it finished.

The second bass was built in a week, with no time to stop and play. I didnt string up till the last day, but it was a really nice surprise when I did hear it for the first time through an amp!

If I had the time I would have strung up before finishing - no reason not to.

 

[tjclem]

Building is my only source of income. I enjoy the test drive and still get the basses to the customers in most cases in under 2 months so why not get some enjoyment out of it. I don't want to turn in to a factory although sometimes that is hard to avoid. The customers also like to see the "first playable" photos and any sound clips you can send them at that point.

 

[sundaybender]

Since I only build for me so far, I actually take steps to ENSURE that I won't string 'em up before I get the finish complete!

I don't order my tuning machines, cut the nut, or buy pickups until the bass is totally finished, so that I can't succumb to the temptation to string up the bass before it's done.

Finish takes so long (for me) that I don't want to rush it, and if I don't have all the hardware, I cant' be tempted to rush and string up before it's totally complete... or worse, just play an unfinished, or rough finished bass forever!

Plus, that way I can direct my "bass build enthusiasm" all towards one step at a time.

Of course, someone with a little more self-control, or a higher throughput of instruments, or both, could probably resist the temptation much easier than I can!